Wales TUC joins Muslims in fighting racism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Wales TUC joined forces with the Muslim Council of Wales (MCW) last night to recruit more Muslims into trade unions and battle racism. In a joint statement pledging to work together to combat the scourge of Islamophobia, they said that “WTUC and the Muslim Council of Wales will work together in support of workplace justice and against Islamophobia.”

The statement notes that, “by combining together, we will be able to achieve more towards those objectives we share in common than we can do by acting alone.” It stresses: “The shared belief of the MCW and Wales TUC in justice, equality and opposition to prejudice is matched by our belief that these objectives can be better achieved in the workplace. We believe it is in the interests of workers to join the appropriate trade union at their workplace and that employers should recognise such unions.”

Continue reading →

Sun scaremongers over ‘Hook son’s job on the Tube’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Hook's Son“The terrorist son of hook-handed Abu Hamza has been working on London’s Tube, The Sun can reveal. Mohammed Kamel Mostafa, 25 – a convicted fanatic who has glorified suicide attacks like the 7/7 slaughter – was rumbled by Underground workmates when they saw his picture in The Sun.

“They went straight to bosses, who told Mohammed Kamel Mostafa, 25, to sling his hook. But last night fury erupted over the security shambles that led to the convicted terrorist being granted astonishing access to London’s Tube network.”

The Sun, 31 October 2006

The “convicted terrorist” label stems from the fact that Mohammed Kamel Mostafa served three years in prison in Yemen from 1999-2002 for a terrorism-associated offence. Regarding this case, the US State Department wrote:

“Eight Britons and two Algerians who were arrested in December 1998 were tried from February to August 1999 in Aden on charges of possessing illegal weapons and explosives and conspiring to commit terrorist acts. The 6-month trial did not meet minimum international standards for due process. Defense lawyers claimed that the prosecution lacked adequate evidence, and that the defendants were tortured, sexually abused, and denied access to their lawyers….”

US State Department reports on human rights practices, 2000: Yemen

Fascists defend right to incite hatred against Muslims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“The retrial of the Free Speech Two, Nick Griffin and Mark Collett starts in Leeds tomorrow (November 1st). Both men are facing charges of using words likely to incite racial hatred for daring to criticise the failed experiment of multiculturalism and describe the alien religion of Islam as a ‘wicked faith’. A charge which seems utterly ludicrous in the context of all that has been perpetrated in the name of Allah at home and abroad in recent years, never mind the centuries of conflict and bloodshed in the Middle East, North Africa, Iberia and the Balkans.

“For daring to stand up and tell the truth about the threat in our midst the two accused could face up to seven years in prison in a court in a supposed western democracy where ‘the truth is no defence’; a situation akin to the Inquisition or the witchcraft trials of the 17th century.”

BNP news article, 31 October 2006

US right-winger condemns Bush, appeals for defence of Western civilisation

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Over at World Net Daily, Barbara Simpson accuses President Bush of being soft on Islam:

“His continued mantra about the ‘religion of peace’ and his ongoing efforts to be welcoming to Muslims, insults the intelligence of those who see the reality of the danger from militant Islam. It’s also insulting for our president and the administration to treat American citizens as children who need to be taught tolerance and acceptance when the reality of the war against us is clearly evident. ‘There are none so blind as those who will not see.‘ In this case, our blind leaders bring us to the abyss.

“It’s too easy to view the battle between Islam and the West as military. The truth is more insidious. In fact, many imams have spoken openly that they’ll accomplish their mission via immigration and procreation. Every country in Europe faces this and as the population grows by Muslim birth rates and immigration, Muslims demand their culture be accepted. While Europeans are beginning to chafe under the pressures, it may well be too late to stop the tide….

“There’s a difference between emigrating to a country to become part of it and moving there to change the culture. What will it take for us to admit that? Why don’t we proudly protect the culture of Western civilization and value it for what its meant to human rights, freedom and equality – the best in the history of the world?

“We’re in a religious war, fought on one level by passive integration through large families and massive immigration and on another level by the ancient barbarity of beheadings, torture and terrorist attacks on civilians.”

WorldNetDaily.com, 30 October 2006

‘This focus on the niqab is a distraction’ – Salma Yaqoob on the veil ‘debate’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Salma addressing rallyThis focus on the niqab is a distraction

By Salma Yaqoob

Morning Star, 30 October 2006

THE debate on Muslim integration continues unabated. Since Home Secretary John Reid’s comments about mythical Muslim “no-go” areas over a month ago, the Muslim community have been the subject of an avalanche of commentary from politicians and the media. Overwhelmingly negative and one-sided, most of this “debate” is thinly disguised Muslim bashing.

I was pleased, therefore, to be approached by the Morning Star to give my thoughts on a more genuine debate that has taken place on the issue of the veil in the letters page. Given the Star’s impeccable record of opposition to US imperialism and racism, I know that whatever the differences that may arise, I am having a conversation with friends.

Most of those who have written in support of Jack Straw’s comments have no time for either his record as foreign minister or his opportunism. But they do think the wearing of the veil is a legitimate topic for discussion. What is wrong with having a debate about religious strictures regarding Islamic dress for women, especially when such strictures have been used as a tool for women’s oppression?

To a significant degree, I agree with them. There is nothing wrong with having an informed discussion or critical debate about the veil or any other aspect of Muslim life. Indeed, how can non-Muslims understand lived Islam without such a dialogue? And how can Muslims and, especially, Muslim women, tackle the abuses of Islam within the community without such discussion and debate?

Continue reading →

Pentagon advisor: West Point should weigh Muslim applicants carefully

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The number of Islamic cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, has increased dramatically in the past year; however, a prominent foreign policy expert and graduate of West Point says America’s oldest military academy needs to be very careful when considering Muslim applicants who seek admission to the school.

Recently, the U.S. Military Academy announced that it has opened its first space dedicated to Muslims – a worship hall, complete with a pulpit facing Mecca. In 2001, there were only two Muslim cadets at West Point; but this year there are 32, which is ten more than were enrolled last year.

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Bob Maginnis feels West Point officials should exercise caution when considering Muslim applicants who might embrace jihad. “That’s where your leadership have to make the determination as to who to allow into the military academy,” he says.

Maginnis thinks it would also be wise for academy officials to consider the implications of creating a worship space for followers of Islam on the military leadership training school’s campus. He says here, again, West Point’s leadership needs to think about “whether or not the sanctioning of a religious service of that nature would serve the overall best interest” of America and the U.S. military.

Continue reading →

Mangera Yvars interviewed by Guardian

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Abbey Mills Islamic CentreJonathan Glancey interviews Ali Mangera and Ada Yvars Bravo, the architects responsible for designing the proposed Markaz at West Ham.

The piece is informative, and broadly sympathetic. “We’re trying to design a welcoming and beautiful building,” Mangera is quoted as saying, “yet at times I feel I’m being accused of designing a bomb factory.”

But you do despair of ever reading an article on this issue which avoids recycling the stuff about the FBI claiming that Tablighi Jamaat is a recruiting ground for al-Qaida, or how 7/7 bomber Mohammed Sidique Khan reportedly attended the Dewsbury Markaz.

Guardian, 30 October 2006

London likes multiculturalism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

MayorMost Londoners believe multiculturalism is good for the capital despite the recent row over Muslim veils, according to a new survey.

The MORI poll for the Greater London Authority showed 70 per cent of residents felt London was a better place to live because of its “mix of cultures, languages and ethnicities”. Thirty-seven per cent said the diversity of the capital was “a very good thing” and 33 per cent “quite a good thing”. Seven per cent said it was “quite a bad thing” and six per cent a “very bad thing”.

Ken Livingstone said: “It is good to see Londoners have not been deflected from their enjoyment of multiculturalism by the intolerance we have seen from politicians over recent weeks. Londoners support a basic principle: we all have the right to be ourselves as long as we don’t interfere with the rights of others. That tolerance and respect for individual choice unites us and underpins our success as a global financial centre, welcoming companies and their staff from every part of the world.”

The poll found nearly three quarters of voters believe Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war led to the 7/7 terror attacks last year.

Evening Standard, 30 October 2006