Category Archives: UK

Muslims boycott Glasgow Airport over racial profiling

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Kenny MacAskillGlasgow’s Muslims are boycotting the city’s main airport and choosing to fly from Manchester because of perceived harassment from counter-terrorism officers, it was claimed last night.

The allegations were made at a public meeting called to discuss concerns held by parts of the Asian community that powers held by police, ports and immigration officials to question travellers at travel hubs were abused, with travellers singled out solely on the basis of their race or skin colour.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill told around 70 people at Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow that Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 was a necessary tool in fighting global terrorism. He admitted there had been occasions when the powers had been used inappropriately, but said it was not deliberately used to target people because of their ethnicity.

But lawyer Aamer Anwar said some Muslims had become so disillusioned at the way they were treated at Glasgow Airport they decided to take their business south of the Border. He said he would challenge police to deliver statistics on how much counter-terrorism intelligence had been delivered as a result of questioning travellers at the airport.

He said: “The questions are offensive, rude and intimidating in the way they are carried out. The police may like to claim they are collecting intelligence and they are like James Bond but I think they are coming across more like Austin Powers.” Mr Anwar said one Afghan man living in Glasgow returned from a trip home to be asked by officers if he knew Osama Bin Laden or had ever visited the Tora Bora mountains, where the al Qaeda leader hid out.

He added: “It seems as if there is racial profiling going on at Glasgow Airport and what the people from the community are doing is using Manchester Airport and other airports to fly out. Everything is not fine at Glasgow Airport. People do not accept the way they are being treated. They are not terrorists and they expect to be able to go about their business.”

The Herald, 13 July 2011

Via ENGAGE

See also The Scotsman, 13 July 2011

Police appeal for photographic evidence of EDL violence in Halifax

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL Halifax protest July 2011

Police are asking the public for their pictures and video of violence that erupted when the English Defence League descended on Halifax at the weekend.

Divisional commander for Calderdale Chief Superintendent Chris Hardern says they are investigating a clash between some of the far-right group and counter-demonstrators at King Cross and the break-out of EDL members from the Eureka car park. He urged residents who saw what happened, have footage or photographs, or who witnessed any other trouble, to get in touch.

Calderdale councillor Faisal Shoukat (Lab, Park) says he was assaulted after EDL supporters turned up at the counter-demonstration. He said he was speaking to organisers of the counter-protest as they were setting up when EDL supporters turned up and started damaging the gazebo and speakers.

“They started shouting racist abuse and opening up a banner with racist remarks on it and they chanted ‘EDL’,” he said. He suffered bruising to the back of his head and kidney area. He said one of the EDL members was filming the incident.

The EDL had been told they could hold their protest in the Eureka car park, and the museum shut for the day because of the demonstration, but some of the group came intent on marching on the town’s streets. Coaches are believed to have let some off in Sowerby Bridge, from where some marched into Halifax and others took buses into King Cross and the park opposite the William IV pub where the counter-demo was planned.

Police marched the protesters into the Eureka car park where the mob hurled glass bottles at police, shouted anti-Islamic chants and “Let’s go mental” before breaking fencing to get out of the car park and onto the Eureka grounds. Officers donned riot gear and escorted the EDL supporters to coaches and the rail station and out of Halifax.

Anyone who can help the police should call 0845 6060606 or CrimeStoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Halifax Courier, 12 July 2011

EDL could target Ely over Muslim community centre plan

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The English Defence League (EDL) could target Ely following its march in Cambridge. Muslims want to build a “miniature mosque” at Paradise Centre fields, but the EDL could take to Ely’s streets against it.

Arbury resident Ross Ground, 32, a member of EDL’s Cambridge Division, said: “I cannot confirm there will be a march in Ely but members of the East Anglian branch who came on Saturday said they were looking into it if the plans for a mosque go ahead.”

The management committee of the Ely centre told the city’s Muslims it would lease them part of its land if they gained planning permission. The group has around 50 members who gather inside the centre on Fridays.

Mohammed Tahir, from Ely, said: “The EDL have threatened to march in Ely if the Muslim community of Ely go ahead with plans to build a mosque here.”

Cambridge News, 12 July 2011

See also Ely Weekly News, 16 February 2011

Cf. the comments at Ely Online, 26 February 2011

Community support for Blackpool mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Noor-A-Madina mosqueA community turned out in force to show their support for a mosque which has become the subject of an English Defence League campaign.

Members of the Noor-A-Madina mosque on Waterloo Road were joined by the North West branch of United Against Fascism, the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Trade Union Council and Blackpool Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).

All of the people present were there to show defiance to the EDL, a group which one UAF member claims is “trying to whip up racism”.

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London Assembly Member calls on Home Secretary to ban EDL march in Tower Hamlets

Posted on by Bob Pitt

John BiggsThe Home Secretary has been asked today to ban a threatened march by the English Defence League through London’s East End.

The call comes from the London Assembly’s budget chairman John Biggs, who represents East London at City Hall. He has written to Theresa May asking her to ban the “divisive” march through Whitechapel planned for September 3 – anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War.

“I have real concerns that groups opposed to the Far Right EDL will also take to the streets if it goes ahead,” he said. “The results will be huge public disorder, a risk of injury to the public and damage to property.”

Today’s letter was the second in a week to the Home Secretary in which he outlines his concerns: “I believe the march will be totally divisive.” It would be staged the first weekend after Ramadan, he points out, if it goes ahead.

East London Advertiser, 12 July 2011

Cambridge: EDL protestors prevented from attacking mosque and then throw Qur’ans at Muslims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL Camridge protest

Members of the English Defence League (EDL) made a failed bid to target a Cambridge mosque after they marched through the city.

The incident came after a relatively peaceful march by the EDL through the city centre in which scuffles with police broke out along with bottle-throwing. Officers threw up a cordon around the mosque in Mawson Road and managed to quell the troublemakers.

Officers quelled some of the flashpoints sparked as around 200 EDL marchers were taunted by a small number of counter-protesters from an earlier 1,500 strong demonstration by Unite Against Fascism.

But members of the EDL, who arrived in coaches from across the country to Queens’ Green, also began fighting amongst themselves.

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EDL launches ‘summer of hate’, holds anti-Islam protests in four towns and cities

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL Bradford placardsThe English Defence League (EDL) is to march against against Islam today in four towns and cities.

Anti-fascists will put on counter-protests against what they have described as a “summer of hate” by the EDL. Hundreds of police are expected to be on duty to prevent a repeat of violent scenes at previous events.

In Cambridge, EDL supporters will march in opposition to plans to build a mosque in the Mill Road area. A rival demonstration by Unite Against Fascism (UAF) will also be staged as thousands of families are expected to attend the city’s Big Weekend celebrations of live music.

Both sides will also be taking to the streets in Plymouth. The EDL has been distributing leaflets in the city centre with pamphlets saying “defend our culture”.

A planned EDL march in Derby was called off although opponents will still hold a Love Music Hate Racism festival at different venues in the city.

EDL will be staging its first demonstration in Middlesbrough, again over plans to build a mosque.

Independent, 9 July 2011

EDL take to streets of Plymouth to protest against ‘the lies of Islam’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

More than 400 officers took to the streets of Plymouth city centre to police two opposing marches – which numbered around about 300 people in total. Senior officers have defended the large deployment of officers, some of whom were drafted in from Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire forces, claiming it was necessary to “lessen the impact of the marches”.

While the far-right English Defence League (EDL) set off from the Wild Coyote public house in Exeter Street at 1pm on Saturday, a counter-rally, organised by unionists and the Unite Against Fascism group, set off from the Jigsaw Gardens in Cornwall Street. Both groups, which held around 100 to 150 marchers each, were accompanied on their separate routes through the city by a sizeable number of officers, some wearing protective gear and carrying riot helmets.

Labour councillors Chaz Singh (Drake) and Philippa Davey (Stoke) were joined by Plymouth Moor View MP Alison Seabeck at the Jigsaw gardens.

Ms Davey said: “We want to highlight the tactics of the EDL, where they claim they’re not racists and it’s only about extremist Muslims. We also want to show that despite their best attempts to show antifascist groups as anarchists, we are the peaceful ones and we will not rise to their intimidation.”

Mr Singh said: “We want to show that the true representation of diversity is here. We’re not here to exacerbate the problem, we’re here to show that we are the real people of Plymouth”.

One of the organisers of the EDL march – Hayley also known as Princess Angel – said their protest was to “wake people up to the lies of Islam”. She claimed a mosque was being build in Beaumont Road, Greenbank – which is described as an Islamic cultural centre by its owners the Plymouth Islamic Education Trust (Piety) – and that the “religion was full of hate and not peaceful at all.”

She said: “We’re not a racist organisation. We’re only against Muslim extremists. We’re not racists – we do have coloured members. There’s a non-white person here [today].”

Police said the day passed without major incident and only six arrests – a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon at the Jigsaw gardens, a 45-year-old man on suspicion of breach of the peace in Notte Street and a 25-year-old man for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of cannabis in Armada Way. Police say three more men were arrested during the marches for breach of the peace.

Police later charged the 28-year-old man and he is expected to appear before Plymouth magistrates on July 20 charged with possession of an offensive weapon. The remaining five arrested were later released on police bail.

Following the march, the EDL held speeches opposite the Holiday Inn by Citadel Road, while the opposing marchers carried out their shorter speeches close to the sundial in Armada Way. Both groups were then escorted back to the starting points by police.

This is Plymouth, 9 July 2011