A protest by the English Defence League in Farnworth passed off without major incident, police said.
There were 12 arrests, 11 from the EDL and one from Unite Against Fascism following the demonstration in Farnworth Park yesterday.
5 bogus reasons used to ban mosques
Kevin Mathews offers some examples of spurious arguments used to justify opposition to mosques.
100 turn out for EDL protest in Luton
The planned protest by the English Defence League in Stopsley, Luton, has passed without incident.
Supporters of the group started to gather at the Sportsman pub on St Thomas’ Road this morning at 10am. At around 3pm, the group of around 100 made their way down St Thomas’ Road towards PlayFootball.net before heading back.
Stephen Lennon, the leader of the Luton-based EDL, had claimed that the management at PlayFootball.net had called off a planned charity event, after receiving complaints from members of the community. He said it had been replaced by a ‘Goals for Gaza’ tournament which is raising money for the Ummah Welfare Trust’s Palestine Appeal and that he was calling for a ‘level playing field where the whole community should be treated the same’.
Throughout the day there was a considerable police presence in Stopsley, which has now been reduced.
North Carolina governor allows anti-sharia bill to become law
North Carolina became the seventh state to prohibit its judges from considering Islamic law after Gov. Pat McCrory allowed the bill to become law without formally signing it.
McCory, a Republican, called the law “unnecessary,” but declined to veto it. The bill became law on Sunday (Aug. 25). The state joins Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Tennessee.
Supporters hailed the bill as an important safeguard that protects the American legal system from foreign laws that are incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, while critics argued that the bill’s only purpose is to whip-up anti Muslim hatred because the Constitution already overrides foreign laws.
“The intent behind this law is bigoted and it is intended to alienate the Muslim community,” said Jibril Hough, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Charlotte.
Council gives go ahead for mosque to be built next to a church in Melbourne
Tensions ran high tonight as a northern suburbs council gave the go-ahead for a mosque to be built next door to a Christian church.
About 1000 locals, many of them members of the church, flocked to the Hume City Council in Broadmeadows to voice their objections at the council decision from about 7pm. More than 1200 objections to the proposed mosque had already been received.
Almost 30 riot police stood guard outside the council, baring pepper spray and accompanied by two dogs. But Broadmeadows Senior Sergeant Pixie Fuhrmeister said no one had been arrested.
A Hume Council spokesman said councillors had approved the planning application by the Shia Muslim Al Sadiq Foundation for the mosque to be built on Kyabram St, Coolaroo as it met the requirements of both local and state planning laws.
Liz Cheney: Terrorists’ ‘recruitment goes on through mosques’
U.S. Senate candidate Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) made her presence felt at a Tea Party function on Saturday, revealing some thoughts on mosques and terrorism in America.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Cheney appeared at an event in Emblem, Wyo., where those two topics emerged into the conversation. According to the paper, Fox News terrorism analyst Wayne Simmons made comments earlier in the event suggesting that growth of mosques in America is leading to more recruitment outlets for terror groups.
“I do think that we know that recruitment goes on through mosques,” Cheney said in response, the Star-Tribune reported.
Racist attack on Muslim couple in Annecy
Islam & Info reports that a Muslim couple who are on holiday in Annecy in south-eastern France were racially abused and assaulted by a group of skinheads on Saturday night.
24 heures adds that a Swiss man, described by the Public Prosecutor’s office as belonging to an “extreme right-wing group”, has been arrested in connection with the attack and charged with “intentional violence while drunk”. He has been remanded in custody and will appear in court in October.
Police probe arson attempt on Harlow Islamic Centre
Police are investigating a suspected overnight arson attempt on an Islamic centre.
Officers believe the incident took place at Harlow Islamic Centre in Paringdon Road, Harlow, Essex, between 10.30pm and 4am. No-one is thought to have been hurt in the attack and a scene guard has been set up as the investigation continues.
Chief Inspector Ed Wells said: “Detectives are investigating this concerning incident and there will be a significant police presence throughout the day to reassure all local residents as we seek to identify those responsible.”
Arson attack on Belgian mosque
Le JDM reports that on Saturday night two bottles containing inflammable liquid were thrown at the front of the Émir Abdelkader Mosque in Colfontaine, a French-speaking commune in Belgium. The firebombs didn’t penetrate the building and neighbours quickly intervened.
Although no serious damage was caused, the president of the mosque’s management committee, Abdelkader Ben Safi, told Télévision Mons Borinage that the local Muslim community was very shocked. He suggested that the attack was explained by a general rise in Islamophobia, which “gives some people ideas”.
Reports and comment from Islamophobia Watch 19-25 August
Reports and comment from Islamophobia Watch 19-25 August 2013