Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia

EDL claims it has Muslims’ support (yes, really)

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL NoMoreMosquesThe English Defence League last night claimed it had been swamped with messages of support from all races. And the masked men also said followers of Islam had contacted the EDL after the group produced a video proclaiming it is “anti-fascist”.

Yesterday the Daily Star revealed exclusive photos of the group’s swastika-burning video, which was its response to critics who say the organisation’s true motives can be compared to the Nazis.

The EDL said its campaign is only against hate-preaching fanatics, terrorists and Sharia Law. It says it has wrongly been linked with the far-right and BNP and only calls for integration. It said moderate Muslims were welcome in the country.

Daily Star, 24 September 2009

Update:  See also “Richard Desmond and the far-right”, Tabloid Watch, 27 September 2009

Muslim prayer rally at Capitol Hill provokes hysteria from Christian Right

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Richard Bartholomew has the details.

Update:  See also Washington Post, 25 September 2009

The Rev. Canon Julian Dobbs, leader of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, is quoted as warning that the Islam on Capitol Hill event is “part of a well-defined strategy to Islamize American society and replace the Bible with the Koran, the cross with the Islamic crescent and the church bells with the Athan”.

Sun apologises to Ummah.com

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Extremist threat to UK Jews“Our story on January 7 about a ‘hit list‘ of top British Jews on the website Ummah.com was based on claims by Glen Jenvey who last week confessed to duping several newspapers and Tory MP Patrick Mercer by fabricating stories about Islamic fundamentalism. Following Mr Jenvey’s confession, we apologise to Ummah.com for the article which we now accept was inaccurate.”

Sun, 23 September 2009

See also the Guardian and the report by the Press Complaints Commission.

US Islamophobes mistake Shia martyr for 9/11 terrorist

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Houston store sign3HOUSTON — A Harwin shop owner has been dealing with outrage and threats after he posted a sign on the store window saying Perfume Planet was closed on September 11 to honor the martyr Iman Ali.

The sign generated a lot of bitter comments on the Internet and dozens of angry calls each day at the Harwin Central Mart. Folks were shocked, believing the shop was honoring a 9/11 terrorist.

“When we came back today, I didn’t go back into the store,” said Luke Vizena, who saw the sign last week. “I won’t do business with this store,” said his friend. Internet traffic was much angrier. One wrote, “This is sickening!!! How long will it take for us to become a Muslim country?” Another said, “I could not stay in the building it made me so sick.”

Store manager Imran Chunawala was stunned because the holiday had nothing to do with 9 /11. Then he realized what happened. This year a key Ramadan Holiday happened to fall on 9/11. “We did not explain enough in the sign because that is the exact same sign we put up every year on this particular day for this particular reason,” said Chunawala. He apologized for the confusion and put up a new sign thoroughly explaining the martyr they were honoring died in 661 AD.

“1400 years ago. That was a long time ago,” said shopper Dolly Korenek.

khou.com, 16 September 2009

See also Partisan Gridlock, 17 September 2009 and Snopes, 20 September 2009

Stirring up hatred

Posted on by Bob Pitt

UAF at Harrow

Letter in the Morning Star, 21 September 2009:

The planned demonstration by anti-Islamic thugs at Harrow Central mosque on September 11 was a spectacular flop thanks to an impressive mobilisation by the Islamic community and anti-fascist supporters.

The first group of anti-Islamists to catch sight of the mosque soon realised that they were no match for the 1,500 people already gathered there and quickly took flight, racing at impressive speed through the car park of the nearby Harrow Civic Centre with hundreds of anti-fascists on their tails.

Others never got to the mosque and one group’s demonstration was confined to a pub in Harrow town centre, where they were complaining plaintively to surrounding police about being denied their right to protest.

Soon the Stop Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) group, which was one of the main organisers, was announcing that its action was being called off and the still-complaining pub protesters were being marched under heavy police escort back to Harrow Tube station.

This humiliation, however, should not blind us to the fact that these groups are extremely dangerous and that they have no reservations about using physical violence against Muslims, anti-fascists, trade unionists and anybody else who stands in their way.

They want to stir up hatred against Muslims in the same way that Mosley and his blackshirts stirred up hatred against Jews.

The SIOE group is even calling for a boycott of goods from Islamic countries and from Western companies like KFC which are deemed to be too friendly towards Muslims.

The one concern I have over the events in Harrow is that, despite some mobilisation by the regional TUC, trades councils and individual unions, the labour movement was not represented in the numbers one would wish.

It is one thing to condemn these dangerous groups but words are not enough – bodies have to be put on the front line as well.

Richard Lynch
London NW10

Muslims mass-producing children to take over Africa, says Archbishop

Posted on by Bob Pitt

One of the most powerful figures in the Anglican Church believes that Africa is under attack from Islam and that Muslims are “mass-producing” children to take over communities on the continent. Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, 56, was elected Primate of Nigeria last week and his elevation could exacerbate tensions at a time when Anglicans are working to build bridges with Muslims.

Archbishop Okoh made his controversial comments about Islam in a sermon in Beckenham, Kent, in July. He said that there was a determined Islamic attack in African countries such as Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. Africa was “surrounded by Islamic domination,” he said, and he urged Christians to speak out now or lose the authority to speak. “I am telling you, Islam is spending in Uganda and in other places, it is money from the Arab World,” he claimed, accusing Christians of abdicating their responsibilities.

One senior member of Britain’s Muslim community said: “The views presented by the Archbishop are extremist and overwhelmed by Islamophobia and his elevation will certainly foster misunderstanding and extremism. Knowing the communal geography of Nigeria, he will be a massive danger to community relations and cohesion in his country, besides places like London.”

Times, 21 September 2009

EDL protest over new mosque plan in Newport

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslim groups have called on the police to act quickly to prevent violent clashes after the anti-Islam English Defence League announced plans to march on a Welsh city in protest at a new mosque. Members of the group are planning to protest against the conversion of a disused church building into the new mosque in Newport.

A spokesman for the English Defence League told Wales on Sunday: “We are disgusted that a holy building of Christian worship is being turned over to a minority religion, large numbers of whom are in agreement with, or actually support Jihad against the West and intend to take control of this country, impose medieval Sharia law and make Britain an Islamic state.”

South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood has written to the Chief Constable of Gwent Police to raise her concerns about the protest and another one being planned to take place in Swansea the week before.

Islamic Society of Gwent secretary Mubarak Ali said he was very concerned about the protest being arranged. He said:

“I’ve seen how these protests have ended in other cities and I do not want that sort of violence in Newport. People living in Newport have been very supportive of the new mosque and it is people from outside of Wales trying to stir up the trouble. Newport is a very multi-cultural place and has been for some years. These trouble-makers are not welcome here.”

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said the relevant risk assessment would be carried out to make sure the right resources are put in place to facilitate a peaceful protest.

Wales Online, 20 September 2009

We won’t return to Birmingham – it’s too violent, says EDL

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL in BirminghamLeaders of a controversial group which led protests against Islamic extremism in Birmingham have vowed never to hold demonstrations in the city again, because it is too violent.

The EDL spoke out as police chiefs from across the UK met in Birmingham to discuss ways of preventing extremist protests from wreaking havoc across the country.

Ninety people were arrested in Birmingham following a march on September 5 when supporters of the EDL, claiming to be protesting against Islamic extremism, clashed with Muslim youths.

In an article in a national magazine, Birmingham councillor Salma Yaqoob has accused the EDL of being a racist organisation attempting to “demonise and terrorise” Muslims. Ms Yaqoob claimed it was “predictable” that the English Defence League and young Asians would be involved in violence in the city earlier this month.

In an article for the New Statesman, she said: “If the violence of the EDL was predictable, it was also predictable that some Asian youths would ignore calls for restraint from myself and others. Many young people are simply not prepared to turn the other cheek when faced with this brand of violent racism.”

Birmingham Post, 18 September 2009