Gwent police step up patrols around mosques

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Newport cemetery graffiti(3)A senior Newport officer said police have been organising patrols for mosques in light of threats elsewhere in the country. The city’s Superintendent Mark Warrender said a recent attack on four Muslim graves in a Newport cemetery was despicable and that officers were working hard to find out who did it.

He spoke at a meeting of Newport full council in response to a question from Labour Victoria ward councillor Majid Rahman who asked what precautions were being made in relation to mosques in Newport.

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West Midlands Police chief hits out at mosque media reports

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Dave Thompson West Midlands PoliceA police chief has accused the media of failing to give enough coverage to the attacks on mosques in the Black Country – and has questioned whether religious bias is to blame.

Dave Thompson, Deputy Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, has suggested there would have been more coverage if a different religion had been targeted in the attacks on mosques in Wolverhampton, Walsall and Tipton.

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Scottish Defence League: Banned from marching in Glasgow but welcome to march through Edinburgh

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The far-right Scottish Defence League has been given permission to march down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile during the middle of the Festival.

The group, which opposes what it considers to be a spread of Islamism, initially applied to stage their procession down the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament on August 24, but agreed to move the date to avoid clashing with the Festival of Politics. Supporters will now make their way down the Mile on Saturday, August 17.

Meanwhile, authorities in the west of the country have banned an SDL procession through a multi-cultural area.

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One Nation founder backs anti-Islam candidate

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Pauline_HansonThe Sunshine Coast One Nation candidate at the centre of a storm about Muslims and halal products has the support of party founder Pauline Hanson.

Mike Holt, the party’s candidate for Fairfax, described halal products, which are prepared in line with strict Muslim requirements, as helping to fund terrorism. He operates a website that sells stickers that read, “Beware! Halal food funds terrorists”, which have been found on Nestle products at a Brisbane supermarket.

“We are the only party standing up against the Muslin threat and this halal is part of that,” Mr Holt said yesterday. “They use these stealth methods to impose their religious culture on us.”

On Facebook, Ms Hanson said, “I support Mike”. “I am not Muslim and do not want to buy halal-prepared and blessed food, with an Islamic tax, in my Christian country,” she said.

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Anti-fascists mobilise against EVF in Croydon tomorrow

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Oppose the fascist EVF

The fascist English Volunteer Force (EVF), an anti Muslim splinter group from the English Defence League (EDL), is planning an anti immigration ‘protest’ outside Lunar House, in Croydon on Saturday 27th, July. The EVF is targeting all immigrants and migrants, in this latest move. Like the EDL, they seek to inflame Islamophobia, in the aftermath of Lee Rigby’s murder.

EVF members include National Front (NF) and British National Party (BNP) thugs who have been involved in intimidation of trades unionists and anti fascists. It is seeking to cause division in Croydon. Staff (many in the PCS Union) at Lunar House, should not have to suffer fascists at their workplace. We call on all who oppose racists and fascists to stand in solidarity with workers at Lunar House.

UAF, PCS and the ‘We are Croydon’ campaign, are uniting to stand up against racists and fascists and for our diverse community. Join our counter protest and show the EVF that we stand as one against their hate. Bring Union and other banners.

Oppose the fascist EVF
Saturday July 27
Assemble 11am
Lunar House, 40, Wellesley Rd, Croydon, CR9

See also “PCS calls for support for the EVF counter demo”, on the PCS Croydon (Home Office) website.

Muslims criticize Bloomberg veto of NYPD watchdog

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muslim-American civil rights groups are criticizing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for vetoing a bill on Tuesday (July 23) that would have created an independent inspector general to oversee the New York City Police Department.

The New York City Council passed the bill June 27 as a check against controversial NYPD policies that critics say violate the civil rights of Muslim and other minority New Yorkers. Reports that the NYPD spied on mosques, Muslim businesses, organizations and students began surfacing in 2011.

“The NYPD is out of control and discriminates against innocent Americans, and Mayor Bloomberg has let Americans down by allowing the NYPD to use discriminatory policies without any accountability,” said Glenn Katon, legal director for Muslim Advocates, a civil rights group based in San Francisco.

Critics say the surveillance program has caused many Muslims to stop going to Islamic institutions or speaking out in public, worried it could land them in legal troubles.

The bill would have made it easier to bring racial profiling lawsuits against the NYPD.

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Man who racially abused Muslim boy and threatened to bomb Livingston mosque escapes prison sentence

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Garith WoodA man who threatened to bomb a mosque was today ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community. Garith Wood admitted behaving in a racially aggravated manner during his rant last May. The 27-year-old made racist comments about a 14-year-old Asian boy outside a mosque in Livingston. Part of his hateful tirade included threatening to bomb the Livingston Sunni Islamic Centre and Mosque, a court was told.

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History textbook has ‘Muslim bias’, claims Florida Republican politician

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Brevard County high school history textbook contains too much information about Islam and not enough about other religions, a state lawmaker says.

Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, wants the AP textbook “World History” out of Brevard classrooms because of what he calls “Muslim bias.” Workman says important parts written about the history of Muslim civilizations have been left out. “It fails to mention tens of thousands of Jews and nonbelievers were slaughtered at the hands of Mohammed, just like the Crusaders did years prior. It’s a very one sided slant,” Workman said.

The book’s publisher, Pearson, says they adhere to the highest editorial standards and a review of the textbook found that it is balanced.

My Fox Orlando, 25 July 2013

Newport rally held to denounce violence

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Newport cemetery graffiti(1)A rally was held in Newport on Monday night to unite groups from across Gwent against fascism. Around 40 people attended the event, which was held at the Newport Centre. Unite Against Fascism Wales called the rally to bring together different groups, communities, cultures, and faiths to show they are united against racism.

Speakers included organisers Mubarak Ali, secretary for the Islamic Society for Wales, June Ralph, president of Newport trades council, David Phillips, chief executive officer for South East Wales Race Equality Council, Marianne Owens, NEC member and Julian Goss, liaison officer for UAF Wales.

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