Far-right Facebook abuse of Newcastle councillor

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Dipu AhadA councillor claims to be the victim of an online attack from far right extremists after he spoke out about the rape of a schoolgirl.

Newcastle City councillor Dipu Ahad called for calm when violence flared in the city’s West as police named 19-year-old Abdul Zalal Miah as the man charged with raping a 15-year-old girl. The same day his Facebook page was inundated with a barrage of malicious comments from members of far right extremist groups condemning his actions.

Coun Ahad, 29, said: “I called for calm on Christmas Eve because tension was mounting and we were worried more incidents would happen. Thankfully we worked hard and the police increased their controls so nothing escalated but I have had a lot of malicious messages personally. Some have become nasty and malicious and say they are going to protest outside my house. These people are using this incident to stir things up.”

Continue reading →

Manchester on alert for unrest as English Defence League plans huge demo

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Well, that’s the headline to an article in the Manchester Evening News reporting on the English Defence League’s plans to hold a “huge rally” in the city on 2 March (under the slogan “IF YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND HATE ISLAM JOIN US IN MANCHESTER”).

Given that the EDL these days has difficulty mobilising more than a few hundred of its supporters to turn out for demonstrations, “huge” will almost certainly prove to be a gross exaggeration.

Thurnby Lodge Islamic centre plan rejected, campaign group with far-right links given control of disputed building

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Thurnby Lodge petition
EDL member Chris Hopewell presents Forgotten Estates petition to Leicester mayor Peter Soulsby

The future of a disused scout hut was decided today with a Muslim community group, which wanted to take it on, being told it can have another building.

The scout hut, in Nursery Road, Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, will be handed to residents who have protested against the As-Salaam Trust’s plan for the building since last summer.

The protesters, who have formed their own group called the Forgotten Estates Committee, will be given the lease on the scout hut for two-and-a-half years. They have told Leicester City Council they will develop it as a community centre.

The As-Salaam Trust has been told it can have the lease to the Raven Centre, which is next to the Thurnby Lodge Community Centre where it has been meeting for prayers for the past three years.

Sir Peter made the announcement after meeting both groups this afternoon.

Continue reading →

BNP thanked for highlighting Skegness abattoir as trade pours in

Posted on by Bob Pitt

BNP Skegness anti-halal campaignManagement of a halal abattoir say they wish to thank a BNP leader for the attention brought by their party, as meat orders are on the up worldwide.

The slaughter house, based in Heath Road, Skegness, has roused mixed opinions among the community but business has improved thanks to details about its opening being posted on many websites across the internet.

Mr Patel, part management of Premier Halal Ltd, who did not wish to give his first name, said the site had been open about a month and it was trading, with local staff from the area employed.

“I want to thank Nick Griffin, the abattoir has been advertised on lots of meat websites and this has improved business. We have had meat orders from Poland and Germany,” said Mr Patel.

He made the remarks after the British National Party announced plans for another day of action over the issue.

Skegness Standard, 3 January 2013

EDL leader Kevin Carroll takes over as chairman of British Freedom party

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Under the upbeat headline “Kev Carroll Becomes British Freedom Chairman”, the British Freedom party reports the rather less positive news that their previous chairman, Paul Weston, has in fact resigned.

According to the BFP, Weston has “stepped down to concentrate on a literary contribution to the battle against Britain’s national trajectory”. Which I suppose is another way of saying that he has, quite understandably, decided that the BFP is a complete waste of time.

Belgian Hema store wrong to sack headscarf-wearing worker

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Belgian branch of Dutch department store Hema was wrong to sack a woman worker for wearing a headscarf, a Belgian industrial tribunal ruled on Wednesday.

The woman had worked for the store in Genk for two months wearing a headscarf but was then sacked for refusing to remove it after complaints from customers.

The tribunal ordered Hema to pay the 21-year-old woman six month’s salary – €9,000 – in compensation.

The company has since drawn up formal clothing requirements for its Belgian stores, news agency ANP said.

Dutch News, 2 January 2013

See also KUNA, 2 January 2013

Man shot outside Florida Walmart after attacker demanded ‘Are you Muslim?’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Pasco County deputies are investigating an attack outside a Walmart as a hate crime. It happened around 3 a.m. Wednesday at the Walmart at 1575 Land O’Lakes Blvd in Lutz.

Deputies say a man and a woman in their 20s were heading out to their car in the parking lot. Another man, also in his 20s, approached them and asked them a series of questions.

“The first question to the male was ‘are you of Middle Eastern descent?'” explained Doug Tobin, spokesman for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Tobin said the male victim responded, “No, I’m not.”

Then the man asked another question: “Are you Muslim?” The victim again responded, “No, I’m not a Muslim.”

Deputies say the suspect then yelled a racial slur, alluding to the fact the victim was “with a white woman.” Then the man pulled out a BB or air soft gun.

“The suspect shot about 20 rounds of this air soft/Pellet gun, toward our victims. Fortunately, they weren’t seriously hurt. But it’s a serious crime,” Tobin said.

The man was hit twice in the face. He was treated on the scene and released, and the woman he was with was not hurt.

Continue reading →

EDL by-election candidate Clint Bristow in custody on burglary charges

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL election leafletAn activist for the far-right English Defence League who stood in the recent Rotherham byelection has been remanded in jail on burglary charges.

Brian Clint Bristow, usually known as Clint, came last in the 29 November byelection with just 29 votes. A little over two weeks later, on 16 December, the 39-year-old was charged by Humberside police with burglary. After being refused bail, he was remanded in custody and spent Christmas in jail.

He is accused of trespassing on private property and stealing toiletries, money and a mobile phone then making threats of violence. The alleged burglary took place in the coastal village of Bempton, near Bridlington.

Bristow was refused bail at Bridlington magistrates court and the case has been transferred to Hull crown court.

Continue reading →