Far right and atheists hold small anti-Islam protest in Melbourne

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Melbourne anti-Islam rally

The cancellation of Saturday’s planned rally in Melbourne against Islamophobia didn’t prevent people turning up to denounce Islam. The small anti-Islam protest brought together atheists brandishing signs reading “(Like all religions) Islam is false” and fascist thugs wearing SS insignia. The latter included Nationalist Alternative, a neo-Nazi group who reject opportunist attempts to win popular support by targeting Islam alone and uphold the right of white Australians to abuse and insult Muslims and Jews equally.

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Marine Le Pen calls for ban on Muslim and Jewish headwear

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Marine Le Pen and fatherFrench far-right leader Marine Le Pen called Friday for a ban on wearing Muslim veils and Jewish skullcaps in public, adding to religious tensions sparked by cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

In an interview with the Le Monde newspaper, Le Pen called for religious headwear to be banned “in stores, on public transport and on the streets”.

Asked if the ban should apply to the Jewish skullcap, known as the kippah or yarmulke, as well as Muslim headwear, she said: “It is obvious that if the veil is banned, the kippah is banned in public as well.”

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Waltham Forest Guardian and council launch joint campaign to ban English Defence League march

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Waltham Forest Guardian EDL campaign

Today your Guardian teams up with Waltham Forest Council to stop the English Defence League (EDL) peddling its hatred and prejudice in our borough for the second time in two months.

Our joint campaign “Waltham Forest – United. Strong. Together.” calls on the government to step in and ban the EDL from going ahead with its planned march through Walthamstow on October 27.

The move follows hot on the heels of the EDL’s last parade through the town on September 1, when its route was blocked by opponents who outnumbered the marchers by 10 to one.

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Woman’s racist rant at neighbours sees court impose two-year restraining order

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A woman with a history of racist behaviour has been ordered to stay away from her Lebanese neighbours.

North Devon Magistrates’ Court heard Angela Janet French, 58, of 14 Barlow Road in Barnstaple, unleashed an hour-long torrent of drunken racist abuse in her back garden less than a week after being warned by magistrates to leave her neighbours alone.

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Posted in UK

Dutch foreign ministry puts pressure on Australian government to grant visa for Wilders

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Geert Wilders thinkingThe Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted the Australian authorities over the visa application by Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders.

It is unclear why the visa has not yet been granted. The anti-Islam politician applied for a visa three weeks ago in order to give a series of lectures next month. The employees who would accompany him have already received their visas and the group which invited Wilders to Australia has accused the government of stalling over his application.

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British Columbia: man charged over mosque threat expected to plead not guilty

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A commissionaire who allegedly posted comments online suggesting the Masjid Al-Iman Mosque on Quadra Street be blasted with a rocket launcher appeared in Victoria provincial court on Wednesday.

Daniel Kevin Speed is charged with causing fear of injury or damage. His defence lawyer, Bill Heflin, said Speed was expected to plead not guilty at his next court appearance on Oct. 3.

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