Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right Front National, is expected to face charges of incitement to racial hatred in France after the European parliament voted to lift her parliamentary immunity.
The French state prosecutor in Lyon had asked the European parliament to lift Le Pen’s protection from prosecution as an MEP so she could face charges over a speech in 2010 in which she likened Muslim street prayers to the Nazi occupation of France.
The Oxford Union has invited Tommy Robinson, the English Defence League leader branded a “fascist” by opponents, to a nationalism debate at the society in Michaelmas.
A plot to burgle mosques and businesses across East Lancashire has seen six men, including three brothers, jailed for more than 22 years.
Worshippers at Plane Tree Road mosque in Little Harwood were left distraught after intruders not only rifled their safe for money, but also stole irreplaceable marriage registers and their original constitution. It also emerged that one of the break-ins led to a Knuzden firm missing out on a £1million contract.
Passing sentence of the gang at Preston Crown Court, Judge Christopher Cornwall said: “To desecrate such a building by making a forcible entry and stealing from a safe is appalling and despicable conduct.”
A Grimsby solicitor has launched a scathing attack on the media and politicians for “inflaming” hostility towards Muslims after the brutal murder soldier Lee Rigby in London. Ghaff Khan strongly criticised the use of words like “Islamists” and “Islamic – and claimed that comments over people’s origins were not used when “other heinous crimes” were committed by non-Muslims.
He launched his broadside during a court case which featured mentions of the Grimsby mosque at the centre of an arson attack and references to the English Defence League. Christopher Rodger, 25, of Lime Street, Grimsby, admitted using religiously aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour on June 8.
A Black Country mosque which was burnt to the ground in 2009, has been targeted by racist vandals. Racist graffiti has been plastered over one of the walls at Cradley Heath Central Mosque and Islamic Centre on Plant Street.
The graffiti which was discovered yesterday, was daubed in white paint on the red brick wall made reference to the English Defence League. This attack comes four years after the mosque was targeted by arsonists and burnt to the ground on Boxing Day in 2009.
What appears to be a swastika spray painted on the Islamic Center of Morris County is “disgraceful,” said Dr. Aref Assaf, one of its directors. “We’re very concerned about this,” Assaf said.
Police are still investigating the vandalism, and whether it was a hate crime, said Kyle Schwarzmann, Rockaway Borough detective sergeant. The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said police should investigate the incident as a possible hate crime.
“Because of the nature of this incident and because of other recent incidents targeting American mosques, we urge local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive,” said Khurrum Ali, CAIR-NJ’s civil rights director.
Campaigners at a rally held last night in the wake of the Home Secretary’s ban on Saturday’s English Defence League march through London’s East End have vowed to continue fighting “the constant threat of neo-fascist organisations.” Around 150 supporters packed the rally by East End United anti-fascist campaign staged at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel.
Delegates from 21 community groups, religious organisations and trade unions joined politicians to reaffirm a ‘No Place for Hate’ campaign launched in 2010 when the EDL first attempted a march through Whitechapel. “There is the possibility that the EDL might again attempt to march through east London,” warned campaign orgaiser Weyman Bennett. “Neo-fascist organisations who seek to sow divisions in multi-cultural, working class areas are a constant threat.”
Police are treating a Muslim family’s complaint that pig heads were dumped at their Bradford home as a hate crime.
Sophia Ditta posted on her blog how her family found four heads in her garden in the Bolton area of the city.
A man has appeared in court accused of throwing bacon and sausages onto a mosque in Cricklewood. Alexis Garner, of Anson Road, Cricklewood, is charged with racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
The 31-year-old is claimed to have thrown the pork products over a fence into the Mosque and Islamic Centre in Howard Road. He appeared before Hendon Magistrates Court yesterday and was bailed to return to court on Thursday.
The Sun reports: “Channel 4 yesterday said it will screen a Muslim call to prayer every day during Ramadan – because it is more relevant than the Diamond Jubilee.” The report helpfully adds: “Radical preacher Anjem Choudary, accused of encouraging terrorism, said he welcomed any move to promote Islam.”
The Sun quotes a UKIP spokesman as warning that the decision “will inflame community tension”. With coverage like that in the Sun, it very probably will.