Category Archives: Right wing

‘David Cameron must face the challenge of Islamisation’ says Torygraph

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Daily Telegraph follows up yesterday’s interview with Marine Le Pen with a leader opining that the Front National is “not an appropriate model for a political party” in Britain (though presumably far-right racist parties are OK in France). However, there is the prospect of “Right-wing populism” winning support in the UK on the basis of anti-Muslim sentiment.

Such sentiment has a firm basis in reality, according to the Torygraph: “Muslims have migrated to Britain in enormous numbers over the past 40 years; one of the heaviest waves of immigration was encouraged by the last government”, “fears of social fracture are understandable” given that “around 40 per cent of the Muslim community support the establishment of Sharia”, and the government’s empowering of “unelected ‘community leaders'” has “caused huge resentment”.

And the Torygraph’s solution? – “the Government needs to start dismantling an Islamisation that threatens the freedoms of ordinary Britons”.

Update:  See Yusuf Smith’s comments at Indigo Jo Blogs, 29 December 2010

The dodgy demographics that Yusuf challenges are also the subject of a scaremongering post by Torygraph leader writer and Catholic Herald editor Damian Thompson, who asks: “What does this mean for liberal Britain?” To which you might be inclined to respond: since when has the Daily Telegraph been a defender of liberalvalues?

Further update:  See also ENGAGE, 30 December 2010

Legal challenge to Murfreesboro Islamic Center costing taxpayers thousands

Posted on by Bob Pitt

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee taxpayers are footing the bill for $75,000-plus in legal fees as four residents continue their challenge of a mosque set to be built outside of Murfreesboro. An attorney for the four confirmed to The Tennessean their plans to fight the mosque through a final hearing on the matter, which is expected to happen sometime next year, keeping the tab open.

“I do think it is unfortunate that the county is having to bear this expense, but, that’s the way the legal system is,” said Rutherford County Attorney Jim Cope, whose law office contracts with the county to perform legal services.

Cope’s office billed the county almost $30,000 on Nov. 30 just for the first few days of an eight-day hearing on the May approval of the 52,000-square-foot mosque. Cope estimated the full cost for the entire eight days could top $75,000. The County Commission even added an extra $50,000 to its legal budget in October in anticipation of the legal costs.

Attorney Joe Brandon Jr. represented Rutherford County residents Kevin Fisher, Jim Estes, Lisa Moore and Henry Golcznski, who sued to challenge the county’s approval of the mosque. Brandon said in a statement that they plan to continue their fight to a final hearing on the matter, which is expected to happen sometime next year.

Associated Press, 26 December 2010

For details of the funding behind the lawsuit, see TPM.

Emails show Mayor Bloomberg’s office’s help and desire to get Ground Zero mosque built

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Daily Mail picks up on a story that has already done the rounds in the right-wing media in the US (the paper has in fact lifted it directly from the New York Post). It concerns the release of emails between Nazli Parvizi, commissioner of New York’s Community Affairs Unit, and Feisal Abdul Rauf and Daisy Khan, which reveal the assistance given by Parvizi with the planning application for the Park51 development – the so-called Ground Zero Mosque.

You have to read right to the end of the report before you find the information that counters the main thrust of the article. A spokesperson for Mayor Bloomberg is quoted as pointing out that Parvizi’s job is “to help groups navigate city government, and from helping prepare for a Papal visit to extending approval of a Sukkah in a midtown Manhattan park, this kind of assistance is typical of its regular work”.

But this is of course the Mail‘s usual procedure. It is able to claim that its reporting is balanced because it has quoted an opposing view, while relying on the fact that most readers won’t get beyond the scaremongering headline and the opening paragraphs.

Stand by for the usual outpouring of anti-Muslim vitriol in the comments section to the Mail‘s report.

Zakir Naik takes exclusion battle to Court of Appeal

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Court documents show an Islamic scholar and orator barred from the UK by the government is taking his battle to London’s Court of Appeal. Dr Zakir Naik lodged papers at London’s Court of Appeal in Appeal Court Reference no 2010/2913, against a High Court ruling and promised to take his fight for freedom of expression to Europe.

The appeal, due to be heard next year, could put the Home Secretary under severe pressure as one of the key aspects of his appeal is the fact that her ban was against the advice and wishes of Britain’s counter terrorism chief Charles Farr, claim Dr Naik’s lawyers.

Last month at London’s High Court, Justice Cranston granted Dr Naik a judicial review and declared three exclusion letters on June 16, 17 and 25 were “unlawful”.

However he decided a fourth attempt was legal despite accepting Dr Naik, who has hired a leading specialist solicitor Tayab Ali and two QCs from Cherie Booth’s Matrix Chambers, didn’t have a chance to respond to all of the issues raised in the final letter.

Dr Naik has now launched an appeal against the verdict saying the system should have been operated “properly and competently”.

Official Court papers filed by lawyers acting on behalf of Dr Naik, claim May failed to “properly consider, or state what she made of, or explain why she ultimately rejected the advice provided by skilled advisers relating to counter-terrorism.”

His lawyer Tayab Ali said: “Dr Naik will not stop until justice is done and he is allowed to exercise his right of freedom of expression.”

PRWeb, 23 December 2010

Dakota City councilman erects ‘Never trust a man named Mohamed’ sign

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Never trust a man named MohamedDakota City councilman Bob Lane whipped up a controversy when he placed a sign on his property reading “Never Trust a Man Named Mohamed.”

Lane, well-known in Dakota City for his strong opinions primarily on local and county government, placed the sign near a multiplex rental unit he owns in the 300 block of North 14th Street, a high-traffic route into the Dakota County town of 1,827. The sign led several residents to lodge complaints at City Hall.

Lane told the Journal he had removed the Mohamed sign after it had been up for more than a week and replaced it midafternoon Monday with a holiday message. He didn’t specify what the Mohamed name referenced.

“It is freedom of speech. Whenever we have a problem in the nation, the first name, the middle name or the last name is often Mohamed,” said Lane, a multi-term councilman who was re-elected this year.

Kathy Bruyere lives in South Sioux City and owns rental property in Dakota City near the sign. “I find this very offensive,” Bruyere said. “We have a lot of East African workers who come to Tyson (Foods packing plant), and they are going to see this every day. A city councilman should not be representing the city of Dakota City in this manner. It is a manner that promotes hate and fear.”

Sioux City Journal, 21 December 2010

Via LoonWatch