An interesting feature of the recent controversy over the so-called “Muslim patrol” in Tower Hamlets was that some of those you might have expected to seize on the case as an excuse for a bit of anti-Muslim scaremongering balked at resuming their campaign against the Islamist menace on the basis of such flimsy evidence.
Category Archives: Right wing
The demographics of Islamophobia
Just three days into 2013, Annika Rydh, a Swedish government official from the town of Almhult, issued a shrill call to both her colleagues and neighbors. Worried about the perceived growth of the Muslim population in her homeland and beyond, she urged the European Union “to act by having some kind of restriction, like the one-child policy in China.” If Muslims don’t like the proposed rule, she continued, they can go back where they came from.
Rydh’s appeal comes on the heels of a decade-long campaign to curtail Muslim immigration into western countries and reduce the number of babies born to Muslim families. International in scope, the anti-Islam movement relies on scare tactics that, more often than not, imply that the Judeo-Christian traditions are in danger of being trampled by Sharia law.
Eleanor J. Bader examines the demographic myths promoted by Islamophobes. She notes:
Surprising as it seems, a host of anti-choicers have demonstrated a clear tilt toward population control when it comes to Muslims. Indeed, it seems apparent that, for them, racism and Islamophobia trump unbridled procreation for Mohammed’s adherents.
Melbourne: Councillors approve mosque, call opponents ‘un-Australian’
Monash councillors last night questioned residents’ hysteria regarding the Muslim faith as they approved a mosque in a Clayton street. Several councillors said they were disappointed a proposal for a one-storey mosque in Beddoe Ave, Clayton, had been drawn into the public eye.
The plans were brought before the council by Mulgrave ward Cr Robert Davies, who said the mosque would be built in an inappropriate location and impact adversely on residents. But the city’s other ten councillors disagreed, voting to approve the plans in front of a packed council chambers.
Glen Waverley ward Cr Geoff Lake said anyone who shared Cr Davies’ view that the mosque was inappropriate were “20 years too late”. He said those with the view the mosque should be refused on religious grounds were “misinformed, prejudicial and un-Australian”.
‘I am living in a place where I am a stranger’, claims ‘reluctant racist’ at Torygraph
“The streets around Acton, which has been my home since 1996, have taken on a new identity. Most of the shops are now owned by Muslims and even the fish and chip shop and Indian takeaway are Halal. It seems that almost overnight it’s changed from Acton Vale into Acton Veil.”
Over at the Telegraph, Jane Kelly protests against the Islamification of west London. At least she doesn’t bother trotting out the usual excuse that her dislike of Muslims is based solely on cultural differences and has nothing to do with race. She writes that “many white people in London and the Home Counties now move house on the basis of ethnicity” and justifies this on the grounds that “mass immigration is making reluctant racists of us all”.
Australian Party candidate rejects halal meat, doesn’t want his money to ‘go to the Muslim community’
A candidate for Bob Katter’s fledgling political party declared his preference for buying ”guaranteed non-halal meat” so his money does not ”go to the Muslim community”.
Jamie Cavanough, who is standing for Katter’s Australian Party in Sydney’s most marginal federal seat, Greenway, is under fire for the apparently divisive comments he made to a community forum in one of the city’s most ethnically diverse areas.
Right-wing Zionist group announces awards to Geller and Spencer
An outfit calling itself the Creative Zionist Coalition has announced that it is awarding Pamela Geller with the “Queen Esther Award for Jewish Heroism” and Robert Spencer with the “Shushan Award for Righteous Gentile”.
Loonwatch reports on the background of the CZC’s founders, Jessica Felber and Orit Arfa, and their links to the Zionist Organization of America.
The CZC’s stated aim is to “vigorously support and defend Israel without apology, taking principled positions based on reason, logic, ethics and history”. Quite what Geller and Spencer have to do with reason, logic and ethics, or indeed with any honest approach to history, is unclear.
So-called former terrorist Kamal Saleem to discuss ‘real threat of Islam’ at 3 West Michigan stops
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Kamal Saleem, the self-proclaimed former terrorist whose multiple appearances in West Michigan have been marked by controversy, will talk at three West Michigan events next month.
Saleem is scheduled to speak about the “threat of Islam” at separate events Feb. 7-9 for the Fremont-based American Decency Association, according to the ADA’s website.
A Christian, Saleem has made waves for claiming he is a former member of Islamic militant groups in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Muslim Brotherhood.
A number of academics and groups, including a Calvin College professor and the Southfield-based Council on American-Islamic Relations of Michigan, have called Saleem’s claims dubious.
The American Decency Association, which did not return requests for comment this week, said on its website that Saleem was invited to talk about “a threat that is very real.”
“We at ADA are committed to stand against evil and we’re giving you an opportunity to become informed about a threat that is very real – radical Islam, Sharia Law, and the attack upon the American Constitution – so that you, too, can prepare yourself to oppose it,” the ADA wrote on its website.
Allen West ‘NUTS!’ letter sold for $2,625 on eBay
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida announced Tuesday that a letter in which then-Congressman Allen West wrote “NUTS!” sold on eBay for $2,625.
The eBay listing shows West’s brief note from Aug. 4, 2011, addressed to Nezar Hamze and Hassan Shibly of CAIR Florida. They had sent the South Florida congressman a letter that July expressing their concerns about his association and support of individuals they said “have been identified as anti-Islam extremist(s),” and urging West to cut his ties with them.
“I am writing to you with regard your recent letter: ‘NUTS!'” West responded, CAIR said. The letter concluded with the words “Steadfast and Loyal” above West’s signature, name and title. West still has not fully explained his meaning, CAIR said.
Jeremy Gimpel slammed by ADL over mosque jibe
In rare criticism of a Jew, the Anti-Defamation League called on Knesset candidate Jeremy Gimpel to apologize to Muslims for suggesting blowing up the Dome of the Rock mosque.
Another ‘Muslim patrol’ video feeds Islamophobia
The Commentator provides an update on its “Muslim patrol” report with a more recent video, also apparently from Tower Hamlets, in which the self-appointed mutaween target a man they take to be gay.
The harassment recorded here is significantly more unpleasant and intimidatory than in the first video, and we can only hope that the people responsible are quickly identified, arrested and prosecuted. In fact the case underlines the need for new legislation to introduce specific homophobically aggravated offences, on a par with the racially and religiously aggravated offences already on the statute book.
However, it is almost certainly the same two individuals who are involved in this most recent video, one of whom carries out most of the actual harassment while the other records the victim’s response on his mobile phone. This doesn’t prevent The Commentator from referring to “Muslim Patrols” in the plural, in order to suggest that it is part of some wider and more frightening pattern.