Category Archives: UK

Counter-demo against EDL-backed South Shields march

Posted on by Bob Pitt

South Tyneside Unites counter-demonstration

An anti-fascist group has announced plans for a counter-demonstration against a march by right-wing extremists in South Shields this weekend.

Members of North East Infidels (NEI) and the English Defence League (EDL) are to parade on Saturday from the town’s Fowler Street to Pier Parade, where a rally is to be staged.

Now it has emerged they will be met there by representatives of newly-formed South Tyneside Unites Against Fascism (STUAF), a group set up specifically in response to the rally. Their members are made up of local people, trade unionists and political groups and organisations opposed to fascism, racism and Islamophobia.

The counter-protesters, supported by South Tyneside Trade Union Council, and including members of Unite and Unison, will hold up placards and express their views through megaphones in what organisers say will be a “peaceful and orderly counter-demonstration”.

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Labour slammed for BBQ plan on day of EDL’s Tower Hamlets march

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Lutfur Rahman at anti-EDL protest 2011 (2)
Tower Hamlets protests against the English Defence League in September 2011 – where was John Biggs?

A family barbecue has been organised by Labour politicians for the same day as far right group the English Defence League (EDL) plans to march through the East End.

Tower Hamlets Labour Party’s annual summer barbecue is due to go ahead in Bethnal Green on September 7. But the plan has been met with accusations that Labour’s mayoral candidate John Biggs is prioritising a day in the sun over standing up to far right ideology.

Tower Hamlets Council’s Independent cabinet member for resources, Cllr Alibor Choudhury said: “While a diverse community coalition gathers to show the EDL that Tower Hamlets is no place for hate, John Biggs and his Labour chums will be letting their hair down over nibbles. I’m a big fan of democracy but I’m not sure you can for fight for it with canapés and cocktail sausages.”

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Man pleads guilty to throwing bacon at mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man who wrapped slices of bacon around the main door of a mosque also threw the meat product into the sacred place of worship, a court has heard. Wayne Stilwel, 25, was caught on CCTV committing the offensive act at Edinburgh’s Central Mosque on January 31.

The city’s sheriff court heard that Islam prohibits its followers from consuming products made of pork and that Stilwel’s actions offended people at the mosque. Stilwel, a prisoner of HMP Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace charge. He will be sentenced on September 17.

Edinburgh Evening News, 28 August 2013

Man banned from Cambridge’s Islamic centres caught carrying knife near mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

David CampA man banned from going near a number of Islamic premises in Cambridge after he threatened to burn down a mosque was convicted of carrying a knife close to the Mawson Road mosque.

David Camp, 35, of Thorpe Way, Cambridge, was stopped by police on Mill Road with a Stanley Knife in his rucksack on Monday. Camp explained to the officer that he had the knife in case he needed to repair his bicycle, which he was riding at the time of the incident on August 18 at 3 15pm.

But the Cambridge Magistrates Court heard the 35-year-old had earlier posted on social networking site Twitter: “Stan is always with me if you know what I mean.” In his police interview, Camp confirmed “Stan” referred to his knife.

The conviction comes just six days after Camp was sentenced to 15 months behind bars for having a folding lock knife on board a train travelling between London and Harlow and making racial comments.

Earlier this month, Camp was also given an Asbo by a Cambridge court after posting a “large number” of anti-Islamic messages on Twitter between April 1 and June 5.

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Grimsby mosque arson accused appear in court

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Grimsby mosque scorched doorA man accused of attacking a mosque in Grimsby has denied two counts of arson.

Daniel Cressey, 24, of Manchester Square, New Holland, pleaded not guilty to arson with intent to endanger life and to commit arson recklessly.

No-one was injured in the attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre on 26 May.

Stuart Harness, 33, and Gavin Humphries, 37, both pleaded not guilty to arson with intent to endanger life but entered guilty pleas to one charge of committing arson recklessly.

All three appeared before Grimsby Crown Court earlier.

Mr Harness and Mr Humphries, both of Dixon Avenue, Grimsby, were remanded until 25 November when all three men are due to reappear at the same court.

BBC News, 28 August 2013

Update:  See “Grimsby men admit mosque arson attack”, Grimsby Telegraph, 29 August 2013

Attack on Harlow mosque: Essex UAF call emergency meeting

Posted on by Bob Pitt

UAF_logoIn the latest attack on muslims since the murder of Lee Rigby in May, a mosque and Islamic centre in Harlow, Essex has been subjected to an attempted arson attack.

Attackers sprayed insulation foam around the doors and windows before setting it alight, fortunately the fire did not spread and no one was injured. Mosque leaders have blamed anti-muslim prejudice for the attack. This latest serious assault on the muslim community comes as the racist EDL prepares to march in Tower Hamlets, East London.

Since May, there has been an upsurge of violent attacks against muslim communities. In June, a Muswell Hill mosque and community centre was burnt to the ground and ‘EDL’ was found painted on the walls. In July, three mosques in the West Midlands were subjected to bomb attacks shortly before the fascists mobilised several hundred in Birmingham. Wherever the EDL go attacks on Muslims and other communities occur.

Essex UAF have called a public meeting this thursday (29/8) in response to the shameful arson attack on Harlow Islamic Centre.

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Harlow Islamic Centre arson attack – CCTV released

Posted on by Bob Pitt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=m7M-2i4anhI

Police have released still and moving CCTV footage of three men suspected of being responsible for an arson attack on an Islamic centre in Harlow. Three men are seen to approach the Harlow Islamic Centre building in Paringdon Road at 1.24am on Monday, August 26. One of the men is seen to be holding a drill while another can be seen with what police believe to be a canister of insulation foam.

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Ron Atkinson warned over anti-Muslim ‘joke’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Ron Atkinson has been in the “Celebrity Big Brother” house less than four full days, and he’s caused controversy already, asking housemate Danielle Marr if she was “carrying a bomb” after she donned a headscarf.

Former football manager Atkinson was in the garden crooning “Feeling Good”, while “Botox doctor” Marr was beside him, providing a human beat-box accompaniment. When she put a scarf over her head, Atkinson asked her, “You’re not carrying a bomb under that, are you?”

Although Marr didn’t say anything at the time, Atkinson was later given a formal warning by the CBB team over his remark.

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