Category Archives: UK

Pig’s head nailed to Asian centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Carnon Downs Asian CentreA pig’s head has been nailed to the door of a former Methodist chapel which is being converted into an Asian community centre. Police are treating the incident at Quenchwell near Carnon Downs, in Cornwall, as a racist attack.

The pig’s head is the latest incident at the centre which has been daubed with graffiti, including the words Leave Now, over the past two weeks. Muslim owner Tipo Choudhury said he was “saddened and shocked” by the attacks.

Mr Choudhury, who has some Indian restaurants in Cornwall, said the centre would not be just about religion, but would enable people to celebrate their faith and culture. “I think they have misunderstood the intentions behind the centre,” he said, addding that it would not be a mosque. The community centre group was made up of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. He said the plans for the community centre would continue, but the situation was being assessed daily.

Insp Mark Richards of Devon and Cornwall Police said: “The graffiti is offensive not only to Asians, Asian religions, but also to Christians and Cornish nationalists whose name is taken in vain. It is totally out of order.”

BBC News, 4 June 2008

See also “Pig’s head nailed to door in sickening racist attack”, Falmouth Penryn Packet, 4 June 2008

Update:  See “More ‘racist’ graffiti at Quenchwell Chapel”, Falmouth Penryn Packet, 16 June 2008

Posted in UK

Muslim in call centre abuse wins £20,000

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Muslim worker at a call centre based at the home of Rangers Football Club in Glasgow has been awarded more than £20,000 for racial and religious discrimination, after colleagues abused him for complaining about how they treated Irish and ethnic-minority callers.

James Lipka, 58, who worked for the Student Loans Company and Rangers Projects from Glasgow-based Response Handling’s call centre in Ibrox Stadium, complained that workers handling calls for the football club would mimic the accent of Northern Irish callers phoning to buy match tickets. Mr Lipka, who is Polish, said comments were frequently made suggesting the Irish callers were stupid. He also claimed call handlers regularly made racist comments regarding those calling about student loans.

Mr Lipka’s father came to the UK from Poland during the Second World War as a member of the Free Polish Army. His ancestors were Mongol Tartars, who had gone to live in Poland in the 14th century and retained their Islamic religion.

The abusive comments at his workplace got worse after the bombings in London on 7 July, 2005, with some of the agents becoming openly hostile towards Muslims. The abuse lasted until he left Response Handling in August 2006, but the company denied there had been any racist or religious comments.

In his written judgment yesterday, an employment tribunal judge, Stewart Watt, said: “The tribunal has no doubt that this conduct, viewed in any reasonable way, must have the objective effect of violating Mr Lipka’s dignity and creating an intimidating hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for him.”

Scotsman, 3 June 2008

The Islamisation of Europe (part 697)

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“In 1683, a Turkish army reached the suburbs of Vienna. The outcome trembled in the balance until Jan Sobieski of Poland arrived with his army, threw back the Ottomans and finally freed western Europe from the threat of Muslim domination, thus completing the work begun by Charles Martel at Poitiers in 732.

“Or did he? Today, there are plenty of Europeans who would say: ‘Charles Martel, Jan Sobieski, you are needed at this hour.’ There are widespread fears that Muslim immigrants, reinforced by political pressure and, ultimately, by terrorism, will succeed where Islamic armies failed and change irrevocably the character of European civilisation.”

Bruce Anderson in the Independent, 2 June 2008

Muslim leader’s protest at police ‘spy tactics’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Osama Saeed (4)Strathclyde police are facing accusations that it operates a covert intelligence monitoring unit which is infringing the rights of Muslims, after the force launched an investigation into claims that a group of Asians on a clay pigeon shoot had behaved “like terrorists”.

Osama Saeed, chief executive of the Scottish Islamic Foundation, has written to Strathclyde’s chief constable, Stephen House, expressing concern at the way Special Branch officers are questioning Asians about their lifestyles, religious and political beliefs and internet activities. He added that the continued use of the tactics would lead to “further marginalisation of Muslims”, and is already leading some to think twice about practising their beliefs for fear that police will disrupt their lives.

His comments came as one solicitor claimed police have also been secretly “recruiting” Muslims to provide information about their community in return for payments.

The 10-strong shooting party were questioned informally at their homes and businesses by two policemen a year after their November 2006 trip to Kypeside Farm, an activity centre near Lesmahagow in Lanarkshire. The officers, believed to be from Special Branch, were reacting to a tip-off from a member of the public who claimed the group had been overheard discussing “shooting AK-47 rifles in Pakistan”.

The 29-year-old trip organiser, who declined to be identified, said: “They wanted the names of my family and friends and my thoughts on Afghanistan, Iraq and what I would do if I encountered an extremist at my mosque. I replied that I didn’t think I would go to them because they were so ignorant, but would speak to the imam.

“I had my solicitor present, who told me that it was no coincidence several men were standing trial for involvement in a terror camp in the Lake District. It hadn’t even crossed my mind what we did could be seen as terrorist activity and I found it very sinister.”

Sunday Herald, 1 June 2008

More anti-Muslim scaremongering from the Express

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Now Muslim clerics to teach our childrenMoves to allow Muslim clerics into classrooms to address pupils were condemned yesterday. The latest scheme put forward by Schools Secretary Ed Balls was greeted with derision. Critics branded the proposals by the under-fire minister unworkable and unnecessary.

The package of measures, to be published next week, will set out a proposal to invite British-born imams into schools to speak about growing violent extremism among young people.

Under the plans, the imams would teach citizenship so that pupils learn about the Koran and Islam in the context of a multicultural society. But last night the scheme was described as yet another worthless Government gimmick. Opponents said the plans would simply provide another opportunity to deliver “faith-based citizenship lessons” on Islam.

The National Union of Teachers caused an outcry in March by suggesting that Muslim clerics and other religious leaders should be sent into every school as an alternative to having specific faith schools. Head teachers and other critics warned that this could allow extremists to target pupils. Now the proposals by Mr Balls appear to take the move a step further.

Daily Express, 31 May 2008

Stop the War Coalition public meetings

Posted on by Bob Pitt

DEFENDING THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

Stop the War has organised a series of rallies to defend the Muslim community, starting next week. If one of these rallies is being held in your area, please attend and publicise as widely as you can.
PUBLIC MEETINGS:  RACISM, THE WAR ON TERROR AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

* LONDON Tuesday June 3, 7PM. Speakers: Moazam Begg, George Galloway, Anas Al-Tikriti, Chris Nineham, Louise Christian, David Edgar. Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M. Nearest tube, Liverpool Street.

* BIRMINGHAM: Wednesday June 4, 7PM. Speakers: Terry Eagleton, Anas Al-Tikriti, Salma Yaqoob, Andrew Murray. Bordesely Centre, Stratford Road, Camp Hill Roundabout.

* MANCHESTER: Thursday June 5. Speakers: Moazzam Begg, David Edgar, Nahella Asraf. Friends Meeting House.

* BLACKBURN: Wednesday June 11, 7PM. Speakers: Alice Mahon, Anas Al-Tikriti, Chris Nineham. Blackburn Central Library, Hornby Lecture Theatre.

* LEEDS: Thursday June 12, 7PM. Speakers: Alice Mahon, Anas Al-Tikriti, Chris Nineham. Leeds Islamic Centre, Spencer Place, Chapeltown, LS7.

* GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH: Details not yet available. See http://www.stopwar.org.uk for updates.

Computer image shows Washington DC devastated by al-Qa’eda nuclear attack

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Nuclear Jihad“Stills from a video entitled Nuclear Jihad: The Ultimate Terror, were posted on al-Ekhlass and al-Hesbah, two password-protected websites believed to be affiliated with al-Qa’eda.

“The images were created to facilitate discussions of the feasibility of nuclear strikes on the US or Britain, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which released the images.”

Daily Telegraph, 30 May 2008

Except that the images were in fact lifted from a computer game called Fallout 3.

A reply to the Church of England Newspaper

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The following letter was published in the Church of England Newspaper, 30 May 2008:

Sir, In a time of fear and polarisation, Christians must avoid both the political right’s shrill paranoia and the liberal left’s naive secular arrogance.

Sadly, your leader (“Religious trends and our religious future“, May 23) falls into the former trap, with predictions of the UK as “an Islamic nation” and talk of concessions to Muslim “demands”.

Ironically, the supporting anecdotes, seemingly culled from the front pages of the Mail and Express, undermine the overall claim of a Muslim “advance”. The hospital bed story you cite, for example, was slammed as “entirely inaccurate” by the hospital in question.

We would not accept the same deluge of sensationalistic smears, generalisations and hate speech about any other race or religion. There is a humble yet honest conversation to be had between Christians and Muslims in Britain, but comments like these do not help.

Ben White

Muslim TV crew stopped under terror law

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Muslim TV producer has accused the police of constantly targeting her crew and stopping them from filming in the streets of London. The crew from an international Muslim network, which included three hijab wearing members, were filming in Notting Hill, west London, in March when they said they were stopped and quizzed. Producer Anousheh Demartino, who was stopped on three previous occasions, told The Muslim News:

“They asked us for our ID and why we were filming. After we told them we were allowed to continue. 20 minutes later we were stopped again. This time we were asked for our residential address; they only asked me, the two other hijab wearing women and not [our] young cameraman. I protested at first and asked why they needed my home address when it was a professional not a personal matter, but he insisted and, not wanting to prolong the incident, I gave him the details.” Anousheh says she was given no legal reasons as to why they were stopped filming; however, she did say the officer made a reference to terrorist activity.

Speaking of her “frustrating” experience as a Muslim journalist she said, “I was stopped before with another crew and given report slips once on High Street Kensington in February and once on Victoria Road. We have to carry those slips with us all the time. I don’t know why we constantly get stopped, is it because we are not a large mainstream media [outlet], or is it because I wear the hijab?”

The incident came a month before a Muslim BBC journalist was held to the ground by police officers after his radio equipment was mistaken for an explosive device.

Muslim News, 30 May 2008

Act now to stop deportation of Hicham Yezza

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Free HichSTOP THE ATTACKS ON MUSLIMS
ACT NOW TO STOP DEPORTATION OF HICHAM YEZZA

As the “war on terror” unravels, attacks on the Muslim community are increasing alarmingly. Almost every day the tabloid press carries scurrilous stories about Muslims. College authorities are suppressing Muslim groups and curtailing academic freedoms. Prominent intellectuals regularly denounce Islam. The government is trying to extend powers of detention without trial for ‘terrorist suspects’. All this threatens to create a divisive and dangerous atmosphere in Britain.

What happened to Hicham Yezza and Rizwaan Sabir is a frightening example of where this official hysteria can lead. Yessir works at Nottingham University, where his friend Sabir is a student. When, as part of his research into political Islam, Sabir downloaded from the internet an Al Quaeda training manual, he emailed it to Hicham and – unable to afford the cost of printing – asked him to print it. The university authorities informed the police, who immediately arrested the two friends under the Terrorism Act.

They were held without charge for six days, their homes searched, their computers seized and friends and family interrogated. Upon release, Hicham was re-arrested under unrelated immigration charges. Although he was initially given a hearing date for 16 July, he was served with a deportation notice last Friday, which informed him he was to be removed on Sunday 1 June on flight BA894 from Heathrow to Algiers. Campaigners have been mobilising to prevent his deportation and last Wednesday held a demonstration at the University of Nottingham, attended by up to 500 people.

Stop the War is urging its supporters to support the campaign to prevent this deportation by:

1) Most urgently, using the model letter (http://tinyurl.com/4a6va7) or write one yourself and e-mail and/or fax it the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith before 5pm today. Quote Home Office reference number Y76064.

Jacqui Smith has the power to stop Hicham’s deportation
* Telephone: 020 7035 0198
* Fax: 020 7035 0900
* Email: indpublicenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

2) Before 5pm today, use the template provided by the campaign to fax the deportation centre where Hicham is being held: http://tinyurl.com/3w8sm7

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO CONTACT THE DEFENCE CAMPAIGN:
WEBSITE: http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com
EMAIL: staffandstudents@googlemail.com
PHONE: 07948590262

UPDATE:  At 12.30 hours today, an application to the High Court in London was issued seeking a judicial review of the decisions of the Home Office in this matter. The removal directions set for Sunday 1st June have now been cancelled by the Home Office, and an application will be made to them this afternoon for Mr Yezza to be released while his case is reconsidered. David Smith, of Cartwright King solicitors in Nottingham, says “We hope and trust that the Home Office will now release Mr Yezza and reconsider his case properly and in accordance with the law; we will proceed vigorously with the High Court action unless they agree to do so.”

Stop the Deportation of Hicham Yezza campaign press release, 30 May 2008

See also “Deportation plan to be reviewed”, BBC News, 31 May 2008