CAIR denounces arson attack on Vancouver mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR.CAN), a national Muslim civil liberties organization, today denounced the attempted arson of a mosque in Vancouver, B.C. on May 22nd.

According to officials at Masjid Omar al-Farooq, two alleged suspects attempted to set the exterior of their mosque on fire after congregants had finished early afternoon worship. The mosque’s Imam noticed the smoke and rushed outside to extinguish the flames. Local police are now investigating and will review the mosque’s security camera footage.

Continue reading →

Anti-fascists outnumber EDL at Sheffield demonstration

Posted on by Bob Pitt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4AlzrD6Kv6Y

An English Defence League (EDL) demonstration in front of the city hall at 7pm today was met by a contingent of anti-fascists more than double their size.

At its largest the EDL numbered around 20, whereas the anti-fascists saw their numbers grow to at least 45 by 7:30pm, including students from the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and local FE colleges as well as members of Unite Against Fascism (UAF).

The counter-demonstration was organised by Secretary of Sheffield UAF Paul Scarrott after the group became aware of plans for EDL action outside the city hall.

EDL protesters chanted “E, E, EDL” next to the fountain on Division Street, while anti-fascist protesters responded with “Sheffield united, we’ll never be defeated” from beside the war memorial. After 30 minutes of demonstrating the EDL contingent had dispersed.

Continue reading →

EDL spreads lie that Muslims celebrated Woolwich murder

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL Oldham Muslims lie

Fresh from spreading the inflammatory (and, needless to say, entirely false) rumour that a 7-year-old child had been gang-raped in the toilets of a Luton school, the English Defence League are now propagating the lie that Muslims in Oldham have taken to the streets to celebrate the killing of a British soldier in Woolwich.

Continue reading →

Police probe ‘racist’ Facebook UKIP councillors in Lincolnshire

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Chris Pain UKIPPolice have now stepped in to investigate allegations of racism [see here and here] against three newly-elected UKIP politicians on Lincolnshire County Council.

Officers will probe claims of racist Facebook rants by leader Chris Pain [pictured] and two colleagues. The authority referred the case to police following “several” complaints from members of the public. All three councillors deny making the comments and say their accounts were hacked.

Continue reading →

Unite Against Fascism statement on Woolwich murder

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Unite Against Fascism statement on Woolwich murder

Unite Against Fascism sends its condolences to the family and friends of the soldier murdered yesterday in Woolwich. There can be no justification for such a terrible attack on an individual.

But we must recognise that fascist organisations such as the English Defence League and British National Party are trying to use the murder to whip up racism and direct hatred against all Muslims.

Continue reading →

‘Two black savages hacked a man to death while shouting Allahu Akbar; that’s really all you need to know’ – Rod Liddle on the murder in Woolwich

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“I was slightly puzzled by the early media reports of the appalling murder in Woolwich and particularly the wrangling over whether or not this could be called ‘a terrorist attack’. Does it make much difference? Two black savages hacked a man to death while shouting Allahu Akbar; that’s really all you need to know, isn’t it? In a sense calling it an act of terrorism somehow dignifies the barbarism. The media will now go into crowd-control mode and tell us how all Muslims are as shocked by this attack as are the rest of us and how Islam is a peaceable religion. No, it isn’t.”

Spectator, 23 May 2013

Newham council secures injunction over ‘mega mosque’ site

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Newham People's Alliance demo (2)
Newham People’s Alliance demonstration in support of Riverine Centre

A judge has granted a London council an injunction forcing a religious group to stop using a former industrial site near the Olympic Park which had been earmarked for a 10,000-capacity mosque as a place of worship.

The London Borough of Newham says the Anjuman-E-Islahul-Mislimeen Trust has repeatedly breached planning controls at the Abbey Mills Riverine Centre, West Ham, where it runs a mosque near to the Olympic park.

Last year, the council refused planning permission for the trust to build a larger, permanent, mosque with capacity for 10,000 worshippers on the site. The trust says it has lodged an appeal to the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, against that decision.

But now the council has been granted an injunction at the High Court forcing the trust to cease using the site as a place of worship despite pleas from members of the Tablighi Jamaat religious group that this will cause “untold harm” and “destroy a vibrant religious community”.

Continue reading →

Posted in UK