Category Archives: UK

Another right-wing Islamophobic attack on the Lib Dems

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Following on from the disgraceful attack on Nick Clegg by the Daily Express, we now have Catholic Herald editor Damian Thompson denouncing Simon Hughes’ “sick-making” speech at the 2008 Global Peace and Unity event (Thompson can’t even get the name right):

“Thanks be to Allah!” declared Simon Hughes, the then president of the Liberal Democrats, as he addressed a London conference in 2008, before going on to quote from the Koran: “Then [Allah] will assemble you on the Day of Resurrection…” He added: “Friends, it is our job to teach those who do not have faith of the deep truths of the faith of God’s justice and God’s presence.”

Hughes didn’t ask (à la Harold Wilson) “And why do I stress the truths of the Koran?” But, if he had, the correct answer would have been: “Because you’re talking to thousands of Muslims.”

Ed West blogged yesterday about Hattie Harman’s pathetic attempts to suck up to black voters. But that’s nothing compared to Hughes’s sickening performance at the “Global Justice and Unity event” (GPU), a gathering of 60,000 Muslims in London Docklands.

EDL stages rooftop protest in Dudley

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Reports are coming in that the English Defence League has occupied the rooftop of a derelict building in Dudley earmarked for a mammoth [sic] new mosque.

The group staged a daytime protest in the town on Easter Saturday to show their objection to the planned new place of worship – and almost immediately afterwards supporters said a return visit was already being planned.

Around 20 EDL members, with their faces covered, are reportedly involved in the protest, which has been advertised on the group’s page on social networking site Facebook. An eyewitness said: “They’re waving England flags and blaring out Islamic music from a loud speaker.”

Continue reading →

Wot, us – racists? EDL is ‘not opposed to Muslims’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL placards Dudley

“The EDL were formed in June 2009, after demonstrations by a group of radical Muslims, at the homecoming parade, in Luton, of some of our troops, the Royal Anglian Regiment, returning from a tour of duty in Iraq. It is a rapidly growing movement, whose main Facebook group has over 15,000 members to date. The EDL has tried to make clear that it is not opposed to Muslims, but to radical Islam, against which they hold protests all over Britain.”

Casuals United Blog, 30 April 2010

What’s threatening about European attacks on Muslim veils

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“The anti-burqa cause is sweeping Europe. In addition to Belgium and France, Italy and the Netherlands are considering bans. Yet the targets of these measures are virtually nonexistent. Mr. Bacquelaine estimates that a couple of hundred women in Belgium wear a full veil. In France, one study estimated that there are 1,900 burqa wearers in a Muslim population of 5 million.

“The idea that this poses a criminal or cultural threat is ludicrous. Those who say they are defending women’s rights have it exactly backward: They are violating fundamental rights to free expression and religious freedom…. Muslims, including the devoutly religious, are in Europe to stay. Banning their customs, their clothing or their places of worship will not make them more European. It will only make Europe less free.”

Editorial in the Washington Post, 1 May 2010

MI5 ‘tried to recruit Muslim spies’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Cageprisoners

A human rights organisation has condemned the intimidation, profiling and attempted recruitment of members of the Muslim community by Special Branch and MI5. Cageprisoners specifically cited the case of Asif Ahmed, who it said was recently detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in Edinburgh airport along with his wife.

Schedule 7 allows police to stop and question travellers at ports and airports “for the purpose of determining whether they are a person who is or has been concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.” Failure to answer questions is a criminal offence.

The Ahmeds were allegedly questioned in detail and an attempt was made to coerce Mr Ahmed into becoming an informer for Special Branch to spy on the Muslim community.

Cageprisoners also published a report titled The Horn of Africa Inquisition, which detailed how the community from the Horn of Africa and those travelling to the region have allegedly been harassed by MI5 and Special Branch through profiling techniques.

Cageprisoners executive director Asim Qureshi said:

“The last seven years of the war on terror have seen the profiling and criminalisation of the Arab and Pakistani communities by UK authorities around the world. The policies that have been implemented through counter-terrorism legislation and Prevent have only been counter-productive as Muslim communities feel marginalised from British society. It is an unfortunate reality that many Muslims feel besieged at this time and the policies of government have done nothing to temper that.”

Morning Star, 1 May 2010

See also “British Muslims on safari ‘stopped by MI5′”, Independent, 1 May 2010

Stop Islamophobia: Defend the Muslim Community

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Stop Islamophobia

One Day Conference Saturday 5 June 10am to 5pm
Camden Centre London WC1H 9JE

Muslims are under attack in this country as never before. Government policies and the media have created an atmosphere in which all Muslims are portrayed as reactionary and anti-western.

Young Muslims in particular are subject to surveillance in colleges, schools and mosques in the name of combating “extremism”. Those who exercise their right to demonstrate peacefully have been subject to arrest and heavy sentencing.

Meanwhile, the racist “defence leagues” have been focussing their attacks on Muslim communities, with provocative marches in towns and cities inciting racial hatred and bigotry.

From its founding in 2001, Stop the War has been committed to combating racism. We recognise that Islamophobia is a direct consequence of the “war on terror”. We believe it is vital that the anti-war movement acts in conjunction with other campaigns and organisations to stem its tide.

The Stop Islamophobia: Defend the Muslim Community conference on Saturday 5 June, organised by Stop the War and the British Muslim Initiative, will bring together a wide range of opinion united in concern over the escalating demonisation of Muslims in our society.

Organised by Stop the War Coalition and British Muslim Initiative

Supported by CND, Cordoba Foundation, Federation of Student Islamic Societies, Islam Channel, Islamic Forum of Europe, Islamophobia Watch, London Muslim Centre, Muslim Welfare House, National Union of Journalists, North London Central Mosque, Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Book here

EDL clashes with police in Aylesbury

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Violence broke out between anti-Islamist protesters from the English Defence League and riot police at a May Day march in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Demonstrators hurled coins, glass bottles, plastic flag sticks and cans at officers after the event. Around 200 protesters burst through police lines and scuffled with officers armed with riot shields, batons and dogs. Onlookers said there were no apparent serious injuries.

Around 1,000 members of the far-right group had marched to the town’s Market Square, chanting and waving flags. One onlooker said: “As the protesters came to leave the square members of the EDL thought they weren’t been allowed out quickly enough and some began pushing and shoving. Soon missiles were been thrown and riot police had to be called in to calm the situation down.”

Local Area Commander Superintendent Richard List, of Thames Valley Police, strongly condemned the violence. He said: “It is disappointing that the EDL has not continued to protest in a peaceful manner.”

Daily Telegraph, 1 May 2010

See also Socialist Worker, 1 May 2010

Video reports here and  here.

Ed Balls jeered by BNP supporters for rejecting veil ban

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Ed Balls at Morley hustingsSchools Secretary Ed Balls received a frosty reception from voters as he went head to head with the British National Party in a soapbox debate in West Yorkshire today.

Mr Balls, who has a notional majority in the seat of Morley and Outwood, was jeered and booed by some members of the public in Morley town centre as he answered questions.

Four other candidates – Chris Beverley for the BNP, Anthony Calvert for the Conservatives, James Monaghan for the Liberal Democrats, and David Daniel for the UK Independence Party – joined Mr Balls as they mounted soapboxes to address voters directly. A microphone was passed round the crowd during the 40-minute event, organised by The Independent newspaper, and questions were asked on issues including schools, the economy, jobs and immigration.

A question posed from a male member of the crowd regarding Belgium’s decision to ban the burka led to one of the biggest responses from the audience. He asked the candidates: “They’re doing this (banning the burka) in the interest of women’s rights, social inclusion, anti-terrorism and security. What I want to know is which of the parties are going to have the gumption to take an issue like that and really address it?”

Mr Balls answered: “We have people here who are Christian and Muslim and Jewish, and I think British values of tolerance and fair play and mutual respect mean that you don’t say to people that because of their particular religion, or the colour of their skin that they are second class.”

Some members of the audience clapped and cheered in support of Mr Balls while others booed and held aloft BNP posters.

Yorkshire Post, 30 April 2010

See also BBC News, 30 April 2010

Another anti-racist festival is banned

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A planned music festival in Queens Park has been banned by town hall chiefs amid fears over safety.

Bolton Love Music Hate Racism was organising the all-day music event for May 31 and had been working with Bolton Council since last November. They had already secured funding, including £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

The group, an offshoot of the national Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) group, has been in talks with top acts including The Bluetones and Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip about headlining the event.

But now town hall chiefs have put stop to it, leaving organisers “gutted”.

Bolton News, 29 April 2010

See also here

Respect stands for fairness in an unequal Britain, says Salma Yaqoob

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Salma_for_MP

“At a time when waves of Islamophobic hatred are sweeping across Europe and lapping at out shores, the Muslim community is going to need as many advocates and defenders in the Parliament. With its support, I can be one of those. But the prize is not just about Muslims having a voice, but having a voice for all those who feel they have been abandoned, regardless of their background.”

Salma Yaqoob in the Muslim News, 30 April 2010