Category Archives: UK

Council fails to ban EDL provocation in Manchester

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL in BirminghamCouncil chiefs have failed to get the government to ban a demonstration in Manchester by a right-wing group which claims to oppose Islamic extremism.

The English Defence League (EDL) plans to host a protest in the city next month. Manchester City Council, religious leaders and city traders asked the Home Office to stop the event after a similar recent protest turned violent. But the Home Office said it had no power to ban “static demonstrations”.

The council said it was concerned that shoppers and residents could become caught up in possible trouble caused by the EDL event. Councillor Jim Battle, deputy council leader, said: “Wherever the so-called English Defence League have gone there has been violence and disruption to ordinary people who just want to go about their business. It certainly is not welcome in Manchester.”

The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, Reverend Roger Govender, and Cityco, which represents city traders, backed the council’s opposition to the event.

According to the Home Office, police must make a decision locally on how to patrol peaceful protests. A Home Office spokesman added:

“They must take into consideration responsibilities such as public safety, public order, the prevention of crime and the protection of the rights of others to go about their lawful business. Violent activity and incitement to religious and racial hatred are totally unacceptable and the police have powers to deal robustly with any such activities.”

BBC news, 16 September 2009

See also Bartholomew’s Notes on Religion, 16 September 2009

Update:  And see “The tabloids and right wing extremism” at Five Chinese Crackers, which analyses the use made in the EDL video of anti-Muslim articles in the mainstream right-wing press.

Alan Sugar ‘Muslim terror target’ story was wrong, admits Sun

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Extremist threat to UK JewsThe Sun today admitted that its front page story claiming Lord Alan Sugar was a Jewish “target” of extremist Muslims was wrong.

But the paper did not apologise or offer a correction to readers about the 7 January story, which carried the headline “Terror Target Sugar”. The story quoted claims by “anti-terror expert” Glen Jenvey that online Muslim forum Ummah.com was being used by extremists to target leading British Jews in revenge for Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

The Sun story named Sugar, singer Amy Winehouse, producer Mark Ronson and Labour peer Lord Levy as among those allegedly being targeted by Islamic extremists. News International’s daily tabloid subsequently removed the story, which carried the bylines of John Coles and Mike Sullivan, from its website. The story came from the news agency South West News.

Jenvey has also appeared on BBC2’s Newsnight as a terror expert commenting on internet monitoring of extremist groups.

Today the Sun ran a follow-up story on page two, with a picture of Jenvey, with a longer version online.

“Jenvey told how he fabricated the list of Jewish targets by posing as a fundamentalist on an extremist website where he urged others to suggest names,” the paper wrote. “He then leaked the made-up list to a trusted news agency, used by The Sun, and online forum Ummah.com was wrongly accused of being used to prepare a backlash against UK Jews.

“Jenvey – who had been described as ‘an extremely capable and knowledgeable analyst’ by Tory MP Patrick Mercer – said: ‘I’m fully responsible for the story. The Sun was deceived. The Sun did not know that I was behind the postings. I would like to apologise to all the British Jews who we scared and I’d like to apologise to The Sun newspaper’.”

Guardian, 15 September 2009

Perhaps a formal apology by the Sun to Ummah.com wouldn’t come amiss either.

And as Richard Bartholomew has pointed out, credit for exposing Jenvey should go to Tim Ireland of Bloggerheads.

French immigration minister calls for ban on veil

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Eric BessonFrance’s hardline immigration minister has launched a fresh demand to ban the burkha – decribed by president Nicolas Sarkozy a sign of “subservience and debasement”. Eric Besson said the Islamic full head and body covers were “unacceptable” and not welcome in France.

His demand for a total ban comes after 58 French MPs called last June for a public inquiry on whether it should be illegal for women to hide their faces in public. Mr Sazkozy backed the move, saying at the time: “This garment makes women prisoners and deprives them of their identity. I say solemnly that they are not welcome on the territory of the French Republic.” Women’s rights groups and Left-wing MPs went even further, describing the item as a “walking coffin” and and a “mobile prison”.

Earlier this year Mr Besson said he though a law banning burkhas and niqabs would only “create tensions”. But he has now said he wants Islamic garments which cover the face – worn by an estimated 2,000 women in France – outlawed everywhere. He said yesterday: “I recognise that my views have now evolved. The burkha is unacceptable and contrary to the principles of national identity, of sexual equality and of the French Republic.”

Left-wing MP Andre Gerin, who is heading the government commission on burkhas and niqabs, added: “We find it intolerable to see images of these imprisoned women when they come from Iran, Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. They are totally unacceptable on the territory of the French Republic.”

Daily Mail, 14 September 2009

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Fascists advertise new Islamophobic T-shirt

Posted on by Bob Pitt

bnp-stop-islamic-colonisation“In response to popular demand, Excalibur has developed a brand new range of dramatic political slogan T-shirts, headlined by one which reads ‘Stop Islamic Colonisation: No More Mosques’.

“The new T-shirts, available in short and long sleeve styles, also feature themes covering the EU, the asylum swindle, political correctness, regional BNP designs and a new Celtic pride range.

“The launch of the new collection coincides with renewed squawking from extremist leftist politicians and newspapers in Wales today over the use of Welsh folk hero Owain Glyndwr in Excalibur’s ‘Welsh by the Grace of God T-Shirt’ design.

“The addition of the 29 new designs to Excalibur’s range pushes the total number of available designs on offer to 44, making Excalibur the single largest supplier of patriotic wear in the country.”

BNP website, 14 September 2009

Chaotic alliance of far right groups stirs up trouble on streets

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL fascist salute BirminghamThe rise of the English Defence League, whose protests against Islamism have sparked violent city centre clashes, has been chaotic but rapid.

Three months ago, no one had heard of the EDL. But the organisation has risen to prominence in a spate of civil unrest in which far-right activists, football hooligans and known racists have fought running battles with Asian youths. The leadership insists they are not racist and just want to “peacefully protest against militant Islam”.

Yet at EDL events, skinheads have raised Nazi salutes and other EDL supporters have chanted racist slogans such as “I hate Pakis more than you”. One protest in Luton in May ended with scores of people attacking Asian businesses, smashing cars and threatening passersby.

Insiders have talked of plans to enlist football fans to march for the cause on the basis that “you need an army for a war”.

Guardian, 12 September 2009

See also “Minister warns of 1930s-style fascists on Britain’s streets”, Guardian, 12 September 2009

English Defence League humiliated in Harrow

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Harrow anti-EDL protest“This is the story that the news should be telling you, but probably isn’t. I was there, so I will tell you. I have rarely been so heartened in my political life.

“The English Defence League, whose marches have been wreaking chaos in Luton and Birmingham, attempted to target a mosque in Harrow today. Their official aim was to demonstrate outside the mosque in opposition to ‘Islamic extremism’.

“That this mosque has no connection with Islamic extremism tells you that any mosque would have sufficed for their purposes. As their organisers have explained, they believe that Islam itself is inherently extreme.

“I believe only few dozen of their activists actually made it to Harrow, but I can’t say for certain, because I never laid eyes on a single one. Where these fascist provocateurs intended to ‘protest’ were thousands of antifascists attending the UAF’s counter-demonstration.”

Lenin’s Tomb, 11 September 2009

See also “SIOE demo called off!”, SIOE website, 11 September 2009

Update:  See UAF statement, 12 September 2009

And pictures of the Harrow events here.

SAS Muslim ‘called Paki and terrorist by comrades’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

SASA Muslim soldier attached to the SAS was branded a “terrorist” and “Paki” by comrades on a tour of duty in Afghanistan, an employment tribunal heard. The London-based serviceman, born in Britain and of Pakistani origin, also claimed he was throttled in an attack by an officer while on active service.

The RAF medical officer, who was only referred to as AB for legal reasons, was attached to the specialist commando unit for two months in 2007 for a top-secret secondment.

He claims that while in Afghanistan he was subjected to racist taunts and a physical attack. Then when he returned to the UK his complaints of racial harassment and bullying were not properly investigated because of a “cover-up”, it was alleged.

Two senior officers, a sergeant and a major, were said to be at the heart of the allegations.

Most of the evidence at the Central London Employment tribunal has been given in secret on security ground, but some details were given in public for the first time at the hearing, where AB is suing the Ministry of Defence for racial discrimination.

An inquiry into his complaints has yet to be completed after more than two years, the tribunal heard. The MoD denies discrimination, and the hearing continues.

Evening Standard, 11 September 2009

Anti-mosque protesters chased out of Wealdstone

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Hordes of rampaging young Asian men chased a small group of men through the civic centre car park after they apparently came to protest against Harrow Central Mosque.

Hundreds of people had gathered in Station Road, united against any protest against the mosque, and determined to protect their religion.

When the small group of men arrived, chanting from the crowd turned to anger and groups of protesters, some armed with sticks, broke ranks and began to chase the men.

The men, who had arrived at Harrow and Wealdstone station to head down to the mosque, quickly turned and ran through the car park when faced by the hostile crowd, hotly pursued by the protesters.

Police tackled the protesters on the edge of the civic centre car park, stopping them catching up with the group of men, and a short stand-off ensued between officers and the marauding protesters.

They were eventually coaxed into returning to the mosque, as hundreds spilled into Station Road, forcing police to shut it down.

Harrow Times, 11 September 2009

Man accused of calling BNP activists ‘Nazis’ is cleared

Posted on by Bob Pitt

BNP Islam Out of BritainA Heaton Moor man who was accused of threatening and abusing two BNP members after he challenged them in the street was acquitted after magistrates dismissed their evidence.

Mohammed Latif, 38, was cleared of any wrong doing after he confronted the BNP members on Broadstone Road, Reddish, on April 9 after they placed a pamphlet through his door during the run-up to the European elections.

Duncan Warner, 44, the former head of the BNP Stockport branch and ordinary BNP member Gerard Williams, 54, had claimed Mr Latif had used abusive language, threatened them and tried to steal a bag of pamphlets they were handing out.

In court, chief magistrate Kenneth Bailey, who found Mr Latif not guilty of an offence under section five of the public order act, said: “The facts are that an incident took place and some words were exchanged. The dispute arise over the nature of the language and whether it was abusive and threatening.

“I find a difference in evidence given by Mr Williams and Mr Warner. Mr Williams evidence was short and vague, while Mr Warner’s failed to convince that strong and abusive langauage was used. Mr Latif gave a more credible account of events.”

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