Man questioned over Harlow Islamic centre arson

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with an attack on an Essex Islamic Centre. The man, from Harlow, is being questioned by police about the incident in the early hours of Monday 26 August.

Police said insulation foam was sprayed around the doors and windows at the Harlow Islamic Centre on Paringdon Road and then set on fire. The building suffered limited damage.

Police are looking for two men caught on CCTV security cameras. The men were filmed at 01:24 BST on Monday and anyone with information is asked to come forward.

BBC News, 29 August 2013

Update:  See “Man bailed after mosque arson”, ITV News, 30 August 2013

Muslims challenging U.S. ‘no fly’ list win partial court victory

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Thirteen Muslim Americans challenging the U.S. governments’ secretive “no-fly” list won a partial victory in federal court when a judge found they “have a constitutionally protected liberty interest” in traveling internationally by air.

But U.S. District Judge Anna Brown has yet to decide whether the government violated their constitutional rights to due process under a policy that excludes individuals from commercial air travel if they are suspected of having ties to terrorism.

In her ruling late on Wednesday in Portland, the judge also asked both the plaintiffs and the Department of Justice for more information before deciding key parts of the case.

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Counter-demo against EDL-backed South Shields march

Posted on by Bob Pitt

South Tyneside Unites counter-demonstration

An anti-fascist group has announced plans for a counter-demonstration against a march by right-wing extremists in South Shields this weekend.

Members of North East Infidels (NEI) and the English Defence League (EDL) are to parade on Saturday from the town’s Fowler Street to Pier Parade, where a rally is to be staged.

Now it has emerged they will be met there by representatives of newly-formed South Tyneside Unites Against Fascism (STUAF), a group set up specifically in response to the rally. Their members are made up of local people, trade unionists and political groups and organisations opposed to fascism, racism and Islamophobia.

The counter-protesters, supported by South Tyneside Trade Union Council, and including members of Unite and Unison, will hold up placards and express their views through megaphones in what organisers say will be a “peaceful and orderly counter-demonstration”.

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Labour slammed for BBQ plan on day of EDL’s Tower Hamlets march

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Lutfur Rahman at anti-EDL protest 2011 (2)
Tower Hamlets protests against the English Defence League in September 2011 – where was John Biggs?

A family barbecue has been organised by Labour politicians for the same day as far right group the English Defence League (EDL) plans to march through the East End.

Tower Hamlets Labour Party’s annual summer barbecue is due to go ahead in Bethnal Green on September 7. But the plan has been met with accusations that Labour’s mayoral candidate John Biggs is prioritising a day in the sun over standing up to far right ideology.

Tower Hamlets Council’s Independent cabinet member for resources, Cllr Alibor Choudhury said: “While a diverse community coalition gathers to show the EDL that Tower Hamlets is no place for hate, John Biggs and his Labour chums will be letting their hair down over nibbles. I’m a big fan of democracy but I’m not sure you can for fight for it with canapés and cocktail sausages.”

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Solidarity with Aïssatou

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Soldarité avec Aïssatou

The Collectif contre l’Islamophobie en France has set up an email address (aissatou@islamophobie.net) so that messages of sympathy and solidarity can be sent to Aïssatou, the young Muslim woman attacked by  racists, who attempted suicide earlier this week. The CCIF also encourages support for the campaign launched by Al-Kanz, which can be followed on Twitter: #AvecAïssatou

Man pleads guilty to throwing bacon at mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man who wrapped slices of bacon around the main door of a mosque also threw the meat product into the sacred place of worship, a court has heard. Wayne Stilwel, 25, was caught on CCTV committing the offensive act at Edinburgh’s Central Mosque on January 31.

The city’s sheriff court heard that Islam prohibits its followers from consuming products made of pork and that Stilwel’s actions offended people at the mosque. Stilwel, a prisoner of HMP Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace charge. He will be sentenced on September 17.

Edinburgh Evening News, 28 August 2013

Man banned from Cambridge’s Islamic centres caught carrying knife near mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

David CampA man banned from going near a number of Islamic premises in Cambridge after he threatened to burn down a mosque was convicted of carrying a knife close to the Mawson Road mosque.

David Camp, 35, of Thorpe Way, Cambridge, was stopped by police on Mill Road with a Stanley Knife in his rucksack on Monday. Camp explained to the officer that he had the knife in case he needed to repair his bicycle, which he was riding at the time of the incident on August 18 at 3 15pm.

But the Cambridge Magistrates Court heard the 35-year-old had earlier posted on social networking site Twitter: “Stan is always with me if you know what I mean.” In his police interview, Camp confirmed “Stan” referred to his knife.

The conviction comes just six days after Camp was sentenced to 15 months behind bars for having a folding lock knife on board a train travelling between London and Harlow and making racial comments.

Earlier this month, Camp was also given an Asbo by a Cambridge court after posting a “large number” of anti-Islamic messages on Twitter between April 1 and June 5.

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Grimsby mosque arson accused appear in court

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Grimsby mosque scorched doorA man accused of attacking a mosque in Grimsby has denied two counts of arson.

Daniel Cressey, 24, of Manchester Square, New Holland, pleaded not guilty to arson with intent to endanger life and to commit arson recklessly.

No-one was injured in the attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre on 26 May.

Stuart Harness, 33, and Gavin Humphries, 37, both pleaded not guilty to arson with intent to endanger life but entered guilty pleas to one charge of committing arson recklessly.

All three appeared before Grimsby Crown Court earlier.

Mr Harness and Mr Humphries, both of Dixon Avenue, Grimsby, were remanded until 25 November when all three men are due to reappear at the same court.

BBC News, 28 August 2013

Update:  See “Grimsby men admit mosque arson attack”, Grimsby Telegraph, 29 August 2013