Category Archives: UK

Arrest after ham thrown at Crawley mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

AMIR KHAN - CRAWLEY MOSQUEA 16-year-old boy was arrested by police investigating a hate crime after pieces of ham were thrown at a mosque. The teenager was held on suspicion of a religiously aggravated public order offence by officers called to Broadfield Mosque in Crawley, West Sussex.

Sussex Police said “real anguish and anxiety” was caused to worshippers who witnessed the incident as they left the mosque at around 4pm last Tuesday. The arrested teenager, who is from the local area, has been freed on police bail pending further inquiries.

Sergeant Jim Collen, of Sussex Police, said: “This was a very unpleasant incident which has naturally caused real anguish and anxiety amongst worshippers at the mosque. Sussex Police take all reports of hate crime extremely seriously and this investigation will be no exception.”

Disorder which broke out following the incident was also being investigated, police said. Mr Collen said: “We are aware of a relatively minor altercation that we hope to resolve using our restorative justice programme. It must not be allowed to take the focus away from our investigation of the hate crime as this remains our priority.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Press Association, 27 November 2012

Posted in UK

Norwich man pleads guilty to threatening behaviour during EDL march

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man who was arrested during an English Defence League march in Norwich and charged with using threatening words or behaviour has been fined.

Matthew Berryman, 28, of Astell Road, Norwich, appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to the offence on November 10. He was ordered to pay a £150 fine, a £20 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Norwich Evening News, 27 November 2012

Welsh Muslims report widespread racist abuse

Posted on by Bob Pitt

RCC reportThe Institute of Race Relations draws our attention to a Wales Online report on a new study of racism and race equality in Wales by Professor Heaven Crawley that was commissioned by Race Council Cymru.

It found people from minority ethnic backgrounds in Wales are still experiencing racism in health, education and housing services, as well as in employment. And in many cases when racism occurs, it found victims are not reporting or challenging it, but instead changing their behaviours, language and clothing to “fit in”.

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UKIP founder Alan Sked says the party is ‘morally dodgy’ and ‘extraordinarily right-wing’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

David Cameron has been under fire for dismissing the UK Independence Party (Ukip) as a party of “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists”, in a now-notorious radio interview in 2006.

However, he may have won support from an unusual quarter – the founder and former leader of Ukip, Professor Alan Sked, says the party he launched in 1993 has become “extraordinarily right-wing” and is now devoted to “creating a fuss, via Islam and immigrants. They’ve got nothing to say on mainstream issues.”

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Lord Ashcroft is worried that people might see Lynton Crosby’s anti-Muslim rant as racist – because they ‘will not appreciate that Muslim is a religion not a race’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Lord AshcroftDavid Cameron’s controversial new campaign chief, Lynton Crosby, was in a fresh row last night after a leading Tory peer said his foul-mouthed rant against Muslims could be seen as “racist”.

Former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft told friends that outspoken Australian Mr Crosby’s remark about “f****** Muslims” was a major error of judgment.

“The danger is that other people will see it as racist,” Lord Ashcroft was heard to comment at the Spectator magazine parliamentary awards lunch at The Savoy in London. “Some people may assume he means effing Muslims, effing blacks and all effing immigrants and will not appreciate that Muslim is a religion not a race.”

Mail on Sunday, 25 November 2012

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Anti-Islamic film up for discussion at Muslim conference in Southampton

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A film that provoked a storm of violent protests among Muslims across the world will be discussed in Southampton next week.

The Muslim Council of Southampton (MCS) is holding a conference about the anti-Islamic video that was posted on Youtube by a US citizen. The clip led to protests that have caused more than 75 deaths and hundreds of injuries across the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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English Defence League demo a washout

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL Wandsworth prison protest

The English Defence League had high expectations of their demonstration outside Wandworth prison in support of their jailed leader.

“We want to make it a big event,” the EDL wrote last week, “we want the authorities to sit up and take note. We want them to know that we know that Tommy’s arrest and remand is motivated not by a desire to uphold the law but for political reasons.”

Alas, the troops failed to rally to the cause. Hope Not Hate and EDL News report that a mere 100 protestors turned out in the rain.

Far-right campaign fails – Skegness halal abattoir application granted

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Skegness abattoir which has sparked controversy over its plans to reopen as a halal slaughterhouse, has had an application to run granted.

Premier Halal Ltd, which appears to be a Yorkshire based meat wholesalers, had its documents approved on November 16. A spokesperson for the Food Standards Agency said: “This approval allows the company to operate both as a slaughterhouse and cutting plant, in relation to cattle, calves, sheep and goats.”

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Convicted EDL thug is organising ‘peaceful’ anti-Muslim protest in County Durham

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Alan SpenceFar-right extremists will descend on Shotton Colliery next month to protest over plans to turn a former pub into a Muslim education centre.

Members of the English Defence League (EDL) will hold what they say will be the “first of many” regional demonstrations in the village. It comes after, the EDL says, residents contacted the organisation after Durham County Council passed plans to turn the former Melrose Arms pub into a Muslim educational centre in May.

The EDL says it will be supported by other Defence Leagues and North East Infidels during the demonstration, on December 1.

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