Shrewsbury Muslim prayer centre plan moves a step closer

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Column Lodge ShrewsburyPlans for Shrewsbury’s first Muslim prayer centre have moved a major step closer to getting the go-ahead after winning the support of planners. They are recommending councillors approve changing the use of the former registry office at Column Lodge in Preston Street when they meet next week.

The issue has divided opinion with Shropshire Council receiving more than 500 letters about the application, 227 in support and 278 against. It has also led to the English Defence League protesting in the town, while anti-racism group Hope Not Hate held its first meeting in Shrewsbury earlier this week. It is putting together a petition for people to sign which will be presented to next week’s meeting.

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Scotland: increase in anti-Islamic hate crime due mainly to SDL

Posted on by Bob Pitt

SDL Glasgow February 2012(2)Ministers have condemned prejudicial behaviour as “completely unacceptable” following the publication of new figures on hate crimes.

While there was an overall reduction in racial and religious hate crime in 2012/13, statistics show a rise in anti-Islamic charges and those relating to disabled people, compared with 2011/12. The figures were revealed in a series of reports on hate crime, religiously aggravated offending and the first annual statistics from the Offensive Behaviour Act.

Charges where conduct was derogatory towards Islam totalled 80 in 2012/13 compared with just 19 the previous year, however 57 of these were from one event, the Campaign to Welcome Refugees march in Glasgow, where there was a counter demonstration by the Scottish Defence League (SDL).

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Suspended jail term for woman who called for arson attacks on mosques

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A 24-year-old woman who posted racist comments on Facebook after the death of Drummer Lee Rigby has avoided a jail sentence. Michaela Turner, of Southsea, Hampshire, was sentenced at Portsmouth magistrates court to an eight-week jail term, suspended for six months. She was ordered to pay £85 in costs and a victim surcharge of £60.

The court heard that Turner had been drinking when she made comments about the Woolwich attack on the social networking site. They included: “Feeling like burning down some mosques in Portsmouth, anyone want to join me?” She also shared other comments containing racist comments following the murder, the court was told.

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Paris International Islamophobia Conference – call for papers

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Paris International Islamophobic Conference

Call for Papers Paris, France International Islamophobia Conference
December 13-14, 2013

Theme: The Epistemic, Racial, Cultural and Stuctural Exclusionary Measures in France and Europe

The University of California, Berkeley IRDP (Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project) and CADIS (Centre d’Analyse et d’Intervention Sociologiques), Paris Invite Scholars and Researchers to Submit Paper Proposals December 13-14, 2013.

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CxF member claims Exeter Strong march has nothing to do with far right

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Antifascists in Exeter are concerned about a planned march against terrorism in the city.

Dean Westlake, a former section commander with the Devon and Dorset Regiment, said he is organising the Exeter Stand Strong March for June 23, as part of a national initiative following the recent murder of Drummer Lee Rigby by alleged terrorists in Woolwich. Mr Westlake, 45, is meeting representatives from the police, the city council and Stagecoach to discuss the logistics of the march.

The Stand Strong movement calls for people across the country to unite against extremism, terrorism and oppression. But as previously reported by the Echo, Mr Westlake, along with some of the organisers of other demonstrations, has been accused of being affiliated with far right groups such as the English Defence League (EDL).

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Second attack on Muslim woman in Argenteuil

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Coordination contre le Racisme et l’Islamophobie has reported that, following the attack on Rabia B. last month, a second Muslim woman was assaulted by skinheads in Argenteuil on Thursday morning. They dragged her into a side street, beat her, removed her headscarf and cut off some of her hair. When she screamed at them that she was pregnant they replied they “didn’t give a fuck” and kicked her in the stomach. Argenteuil was the scene of clashes on Wednesday provoked by police arresting a Muslim woman wearing a veil.

See also “Seule et enceinte agressée par des skins”, CCIF, 13 June 2013

And “Argenteuil: La colère des habitants après une nouvelle agression raciste”, 20 Minutes, 13 June 2013

Concerns raised over ‘far-right links’ to Harlow charity march

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Harlow Strong t-shirtThe organiser of a ‘charity march’ in memory of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has dismissed claims the event is a front for far-right political group the English Defence League.

Harlow Strong, which is set to take place next Sunday, is being billed as a “peaceful t-shirt charity march” – despite similar events organised under the banner of the ‘Woolwich Strong’ movement being exposed as having direct links to far-right groups.

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Lawsuit on questioning Muslims at U.S. border can proceed

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A lawsuit challenging the questioning of Muslims about their religious beliefs at the U.S. border can continue, a U.S. district court judge in Detroit ruled Tuesday.

The lawsuit names FBI Director Robert Mueller III, former acting Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner David Aguilar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, along with individual agents.

Judge Avern Cohn ruled that the plaintiffs in the case, four Muslim Americans who were all detained and questioned each time they crossed the U.S.-Canada border, had demonstrated that the agencies had a policy of questioning Muslim Americans entering the country, appeared to violate equal protection under the Fifth Amendment.

The lawsuit alleges Muslim Americans were singled out and asked questions like which mosque they go to, how often they pray and who their religious leader is.

Politico, 13 June 2013

Lincoln man jailed for posting anti-Muslim message on Facebook

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man who posted a “grossly offensive” anti-Muslim message on Facebook in the aftermath of the Woolwich murder has been jailed for two weeks.

Benjamin Flatters, 22, of no fixed abode, was arrested in Lincoln on May 22 after police had warned people to stay within the law when posting on social media following the death of Drummer Lee Rigby.

Flatters, who previously gave his address as Drayton Road, Swineshead, appeared at Skegness Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday) where he admitted posting a message which was “either incident or grossly offensive in breach of the 1988 Malicious Communications Act”.

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Posted in UK

Anger at BNP rally outside St Helens mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

BNP St Helens protest

Police were called to a BNP rally outside an Islamic community centre in St Helens. Members of the far-right group held banners and handed out leaflets outside the Iman Trust’s base on Elton Head Road, Sutton, last Monday (June 3).

The decision by the group to picket the centre has prompted concern among the wider community. Council leader Barrie Grunewald among those condemning the protest.

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