Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has been the subject of racist abuse on the NEWCASTLE – English Defence League Facebook page.
The abuse centres around Cisse’s religion and comes after reports emerged that Cisse will refuse to wear Newcastle’s new kit which will be branded with Wonga.com, a payday loans company.
Reports and comment from Islamophobia Watch 3-9 June 2013
There will be 24-hour police patrols at certain Islamic sites in London after two suspicious fires, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has said.
Fires were started at a community centre in Muswell Hill on Wednesday, and a Chislehurst school on Saturday. An increased police presence has now been put in place around potentially “vulnerable” locations, said Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. He called on Londoners not to be divided by the death of Lee Rigby.
Undeterred by criticisms of his article in last week’s Sunday Telegraph, in which he denied any serious post-Woolwich backlash against Muslims, Andrew Gilligan returns to the issue in this week’s paper, claiming that the government-backed Tell MAMA project has had its funding withdrawn because of objections to its recording of anti-Muslim hate crime. Tell MAMA’s response can be read here. Their account does provide a revealing insight into Gilligan’s contemptible journalistic methods, which involve deciding on the story he wants to report in advance and then manipulating the evidence to fit. But then, there’s nothing new there.
Nearly 130 people had to be evacuated from a Islamic boarding school in south east London when a fire broke out late last night. Police said they were treating the incident at the Darul Uloom Islamic school in Chislehurst as suspicious.
The Daily Star Sunday exposes Cody Aidan Lachey, a self-styled Afghan veteran who was given a platform by the BBC in the aftermath of the Woolwich murder to incite hatred against Muslims. The Star claims that Lachey joined the Army in 2001 as Craig Langley, but he went absent without leave in 2002 and left the Army the following year, later changing his name to Cody Lachey. They say he has never served in Afghanistan.
When Lachey appeared on Newsnight he was described by host Kirsty Wark as having “fought for Queen and country twice in Afghanistan”. According to the Star: “On Daybreak he was asked questions by hosts Kate Garraway and Aled Jones while in his Army uniform and he spoke on behalf of all soldiers. On BBC World News he was referred to as an Afghan veteran and used his appearance to spout hatred towards Muslims, claiming anyone in Britain who didn’t like Westerners should be deported.”
An American Islamic group has been advising British mosques on security measures, including the installation of safe rooms and panic alarms, warning that they are at greater risk than in any other western country.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has discussed its revamped security regulations with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) in light of the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, in Woolwich, south-east London, which it said had even provoked attacks in the United States.
More than 60 members from the Shropshire division of the English Defence League staged demonstrations today over plans for the former Shrewsbury Register Office at Column Lodge to become an Islamic centre.
The plans by Shropshire Bangladesh Welfare Society, to move Shrewsbury’s first Muslim prayer centre into the town’s former register office have sparked fierce debate. Shropshire Council has received hundreds of letters of both objection and support since the plans were submitted on April 30.
Protests by the EDL began at 1pm. A dozen police officers were present but the protest passed off peacefully. During the 30 minute protest the crowd, mainly men, stood on the Column roundabout chanting and a number of comments were passed between EDL supporters and a handful of opponents who gathered on the other side of the road.
Hundreds of English Defence League supporters who protested in Sheffield city centre were able to lay their wreath – but have been accused of inciting counter demonstrators.
Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield claimed EDL supporters made Nazi salutes as well as Churchill-style “V” signs when they entered Barker’s Pool and approached the war memorial to lay the wreath.
Shouts of “there’s only one Lee Rigby” were chanted by the EDL as they entered, after leader Tommy Robinson had grabbed a megaphone and urged them to hold a “peaceful protest”. The Star filmed EDL supporters, who initially shouted “Yorkshire” changing their chants to “Allah is a paedophile” and “if you wear a yellow jacket, you’re a ****” at police.
Labour MP Mr Blomfield said: “I congratulate The Star for exposing the EDL for what they are. They claimed to be coming here peacefully but I am disgusted that they stood in front of the war memorial and gave a Nazi salute, then chanted obscenities at the police and towards Sheffield’s Muslim citizens.”
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Lincoln on Saturday, June 8, for a protest against plans to build a mosque in Lincoln, as well as a separate anti-racism demonstration.
Around 250 anti-mosque protestors were in the City Square area, while around 100 people took part in the counter-demonstration in Cornhill. There was a strong police presence in the city throughout the day, with Lincolnshire Police getting assistance from Thames Valley and Metropolitan Police forces. No arrests were made.