The lesson of 9/11: Don’t dare upset the Muslims

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Bob Pitt

Hardly a day goes by without us witnessing appalling atrocities and provocations in the supposed name of Islam: suicide bombings, fatwas, stonings, burnings of effigies and flags, Holocaust denial, and other crude forms of anti-Semitism. Women in Gaza and Muslim countries daren’t even have an orgasm without first obtaining the permission of their Islamofascist rulers. And who in the West dares to utter a word in protest?

A loony pastor in Florida, however, with no more than fifty followers, threatens to burn a few Korans and the Western media descends into a state of frenzy, the story leading all the major networks for days.

Such disproportionate oversensitivity to and appeasement of Muslims constitutes a worrying sign that the West may already have given up the fight against the evil of Islamofascism….

I am under no illusion about individuals such as Pastor Jones or, for example, elements of the English Defence League. What I do admire, however, is their refusal to lie down while their world and way of life – and in their own countries – is being transformed in front of their very eyes.

Anyone who is more concerned about a few books being burned by some deranged pastor – and we are not talking state-sponsored, 1933-style destruction here – than about the creeping Islamization of our planet is no less irrational than the mook with the handlebar moustache.

Melchett Mike at the JC Blog, 11 September 2010

Note the appearance of Zionist Federation vice-chair Jonathan Hoffman in the comments to this post, expressing his support.

Leaders of 14 unions back November demo against racism and Islamophobia

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Bob Pitt

UAF demo Nov 2010

The general secretaries of the GMB general union and the UCU lecturers’ union have both signed up to support the national demo against racism, fascism and Islamophobia on Saturday 6 November.

Backing from Paul Kenny and Sally Hunt means that the leaders of 14 trade unions, representing millions of workers, have now signed up to support the demo called by UAF and backed by the TUC, the Muslim Council of Britain and Love Music Hate Racism.

Labour leadership rivals Ed Balls and Diane Abbott are also among those who have signed the statement backing the march and carnival, which will take place in central London.

Statement supporting the 6 November demo

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned by the rise in fascism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and racism. The English Defence League has organised events across the country, stirring up hatred, Islamophobia and racism – running riot in some cases and provoking violent attacks on Muslim, black and Asian communities and on Mosques and Mandirs (Hindu temples).

Alongside this the British National Party has received unprecedented electoral support for a fascist organisation in Britain.

Despite losing many council seats in the elections this year, the BNP’s share of the vote overall continued to rise and it has two elected members of the European Parliament.

This is in the context of a wave of Islamaphobia and racism in Europe and the USA, including threats to burn copies of the Qur’an, attacks on Mosques and Islamic cultural centres, bans on Muslim women’s full-face veils and the construction of minarets. In France, the Roma people have been singled out and subjected to mass expulsions.

Now, more than ever, we must unite to turn back this tide of hatred.

We stand against the rise of racism, fascism, Islamophobia and antisemitism and support the demonstration on Saturday 6 November.

Signed:

Derek Simpson joint general secretary, Unite the union, Tony Woodley joint general secretary, Unite the union, Keith Sonnetdeputy general secretary Unison, Paul Kenny general secretary GMB Ed Balls MP, Diane Abbott MP, Billy Hayes general secretary, CWU, Tony Kearns deputy general secretary, CWU,Chris Keates general secretary, NASUWT, Christine Blowergeneral secretary NUT, Kevin Courtney deputy general secretary, NUT, Sally Hunt general secretary UCU, Mark Serwotkageneral secretary PCS, Hugh Lanning deputy general secretary PCS, Matt Wrack general secretary FBU, Bob Crow general secretary, RMT, Jeremy Dear general secretary NUJ, Pete Murray president NUJ, Gerry Conlon Guildford Four, Paddy Hill Birmingham Six, Runnymede Trust, Napo, POA, Musicians Union

>> Add your support to the statement
>> Download leaflets here
>> Model motion for trade union branches and community organisations

Update: See also “Major Muslim organisations throw weight behind demo”, UAF news release, 17 September 2010

Woolas accused of appealing to anti-Muslim bigotry in attempt to win ‘white Sun vote’

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Bob Pitt

Phil Woolas leaflet

Ex-minister Phil Woolas was yesterday accused of whipping up racial hatred in his fight to stay an MP. A special court was told his Labour team tried to make “white folk angry”. Mr Woolas saved his Oldham East and Saddleworth seat in May by 103 votes after two recounts.

In the first case of its kind for 99 years, defeated Lib Dem candidate Elwyn Watkins alleges the vote was swayed by leaflets containing false claims. Labour tried to stir “the white Sun vote” by suggesting Muslims aimed to “take Phil out”, High Court judges sitting in the constituency heard.

Daily Mirror, 14 September 2010

The Daily Mail report features illustrations of some of the headlines generated by Woolas’s anti-Muslim campaign.

Update: See also ENGAGE, 14 September 2010

Get Him headline

Deal or 'No Deal' headline

Royal Mail refused Muslim staff time off for Eid, CWU condemns ‘clear case of discrimination’

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Bob Pitt

CWU Postal workers who were refused time off to celebrate a religious holiday are considering legal action against Royal Mail.

Muslim staff at the regional distribution centre in Stourton, Leeds, say they are usually allowed to take the day off to mark Eid-ul-Fitr – the end of the holy month of Ramadan. But around 50 workers who wanted leave to mark the festival last Friday were told they could not have the day off this year “for operational reasons”. Many, however, refused to turn up and are now facing disciplinary hearings over “unauthorised absences”.

One staff member told the YEP: “In previous years shifts have been organised so there was cover for those who wanted to celebrate Eid. For some reason this year the management either forgot to do this or deliberately did not do it. It is the most important time of the year for many of us and it is very important we are with our families. I was not prepared to work.”

Union bosses are now holding talks with senior managers to secure agreements that, in future, cover will be provided for Muslims who want time off to mark religious holidays. And they have warned they are prepared to take the company to an employment tribunal, alleging discrimination.

Andy Lee, secretary of the Communications Workers Union Leeds No1 Amalgamated branch, said: “We know they cannot always release everybody, but they have always tried to release as many as possible. This year they simply said ‘unfortunately, we can’t do it’ and so they cancelled leave for all. They knew it was coming as it does every year and they should have planned for it.

“Our members are very upset – my phone did not stop ringing. Many members decided they would not go in to work and as a result they are facing hearings over unauthorised absences. We’re already fighting those. We’re actively pursuing this. There is another Eid coming up at the end of November and we want to avoid a similar confrontation.

“If we have to then we are prepared to take it to a tribunal because we believe it is a clear case of discrimination.”

Yorkshire Evening Post, 14 September 2010

Rushdie backs Park51

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Bob Pitt

Salman_Rushdie “The Satanic Verses” author Salman Rushdie is not a great fan of organized worship but believes an Islamic center and mosque should be permitted two blocks from ground zero.

Rushdie’s satirical novel led in the 1980s to worldwide riots by Muslims and calls for his death. He says he understands the “sensitivities” of building the site close to where thousands were killed during on Sept. 11, 2001.

But he says First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion should be honored. He adds that he is “not personally” a lover of mosques or any place of worship. But he says that if people “want a mosque, it seems absolutely right they should have it.”

Associated Press, 13 September 2010

See also the New York Post, which quotes Rushdie as saying of the Park51 controversy: “It’s just a stupid argument. Of course they should be able to build a mosque there.”

EDL burn Qur’an at London demonstration

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Bob Pitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I_kgw6fdGfY

The English Defence League proudly film themselves burning pages from the Qur’an during their demonstration in central London on Saturday.

They think the police officer who stopped them was a Muslim. I mean, why else would he intervene to prevent decent English patriots exercising their democratic right to incite hatred against Islam? The EDL have to content themselves with a tuneless chant of “Allah is a paedo”.

And the bizarre thing is, they post stuff like this on YouTube in the evident belief that it presents their cause in a favourable light.

Another EDL ‘flash mob’ – in Nuneaton

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Bob Pitt

Police officers swooped to quell a racist confrontation which flared up shortly after soldiers had paraded through Nuneaton yesterday afternoon.

Members of the English Defence League attended the ceremony, which granted the Borough Council’s Freedom of Entry to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. As the march came to an end, the 60-strong EDL entourage headed towards the Edward Street area of the town, which is the heart of the local Muslim community.

“We were expecting some people connected with the EDL to be at the parade and after it had finished they congregated at The Crew bar in Queen’s Road,” said Chief Inspector Chris Lewis. “They positioned themselves outside and raised tensions with the Muslim community, which caused a few minor skirmishes but nothing of any consequence. We moved in to keep people at a distance and to calm things down. The EDL members were then escorted away from the scene and back to Nuneaton train station.”

The Warwickshire force commander, who was in charge of policing the parade, added: “We are constantly scanning for intelligence and knew that the EDL were planning to be in attendance for this occasion. Many of them had travelled from other parts of the country but they also had some local supporters.”

Around 200 people gathered around the Edward Street-Queen’s Road junction during a four-hour stand-off, as police officers, including dog handlers, kept the situation under control. All roads leading to the area were blocked for traffic and police reinforcements were also called in from the West Midlands.

Yaseen Ahmedabadi, assistant secretary of the Nuneaton Muslim Society, said: “The local community staged a peaceful protest against the unexpected and unwarranted presence of visitors from the English Defence League, who have no place in our society. We are very pleased with the way the police handled the situation.”

Coventry Telegraph, 13 September 2010

Eight arrests at EDL ‘flash demo’ in Oldham

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Bob Pitt

Eight people have been arrested during an English Defence League (EDL) gathering in Greater Manchester.

About 120 members met in Oldham on Saturday. Some laid a wreath at the war memorial in Yorkshire Street.

Up to 50 supporters threw bottles at a police car at about 1315 BST, a Greater Manchester Police spokesman said.

Four were arrested over public order offences. Another four were arrested, also on suspicion of public order offences, in the town centre.

BBC News, 12 September 2010

Update: See “No complacency over new EDL ‘flash mob’ tactics”, UAF 13 September 2010 and “EDL’s new tactic”, Indymedia, 13 September 2010

English Defence League leader refused entry into US?

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Bob Pitt

Nick Lowles reports: “I’ve picked up a rumour this morning that EDL leader ‘Tommy Robinson’ has been refused entry into the United States where he was due to attend an anti-Islam rally at Ground Zero in New York. Robinson was travelling with a number of other EDL leaders when he was turned away at the Immigration desk for apparent entry form irregularities. He was taken into custody and almost immediately put on a plane back to London. His fellow EDL members were allowed to go through.”