Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia

Former BNP candidate faces religious hatred charge

Posted on by Bob Pitt

BNP heroin leaflet

A former British National Party election candidate was charged yesterday in connection with the distribution of leaflets which alleged Muslims were responsible for the heroin trade. Anthony Bamber, 53, of Greenbank Street, Preston, Lancashire, is accused of incitement to commit religious hatred, police said.

The leaflet was distributed in Burnley and reportedly circulated in other parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire. It urged people to “heap condemnation” on Muslims and said it was time to “apologise” over its claims they were responsible for 95 per cent of the world’s heroin trade.

Yorkshire Post, 10 August 2009

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Birmingham sees anti-fascist action

Posted on by Bob Pitt

salma-yaqoob-anti-fascist-demoPolice attempting to keep rival demonstrators apart in Birmingham city centre during early Saturday evening made a total of 33 arrests following sporadic clashes involving rival gangs of far right and anti-fascist protestors. Earlier events, organised by the right-wing English Defence League (EDL) and the anti-racist group Unite Against Fascism (UAF), passed off without the large-scale incidents that some had feared. Police reported two injuries during the evening, neither of which are believed to be serious.

The UAF protest in front of the Bull Ring at Rotunda Square was called in response to the EDL’s proposed demonstration at the same spot, the far right group having staged a previous protest there in early July. A crowd of around 300 heard speeches by, amongst others, Respect Councillor Salma Yaqoob and Dave Hughes of the Birmingham Trades Council. The event appeared predominantly good natured, although there were minor scuffles as a handful of right-wing sympathisers in lower New Street appeared to taunt sections of the crowd.

As the UAF event was winding down, the English Defence League were holding their re-scheduled demonstration in Victoria Square where around 80 protestors were outnumbered by a multi-racial crowd of onlookers. A heavy police presence was in place at both events and this prevented serious disorder as a group of predominantly Asian youths broke away from the anti-racist demonstration in an attempt to confront the EDL meeting. Police (including some officers in riot gear) later cordoned off sections of New Street and High Street, and there were further clashes as members of both groups attempted to attack each other.

The Stirrer, 9 August 2009

See also UAF statement on last Saturday’s Birmingham protest against the ‘English Defence League’, 8 October 2009.

Salma Yaqoob condemns racist protestors

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Salma_YaqoobOn Saturday 8 August a group under the name of “English Defence League” will attempt to stage a demonstration in Birmingham which they claim is directed against “Islamic extremism”. The English Defence League staged a similar protest in Birmingham on 4 July. Adrian Goldberg interviewed one of their leaders on his Talksport radio show during which he confirmed their “opposition to all Muslims practising their faith in Britain”, and admitted links with the BNP. The broad-based campaign, Unite Against Fascism, is calling for a peaceful counter-demonstration to assemble at 5pm on Saturday outside Waterstones bookshop in the Bull Ring.

Councillor Salma Yaqoob commented:

“The instigators of this demonstration are fascist thugs. They are coming to our city with one intention only: to sow racist division by stirring up anti-Muslim hatred.

“One of their ringleaders made their intentions very clear when he publicily stated his opposition to all Muslims practising their faith in Britain”, and admitted links with the BNP.

“The police have assured me that they will deal with any troublemakers. I am concerned, though, that the West Midlands Police are playing down the racist nature of this protest, and the links the protestors have with far-right organisations. Everyone has the right to their opinions, but

“No-one has the right to incite hatred against others on the grounds of race or religion. It is very important that the West Midlands Police act firmly to deal with any incitement to racist hatred.

“Birmingham is a multi-cultural city and proud of it. It is also important that people of all faiths and cultures stand together in a spirit of peace and unity. We must show these people that they are not wanted here, and that Birmingham will not be divided by race or faith. I urge everyone attending this protest to show the best of our city and ensure that this is a peaceful and respectful demonstration of unity.”

Socialist Unity, 8 August 2009

Muslim women avoid reporting racism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Shouts of “Terrorist” and “Osama Bin Laden” on the way into an Eid party. Being chased out of a park crying because a man thinks the way you dress is a danger to children. Both racism. Both to Muslim women. Neither reported to the police.

Catrin Nye of BBC Asian Network has been investigating after a charity set up to offer the women support claimed hundreds of racist crimes against Muslim women in Scotland are going unreported.

BBC News, 6 August 2009

Via ENGAGE

Fear keeps Turkey out of the EU

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“When on his recent visit to Turkey President Obama called for Turkish entry into the European Union, he put his finger on a strategic and cultural sore spot. The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking for the majority position in Europe, was quick to respond: Turkey may one day enjoy a privileged relationship with the EU, but full membership is out of the question. Turkey is not European – geographically or culturally….

“Political parties that call for an increasingly narrow view of Europe are gaining ground. These parties promote a strictly Judeo-Christian perspective of European history, mistrust of Islam, repressive hardline immigration policies and reject a Turkey they claim is overpopulated and excessively Muslim. Europeans have become fearful. Economic crisis has brought with it calls for greater security and for protection of purchasing power, and from ‘foreigners’ and ‘immigrants’, who are seen as threatening financial stability and cultural homogeneity.”

Tariq Ramadan in the Guardian, 7 August 2009

Blackwater founder implicated in murder

Posted on by Bob Pitt

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOver at The Nation Jeremy Scahill reports that former employees of Blackwater, the private military and security company that worked as a contractor for the United States government during the invasion and occupation of Iraq, have made some shocking acusations against its owner Erik Prince, including allegations of involvement in the murder of individuals who were co-operating with federal authorities investigating the company.

Among the charges against Prince is that he “views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe”, according to a declaration by one of the witnesses. The declaration continues:

“To that end, Mr. Prince intentionally deployed to Iraq certain men who shared his vision of Christian supremacy, knowing and wanting these men to take every available opportunity to murder Iraqis. Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades.

“Mr. Prince operated his companies in a manner that encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life. For example, Mr. Prince’s executives would openly speak about going over to Iraq to ‘lay Hajiis out on cardboard’. Going to Iraq to shoot and kill Iraqis was viewed as a sport or game. Mr. Prince’s employees openly and consistently used racist and derogatory terms for Iraqis and other Arabs, such as ‘ragheads’ or ‘hajiis’.”

Via Lenin’s Tomb

Standing reveals his real agenda

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Edmund StandingEdmund Standing has published the second part of his eGov monitor article on the BNP.

The opening paragraphs are an attack on the Muslim Council of Britain, although Standing evidently detests that organisation so much he can’t even bring himself to use its name. According to Standing, the MCB “deliberately fosters a sense of Muslim self-pity and a victim mentality (just as the BNP deliberately fosters white self-pity)”.

(You can just imagine how Standing would respond to a self-styled anti-fascist who attacked the Board of Deputies for fostering “a sense of Jewish self-pity and a victim mentality” and drew a parallel between the BoD and fascism.)

As any anti-fascist activist could tell you, the MCB has in fact long played a major role in combating the BNP by mobilising the Muslim community against it (see for example here, here, here, here and here). But Standing sees fit to ignore all that. He is clearly more interested in cranking out the anti-Islamist agenda of Harry’s Place than in actually combating fascism.

This is really divisive stuff and if anti-fascists were to take it seriously it would undermine a united fight against the BNP. In that connection, I’m surprised that a genuine and well-respected anti-fascist site like Lancaster Unity has seen fit to publish Standing’s article without even referencing the sharp criticisms that have been made of his warped analysis and bigoted views.

Update:  For a more detailed critique, see ENGAGE, 4 August 2009

Further update:  See also Sunny Hundal’s piece at Pickled Politics, which includes this perceptive comment by Yahya Birt.