Category Archives: UK

The false claims about ‘two-tier system’ behind EDL’s planned Leicester protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Leicester Mercury exposes the lies and myths surrounding the assault on Rhea Page, which have been exploited by the English Defence League in order to mobilise its supporters for a protest in Leicester next month.

The Mercury argues:

One can only conclude that the reason the EDL has leapt upon the misunderstandings about this case is because it actually has a much wider agenda. It is seeking to propagate a message that white English people are becoming second-class citizens in their own country and preferential treatment is given to Muslims.

That is, of course, deeply divisive and dangerous stuff which breeds resentment between communities. And, as we have seen, its argument crumbles as soon as one carries out a detailed examination of the facts.

See also “Brilliant public meeting as Leicester unites to oppose EDL”, UAF news report, 20 January 2012

Closure threat to Islamic primary school in Newham

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Hasib HakmatNewham Council are threatening to close a primary school in Forest Gate after just four months in a bitter dispute over planning permission.

Council officials have issued an enforcement notice against Alif Academy, an independent Islamic primary school that opened in September, claiming they do not have planning permission to operate as a school.

Headteacher Hasib Hikmat [pictured] said their planning application was blocked by the council’s enforcement notice which has forced them into an appeals process after they spent £50,000 refurbishing the building. But the council and the headmaster both confirmed that the school, at 313-319 Katherine Road, is registered with the Department for Education (DfE) and gained approval from Ofsted.

Continue reading →

Anti-Islamic groups across Europe to hold far-right rally in Denmark

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Daily Telegraph reports that far-right anti-Islamic groups from across Europe, led by the English Defence League, will be holding a rally in Aarhus on 31 March under the auspices of the EDL-sponsored European Freedom Initiative. Swedish Defence League spokesman Isak Nygren states: “There will be speeches from every defence league in Europe. I hope we can show that there’s resistance against Islamisation of Europe, that we can inspire each other.”

Continue reading →

Jonathan Freedland defends dialogue with representatives of East London Mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Writing in this week’s Jewish Chronicle, Jonathan Freedland defends Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg against Martin Bright’s recent attack on him over his failure to boycott representatives of the East London Mosque:

Wittenberg is not the only rabbi to have had dealings with the ELM. Just weeks ago, four rabbis – including the Orthodox Dayan Binstock – spoke at the mosque’s community centre. Yet the JC has not denounced Binstock as a “useful idiot”, nor has it railed against the Orthodox Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue, whose president tells me they have a “wonderful relationship” with the nextdoor ELM. In fact, I’ve separately learned the shul was delighted to accept a £5,000 contribution from the mosque towards a new roof – made with no publicity – and was touched when the mosque halted building work to ensure they could daven undisturbed on Yom Kippur. Are the Fieldgate Street congregants “useful idiots” too?

Continue reading →

University of East Anglia launches UK’s first course in women, Islam and the media

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Women, Islam and the media are topics often found in close conjunction, and not always in the happiest of circumstances. So in a canny move, the University of East Anglia (UEA), which often gives better-known institutions a run for their money in terms of column inches, has developed a course entitled exactly that.

The 12-week module, which the university claims is the first of its kind in the UK, will cover the often inflammatory topics of veil wearing, arranged marriage and “honour” crimes – looking at how they are portrayed in contemporary film, TV and other media, and how this reflects cultural biases in both the east and west. It launches this week and 18 third-year students have enrolled. Roughly equal numbers of men and women have signed up.

Continue reading →

Posted in UK

EDL thugs’ appeal against prison sentences dismissed

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A South Tyneside man who was jailed after English Defence League supporters stormed a Newcastle club has lost an appeal against his prison sentence.

Colin Burton, 28, was part of a gang which surged into the Tyneside Irish Centre, believing a Socialist Workers Party meeting was taking place. Last month, Burton, of Wouldhave Road, Court, South Shields, was jailed for seven months, and Peter John Duffy, 44, of Elgin Avenue, Seaham, County Durham, was jailed for 10 months after admitting affray.

Yesterday, they appealed to the country’s senior judge, Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, but were told that there was nothing wrong with the sentences. “We are looking at a mob piling into someone’s premises, and intending to pile in because they happened to disagree with a perfectly lawful meeting, which they thought was taking place,” Lord Judge told London’s Court of Appeal.

Continue reading →