Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia

Dirty tricks campaign against Salma Yaqoob

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Respect Party leader Salma Yaqoob has called in the police after becoming the victim of a dirty tricks campaign apparently targeting white voters. Professionally produced leaflets bearing the Respect logo have been posted to addresses in Moseley, Kings Heath and Balsall Heath bearing a fictitious quotation from Yaqoob saying “I am not big on Britishness.” They also show Muslim protestors in Luton jeering troops on their return from Aghanistan.

Yaqoob, a Sparkbrook councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate for Hall Green, commented: “This isn’t just a personal attack on me, it’s an attack on the whole community and is clearly designed to be divisive.  Anyone who knows me would understand that what whatever my thoughts on the war in Afghanistan, I would never target soldiers for criticism – only politicians.”

The leaflets combine fact with fiction, since they also include another quotation from Yaqoob which is accurate in an obvious attempt to confuse even well read members of its target audience – white voters in the constituency who are sent the leaflets by post.

One person who received a copy was Louise Maycock of Balsall Heath who contacted The Stirrer. “It wasn’t stuffed through my letter box. It was sent to me personally at my home address”, said Louise. “It was inflammatory and specifically designed to whip up Islamophobia.”

When asked if she had any idea who would produce such a leaflet, Yaqoob remarked: “You have to ask yourself who would benefit from these kind of attacks.”

The Stirrer, 10 November 2009

Islam ‘not a religion’ but a ‘violent political system’ says Pat Robertson

Posted on by Bob Pitt

US right-wing evangelist Pat Robertson offers his views on the Fort Hood killings:

“Islam is a violent – I was gonna say religion, but it’s not a religion, it’s a political system, a violent political system bent on the overthrow of the governments of the world and world domination. That is the ultimate aim…. So you’re dealing with a – not a religion, you’re dealing with a political system. And I think we should treat it as such, and treat its adherents as such, as we would members of the Communist Party or members of some fascist group.”

See Crooks and Liars, 10 November 2009

Muslim Mafia author calls for ‘backlash’ against US Muslims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslim MafiaA conservative author whose book was touted just last month by four Republican members of Congress is explicitly calling for a “backlash” against American Muslims in the wake of the Fort Hood shootings.

Dave Gaubatz, author of Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld that’s Conspiring to Islamize America, made the comment in a semi-coherent interview with the group Family Security Matters.

In assigning collective blame for the Fort Hood killings, Gaubatz said:

“Politicians, Muslims, and law enforcement are concerned about a ‘backlash’ against Muslims. Now is the time for a professional and legal backlash against the Muslim community and their leaders. Muslims know what materials are being taught in their mosques and they know many of the materials instruct young Muslims to kill innocent people who do not adhere to Sharia law. If Muslims do not want a backlash, then I would recommend a ‘house cleaning’. Stack every Saudi, al Qaeda, Pakistani, Taliban, Hamas, and Muslim Brotherhood piece of material from their mosque and have a bonfire. Tell the American, Jewish, and Muslim community this hatred will no longer be allowed in their mosques.”

All of this might be dismissed as the ranting of a fringe lunatic, but for the fact that Gaubatz’s work has been circulated and endorsed by prominent Republican officials.

TPM, 9 November 2009

Update:  Cf. this interview with one Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association who rejects a backlash against Muslims “just because they’re Muslims” but adds: “We should not allow Muslims to serve in the US military and we have got to raise questions about whether we can afford to allow Muslims to immigrate into the United States at all.”

Muslim Mafia author calls for ‘backlash’ against US Muslims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslim MafiaA conservative author whose book was touted just last month by four Republican members of Congress is explicitly calling for a “backlash” against American Muslims in the wake of the Fort Hood shootings.

Dave Gaubatz, author of Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld that’s Conspiring to Islamize America, made the comment in a semi-coherent interview with the group Family Security Matters.

In assigning collective blame for the Fort Hood killings, Gaubatz said:

“Politicians, Muslims, and law enforcement are concerned about a ‘backlash’ against Muslims. Now is the time for a professional and legal backlash against the Muslim community and their leaders. Muslims know what materials are being taught in their mosques and they know many of the materials instruct young Muslims to kill innocent people who do not adhere to Sharia law. If Muslims do not want a backlash, then I would recommend a ‘house cleaning’. Stack every Saudi, al Qaeda, Pakistani, Taliban, Hamas, and Muslim Brotherhood piece of material from their mosque and have a bonfire. Tell the American, Jewish, and Muslim community this hatred will no longer be allowed in their mosques.”

All of this might be dismissed as the ranting of a fringe lunatic, but for the fact that Gaubatz’s work has been circulated and endorsed by prominent Republican officials.

TPM, 9 November 2009

Update:  Cf. this interview with one Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association who rejects a backlash against Muslims “just because they’re Muslims” but adds: “We should not allow Muslims to serve in the US military and we have got to raise questions about whether we can afford to allow Muslims to immigrate into the United States at all.”

Italy: Prophet called a ‘paedophile’ in TV debate

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Daniela SantancheItalian feminist and former far right-wing MP Daniela Santanche has sparked a controversy after calling the Prophet Mohammed a “a polygamist and paedophile” during a TV debate. Santanche appeared on a television programme aired on the commercial channel, Canale 5 with the president of Milan’s Islamic centre, Ali Abu Schwaima, on Sunday.

“Mohammed was a polygamist and a paedophile because he had nine wives, one of whom was only nine years old, that is a historical fact,” said Santanche.

A former MP for the post-fascist National Alliance party, Santanche now leads the far-right La Destra party.

Her remark incensed Schwaima and Muslims in the audience, who had been invited to take part in a debate on the contentious issue of placing crucifixes in Italian classrooms after last week’s ban by the European Court of Human Rights. “Why don’t we talk about serious things, not about your disgusting comments,” he shouted at Santanche.

Santanche continued to shout back: “For us, Mohammed was a paedophile.”

“You’re just showing the ignorance of people like you who have no other arguments to use,” bellowed Schwaima, jabbing his finger at her. He claimed the crucifix should not be removed from classrooms in Italy. “For us, Christ was one of the five main prophets and we respect him, like the crucifix.”

But Santanche was not appeased by Schwaima’s remark. “We will never listen to Mohammed, who was a polygamist and a paedophile,” screeched Santanche.

Adnkronos International, 9 November 2009

See update here

Muslim advocates fasting during Ramadan shock

Posted on by Bob Pitt

ENGAGE replies to a particularly stupid piece of witch-hunting by Martin Bright in last week’s Jewish Chronicle attacking the appointment of Asim Hafeez as Community Advisor in the Home Office on the grounds that he is “a hardcore Islamist”. ENGAGE points out:

“An example Bright cites of Hafeez’s ‘hardcore’ credentials is this: ‘The new Home Office adviser is reported to have raised eyebrows at his new department during the Muslim festival of Ramadan, when he lectured guests at a reception about the benefits of fasting.‘ If a Muslim speaking of the benefits of fasting on the passing of Ramadan and celebration of Eid ul-Fitr is hardcore, then Hafeez shares the quality with all British Muslims.”

ENGAGE, 9 November 2009

Attacks on Muslim students at City University

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) regrets to inform that over the past week Muslim students at City University (London) have been the target of a series of attacks culminating with three Muslims being stabbed on St. John Street in the immediate vicinity of the University after being surrounded by over 30 youths.

Attacks earlier in the week left three students requiring hospitalisation for severe facial and head injuries as they were set upon by the gang shouting Islamophobic and racist abuse including statements like “Get those Muslims” and “Paki” being used repeatedly; they were subjected to a series of projectile missiles, including bricks, metal poles and sign posts.

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Fascism, not Islam, is the enemy

Posted on by Bob Pitt

SDL badge“It caused quite a stir when it was built more than two decades ago, but now the distinctive domes of Glasgow Central Mosque are an unremarked-upon feature of the Clydeside skyline. The large modern building is a landmark of the transformed Gorbals, no more foreign than the nearby Citizens’ Theatre, with its reputation for staging highbrow European plays.

“Locals found the mosque more pleasing on the eye than the monolithic Sir Basil Spence tower blocks the council forced them to live in for decades. The quiet men and women who worship there were no trouble at all – and the Gorbals certainly knows trouble when it comes visiting.

“Trouble will visit this Saturday, in the form of an organisation calling itself the Scottish Defence League (SDL). It plans to protest near the mosque against what it says is the rise of Islamic extremism. There has never been any suggestion that Glasgow’s mosque gives succour to extremists – it does not. But that will not stop the SDL….

“Over on the social networking site Facebook, the SDL page includes the usual bulldog profile pictures. But the use of Scottish symbolism is more worrying – a lion rampant logo and phrases such as: ‘Let us rise now and be a nation again. We must unite the clans against the extremists.’ … All this fascism lite is intended to whip up hatred and will lead to more racist attacks….

“The choice is stark. A liberal society protects minorities. It allows collaboration between people who might disagree on some issues but find common ground when it matters – in this case opposing fascism. This is why I intend to join the counter-demonstration on Glasgow Green at noon this Saturday….

“Scotland United 2009 is a combination of churches, politicians and individuals who want the country to tell the far right they are not welcome here. Annabel Goldie, the Conservative leader at Holyrood, will speak alongside the SNP deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

“It is encouraging that the Scottish-Islamic Foundation is one of the main drivers. It has been criticised in the past for being too radically religious and the SNP government has been criticised for supporting it – Osama Saeed, one of the party’s prospective candidates, is one of its leading lights.

“But let’s be pragmatic and look at its record. The foundation has gone out of its way to vocally oppose terrorism, organising a spontaneous rally after the Glasgow airport attacks. By engaging young Muslims in the political process, by collaborating with the Holyrood government and cross-party organisations like Scotland United, it places the Muslim community firmly in middle Scotland. It builds bridges….

“Far from appeasing Islamists, as some claim, the close co-operation between civic Scotland and Muslim Scotland fostered by the foundation appears to be paying dividends. By demonstrating that Scottish national identity can embrace all faiths and ethnicities, you neutralise the alienation and resentment that drives young people towards the jihadists.”

Joan McAlpine in the Sunday Times, 8 November 2009