Category Archives: UK

Islamophobia blamed for attack

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Muslim man has been beaten to death outside a corner shop by a gang of youths who shouted anti-Islamic abuse at him, the Guardian has learned. Kamal Raza Butt, 48, from Pakistan, was visiting Britain to see friends and family. On Sunday afternoon he went to a shop in Nottingham to buy cigarettes and was first called “Taliban” by the youths and then set upon.

Nottinghamshire police described the incident as racially aggravated, not as Islamophobic, angering Muslim groups and surprising some senior officers. They say it was not connected to a backlash against Muslims following the London bombings, which has seen mosques firebombed and Muslims attacked in the street.

On Monday the case was discussed at the Muslim Safety Forum, where senior police officers and Muslim community representatives meet. Senior sources who were at the meeting last night said it was the view of all present that the killing was a hate crime triggered by his faith.

Muslim leaders last night said the killing and the fact that it was Islamophobic would heighten anxiety in their communities, which was already high before the London bombings and which has deepened with every report of attacks.

Guardian, 13 July 2005

‘London United’ gig set for this Saturday

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has announced a free music festival – London United – to be held on Saturday 16 July to remember all of those who died in the attacks last Thursday and to show London’s defiance of those who try to change the character of the city through terror.

Madness star Suggs, who will be performing at London United, said: “We love London because London lets you be yourself. On Saturday at ‘London United’ we will show that London stands firm in all its diversity after the terrible events of last week.”

Billy Bragg, who will be also be appearing, said: “This free festival gives all Londoners an opportunity to come together to send a message of defiance to the bombers by celebrating the diversity they wish to destroy.”

GLA press release, 13 July 2005

BBC broadcasts BNP’s anti-Muslim hatred

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Nazi scum“Let me repeat what I said on Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday morning: The Koran has some tolerant verses, but they are outweighed by ones which are either blatantly intolerant and full of hate towards unbelievers or – to be charitable – can be interpreted as intolerant and full of hate towards unbelievers. It is not a Book of Peace but a handbook for conquering other peoples’ countries – through a combination of example, persuasion, guile, coercion and naked violence.

“Until the Muslim Council of Britain and their fellow ‘moderates’ accept this, and at least try to address, condemn and reform away the elements that ‘justify’ coercion and violence, then their insistence that the only methods by which it is acceptable to spread Islam are example and persuasion must be taken as springing from guile rather than sincerity and truth.”

Nick Griffin in his “Chairman’s Column”, BNP website, 13 July 2005

It is of course a disgrace that this Nazi should have been allowed airtime on Radio 4, as though he represented a legitimate point of view, in order to spread his message of anti-Muslim hatred. Not only that, but he was given a relatively easy ride by Jim Naughtie.

Sun newspaper condemned for inciting Islamophobia

Posted on by Bob Pitt

In a move that appears designed to stir up Islamophobia, The Sun newspaper today launched a front page attack on Professor Tariq Ramadan, an internationally respected progressive Muslim scholar.

The Sun’s leader column claims that Ramadan is ‘more dangerous’ than extremist clerics Abu Hamza or Omar because ‘he is a soft-spoken professor whose moderate tones present an acceptable, “reasonable” face of terror to impressionable young Muslims.’

This shows a dangerous inability to distinguish between the progressive Islam promoted by Ramadan, a best-selling author whose work focuses on the compatibility of European and Muslim principles, and the proponents of the terrorist attacks on London. Ramadan himself unreservedly condemned the London bombings in a statement on 7 July, stating that ‘The authors of such acts are criminals and we cannot accept or listen to their probable justifications in the name of an ideology, a religion or a political cause.’

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‘Illegal immigration, Islam, terrorism and mass murder all linked’ – BNP

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“Illegal immigration, Islam, Muslim fundamentalism terrorism and mass murder all linked – it is liberal apologists for terror who try to tell us those facts are not linked….

“From Bali, Nigeria, Chechnya, France, Spain, America, Israel, Holland, Beslan – the Islamic Jihad is a Muslim terrorist problem. As Mark Steyn wrote in The Daily Telegraph on 12th July 2005 ‘Islam has become the world’s pre-eminent incubator of terrorism at its most depraved’. The fact that the PC top cops like the homosexual Brian Paddick of the Metropolitan Police try and absurdly obfuscate the link between Islam and terrorism for politically correct reasons, the fact is that only the Liberal apologists for Islamic terrorism denies the link….

“The killers were young British born Muslims who were also racist murderers. The hatred that they inflicted upon our people was imported into this country when they and their families entered it. The British Muslim community supports them logistically and has always supported Islamic extremist groups.”

A fascist “theoretician” assesses the London bombings (grammar as in original).

BNP website, 13 July 2005

Weak Brits, tough French

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“The British have seemingly lost interest in their heritage while the French hold on to theirs: As the British ban fox hunting, the French ban hijabs. The former embrace multiculturalism, the latter retain a pride in their historic culture. This contrast in matters of identity makes Britain the Western country most vulnerable to the ravages of radical Islam whereas France, for all its political failings, has held onto a sense of self that may yet see it through.”

Daniel Pipes offers a comparative analysis of British and French attitudes towards Islam.

New York Sun, 12 July 2005

Islam does incubate terrorism (according to Mark Steyn)

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“When events such as last Thursday’s occur, two things happen, usually within hours if not minutes: first, spokespersons for Islamic lobby groups issue warnings about an imminent backlash against Muslims…. In most circumstances it would be regarded as appallingly bad taste to deflect attention from an actual ‘hate crime’ by scaremongering about a non-existent one. But it seems the real tragedy of every act of ‘intolerance’ by Islamist bigots is that it might hypothetically provoke even more intolerance from us irredeemable white imperialist racists. My colleague Peter Simple must surely marvel at how the identity-group grievance industry has effortlessly diversified into pre-emptively complaining about acts of prejudice that have not yet occurred.

“Among those of us who aren’t Muslim, meanwhile, there’s a stampede to be first to the microphone to say that ‘of course’ we all know that ‘the vast majority of Muslims’ are not terrorists but law-abiding peace-loving people who share our revulsion at these appalling events, etc. Mr Blair won that contest on Thursday, followed closely by Brian Paddick and full supporting cast. If ‘of course’ Mr Blair and Mr Paddick and the rest do indeed know that ‘the vast majority of Muslims’ do not favour terrorism, is that because they’ve run the numbers and have a ballpark figure on the very very very slim minority of Muslims who do? And, if so, what is it? 0.02 per cent? Or two per cent? Or 20 per cent?”

Mark Steyn in the Daily Telegraph, 12 July 2005

New witchhunt against Tariq Ramadan

Posted on by Bob Pitt

He Supports Suicide Bombers, is banned in the US and is now on his way here

By Ben Leapman

Evening Standard, 12 July 2005

A row broke out today over a visit to London by an Islamic academic who claims terrorism is sometimes justified. His visit is being funded in part by the Metropolitan Police in a bid to build community relations.

Egyptian-born Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss citizen, is banned from entering the US. He has said that attacks by Muslims are justified in Iraq and Palestine. He has also publicly condemned the legalisation of homosexuality. But despite his views, Professor Ramadan is seen as a relative moderate. Speaking out against the London bombings, he said: ‘We must condemn these attacks with the strongest energy.’

Professor Ramadan will speak to young British Muslims at a conference in London on 24 July. The Met and the Association of Chief Police Officers have contributed £7,500 towards the event. It is being organised by the Da’watul Islam charity, which last year brought anti-gay cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi to Britain – sparking a political row when Mayor Ken Livingstone invited the preacher to County Hall…..

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