Dog whistle politics in Tower Hamlets

Posted on by Bob Pitt

This is a crosspost from Socialist Unity

Contrary to the right-wing myth that it is being transformed into “Britain’s Islamic Republic”, the east London borough of Tower Hamlets is in reality a highly diverse place. Residents of Bangladeshi heritage comprise 32% of the total population according to the 2011 census, only slightly more than those describing themselves as “White British”, who make up 31.2% of the borough’s population, while those in the third largest category, “White Other”, account for a further 12.4%. Muslims are the largest religious group, but at 35% of the population they are heavily outnumbered by people of other faiths and none.

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Geller and Spencer banned from UK

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Spencer, Carroll, Geller and Lennon in Stockholm

Two of the people behind a campaign against the building of the “Ground Zero Mosque” in New York have been barred from entering Britain to speak at an English Defence League rally in London this weekend, it has been announced.

The Home Secretary Theresa May has told Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, both of the anti-Islamic group Stop Islamization of America, that their presence in the UK would “not be conducive to the public good”. The decision, which they cannot appeal, will stand for between three and five years.

According to the Home Office, Mr Spencer and Ms Geller set up organisations “described as anti-Muslim hate groups” and, consequently, they have been told not to travel to Britain.

The decision follows pressure from anti-racist groups and chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz, who wrote to Ms May earlier this week asking her to consider a ban.

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Shock revelation by Daily Mail: Obama administration held meeting with influential Muslim leader

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The White House’s National Security Council has confirmed that staffers held a June 13 meeting with Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah, an Islamist cleric who shares leadership of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, where he is vice-president and the terror supporter Yusuf al-Qaradawi is president.

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Swastikas and EDL/NF graffiti sprayed on Redditch Central Mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Redditch mosque EDL graffitiA mosque being built in Worcestershire has been broken into and graffiti including swastikas sprayed on to the walls and windows.

The damage at the mosque in Jinnah Road, Redditch, was caused between 02:00 BST and 04:30. Graffiti was sprayed over at least six windows. The intruders forced their way through a gate and broke into the main building.

Police believe the motive for the attack was to steal building equipment. A spokesperson said about £1,000 worth of equipment was taken and the paint used to daub the swastikas was stolen from the building.

Officers had increased patrols in the area and were guarding the site. Supt Kevin Purcell, of West Mercia Police, said because of incidents “happening nationally”, targeted patrols had been put in place at the mosque, which has been under construction for several years. He said they would now be “further increased” and police would not “tolerate mindless attacks of this nature”.

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Union leader brings message of solidarity to Muslim community

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey became one of the first senior trade union leaders to officially address worshippers at Friday prayers when he visited two mosques in East London on 21 June.

He brought a message of support and solidarity to the Muslim community in Tower Hamlets and the wider Muslim community across the UK when he addressed Friday prayers at Brick Lane mosque. He then walked through Brick Lane market with Tower Hamlets executive mayor Lutfur Rahman. They both then went to the East London mosque where Len McCluskey greeted worshippers and met Muslim community leaders.

Unite condemns the recent attacks on Muslim men and women by far right extremists and racists and offers the hand of friendship. Unite believes that every person in our community should live without fear and intimidation.

‘I hate Arabs, I hate your religion’ – racist and Islamophobic assault near Orléans

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Collectif contre l’Islamophobie en France reports that on 14 June three Muslim women were subjected to an unprovoked attack while driving through Saint-Jean-de-Braye near Orléans. When they stopped at a red light a motorist got out of his car and proceeded to beat and kick the women, while shouting racist abuse at them, including “dirty Arab” and “I hate your religion”.

Bias against Muslims rampant in ‘liberal’ California

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Once Upon a Hatred“Muslim Americans come from more than 80 different countries and four continents; they occupy different socioeconomic classes, subscribe to a variety of sects and pursue all manner of jobs. Yet this highly diverse population has been shrunken into a single suspect class, unified now by its experience with Islamophobia.”

Charlotte Silver reports on recent studies by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (Once Upon a Hatred: Anti-Muslim Experiences in the USA) and the One Nation Bay Area Project (Bay Area Muslim Study: Establishing Identity and Community).

Electronic Intifada, 25 June 2013

Update:  See “Islamophobia in the US is mainstream”, Electronic Intifada, 28 June 2013

Thousands of people sign anti-Worcester Park mosque petition

Posted on by Bob Pitt

More than 3,500 people have signed a petition against a mosque being built in Worcester Park.

An Islamic association wants to convert the disused Bank Chambers building in Green Lane into a car-free mosque. But campaigners who do not believe the group’s claims that no-one will travel to the proposed mosque by car have organised a petition and collected more 3,737 signatures.

Plans to turn the derelict building into a mosque were rejected by Sutton Council in December on the grounds it would bring too much traffic to the area. But the new plans, from Cunnane Town Planning LLP, claim “extensive travel planning procedures” will mean people do not drive to the building.

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