Muslim groups call for ban on Scottish Defence League demonstration

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Scottish Defence League (2)Muslim groups have called for a blanket ban on “hate-fuelled” far-right extremists demonstrating in Edinburgh. The Scottish Defence League, which claims to be against Islamic extremism, will hold a static rally in the Grassmarket next Saturday after a march was ruled out by the city council.

A dozen Muslim organisations joined forces to condemn last month’s march application and today repeated their concerns ahead of the SDL’s appeal against the council ruling, which will be heard on Monday. The groups, which include the Muslim Council of Scotland, Iqra Mosque and Community Centre and Edinburgh Central Mosque, said they feared the effect of the SDL being allowed in the city centre.

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DMV wants ‘ICUHAJI’ license plate back

Posted on by Bob Pitt

ICUHAJI plateA Chesapeake man says the Department of Motor Vehicles is violating his right to free speech.

The DMV asked Army veteran Sean Bujno to return his vanity license plate, which displays the message “ICUHAJI.” Many read the message as “I see you, Haji.”

The dictionary defines “haji” as “one who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca.” But the word can also be used as slang, often to describe people of Arab descent in a derogatory way. The popular website Urban Dictionary suggests “haji” is “offensive slang; disparaging term for Arabs, especially those of Islamic faith.”

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Kansas: Muslims rally against ‘Islamophobic agenda’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Kansas rally against anti-sharia lawAbout 25 Muslims attended a rally Friday at the Statehouse urging Gov. Sam Brownback to veto a bill banning “foreign laws” that they say is a thinly veiled attack on Islam.

Faizan Syed, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ St. Louis branch, said similar “American Laws for American Courts” proposals have been floated in almost half of the 50 states this year. He said proponents have made them purposely vague to avoid running afoul of the Constitution like a 2010 Oklahoma law that specifically targeted Islamic law, or sharia.

“We know this was targeted against Islam because of the Oklahoma law that was struck down,” Syed said. “They just changed the wording.”

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The vilification of CAIR

Posted on by Bob Pitt

“The way in which the most prominent American Muslim civil rights organization has been marginalized and demonized should be cause for alarm not only for Muslims, but for civil rights advocates, and even for those in the law enforcement community who rely on strong local relationships. Lending official legitimacy to allegations that have never seen a day in court is abhorrent to the American value of justice….”

Rabia Chaudry condemns the right-wing witch-hunt of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the response of the FBI in particular.

altmuslim, 18 May 2012

Reward offered in Wichita mosque fire

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A reward is being offered in connection to a fire that destroyed a Wichita mosque.

Authorities said last week that an Oct. 31 fire at the Islamic Association of Mid-Kansas was intentionally set. The fire caused an estimated $150,000 in damage.

Capt. Stuart Bevis, Wichita Fire, said the fire remained under investigation for some time due to technical analysis being performed in Maryland. The Wichita Police department, the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted with the case.

The ATF is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of the person who started the blaze. Anyone with the information about the incident should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-FIRE, FBI at 316-262-0031 or the Wichita Fire Department at 316-337-9146.

KAKE, 16 May 2012

Walthamstow: EDL march ‘will inflame tensions’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Tensions could rise in the community if far-right group the English Defence League (EDL) is allowed to march through Walthamstow, critics claim. Both the Waltham Forest Anti-Cuts Union and Trades Council have criticised plans posted online for an EDL demonstration in the area on Saturday August 18.

The EDL, which describes itself as an “inclusive movement” opposed to Islamic extremism, denies being a racist organisation. But a spokesman for the WF Trades Council said: “There is no other reason that this organisation should come to Waltham Forest other than to seek to divide our multicultural community and to incite racial tension”. He added that plans were underway for an alternative ‘We Are Waltham Forest’ event on the same day, designed to celebrate the borough’s multiculturalism.

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Melbourne’s northern suburbs regarded as a hot spot for potential terrorists

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Melbourne’s northern suburbs were regarded as a hot spot for potential home-grown terrorists, a Labor MP revealed yesterday.

Maria Vamvakinou, whose federal seat of Calwell includes suburbs with high populations of Muslims – such as Broadmeadows and Dallas – said the area had been under surveillance by national security agencies.

“My area, having such a high concentration of Australians of Muslim faith, was an area of interest to the federal police and to ASIO, especially immediately in the aftermath of September 11,” she said. “Most people who live in Broadmeadows, they might be of Muslim background, but they pretty much live ordinary lives.”

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