American Muslims defend religious freedom against ACT! for America

Posted on by Bob Pitt

ACT! for America Memphis

The Bartlett meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance — to the American flag and to the Republic for which about 50 citizens have gathered to express their deep concern. “Radical Islam is here and it’s threatening every freedom we hold dear,” said Mason Ezzell, a local businessman and former Air Force pilot.

He was addressing the February meeting of the Memphis chapter of ACT! for America, a grassroots, anti-Islam organization that claims more than 150,000 members in 650 chapters across the country. “I wish it wasn’t true. I hate that it is. Not all Muslims are terrorists. Many Muslims are good people who just don’t know what’s happening. We don’t want to believe what’s happening, but it is. This is real, folks.”

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‘Pork eating crusader’ patch a hit with US troops in Afghanistan

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Pork eating crusader patchWith tensions at an all time high in Afghanistan following the Koran burnings, the urination video, and the killing of 16 civilians, attention is now falling on a long line of “Infidel” apparel and gear.

Exhausted from how they feel they’re being perceived, troops have taken to wearing patches and carrying items that label themselves infidels, and offer translation in local dialect.

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Posted in USA

Prevent faces growing university opposition

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The government’s counter-terrorism strategy is facing opposition on university campuses over concerns it is discriminatory and encourages spying. Student groups and lecturers have moved to distance themselves from Prevent, a Home Office initiative that aims to combat violent extremism, after being asked to report Muslim students deemed vulnerable to radicalisation.

The National Union of Students (NUS) is expected to table a motion at its conference next month condemning as “totally unacceptable” approaches by Prevent officers asking for details of student Islamic society members.

The motion, a draft of which has been seen by the Guardian, will call on delegates from across Britain to “stand in solidarity with those negatively affected by Prevent”. It adds: “The language, concepts and unspecific terms of definition used in the Prevent strategy are unhelpfully generalist and in some cases problematic, and could well be open to discriminatory interpretations.”

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Houston senator backs Muslim academy excluded from Texas schools association

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Rodney EllisHouston state senator Rodney Elliswon’t let up trying to get a private school association to let a Muslim school join them.

The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools rejected Houston’s Iman Academy back in 2010. But Iman isn’t the only Islamic school TAPPS turned down. Iman and the others say the application process makes it pretty clear that Muslims are not welcome.

This all came out when TAPPS said it would not change its state basketball play-offs schedule to keep Houston’s Robert M. Beren Academy, an orthodox Jewish school, from playing on the Sabbath. TAPPS backed down when parents went to court.

Ellis joined the fray for both schools. And, with the basketball season over, that leaves the Iman question still out there.

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Youth football manager denies posting anti-Muslim comments on Facebook, claims account was hacked

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Steve Clarke headlineA youth football team manager is under investigation after racist and homophobic comments appeared on his Facebook page.

Hampshire Football Association and the FA are probing allegations made against Steve Clarke, who manages the under-15s squad at Havant and Waterlooville Youth FC.

Mr Clarke strongly denies making the offensive comments about Muslims and homosexuals and says the only explanation he can think of is that his profile on the social networking website was hacked.

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Evidence in mosque attack trial may have been destroyed, Kingston Crown Court hears

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Kingston anti-Muslim protestEvidence in the Kingston Mosque attack trial may have been destroyed by Kingston police’s property store, a court has heard.

Nine people deny being part of a violent mob that chanted English Defence League slogans as elderly worshippers cowered inside Kingston Mosque during the attack on November 21, 2010.

Lead detective in the case Detective Sergeant Andrew Morrow told Kingston Crown Court evidence including clothing taken from three of the defendants and two sticks recovered at the mosque, could not be found. To audible gasps from the defendants in the dock, he said it appeared another detective who took the evidence from those three witnesses had agreed their destruction earlier on this year.

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Brighton: Friends Meeting House cancels anti-fascist book launch after threats from EDL supporters

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Tony Greenstein book coverAn activist says he has been forced to move his book launch because of the chance the far right would disrupt the event.

Tony Greenstein planned to sign copies of his book, The Fight Against Fascism in Brighton and the South Coast, at the Friends Meeting House in Ship Street, Brighton, on Saturday. But officials at the venue cancelled the event, saying they were concerned it could trigger a protest.

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King’s Lynn man appears in court charged with racist graffiti on proposed Islamic community centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A King’s Lynn man has appeared in court today (Thursday) accused of daubing racist graffiti on a building earmarked to become an Islamic community centre.

Michael Curtis, of Pleasant Court, is charged with writing racially aggravated comments on the former Queen’s Arms pub with intent to cause alarm, distress and harassment. The 44-year-old entered no plea and will face trial at Norwich Crown Court after Lynn magistrates declined jurisdiction on the matter.

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Posted in UK

EDL fail to disrupt opening of new Islamic centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The presence of the English Defence League failed to disrupt the opening of a new Islamic centre in Luton yesterday.

The Discover Islam Public Information Centre, based in Upper George Street, is a community project which aims to provide a neutral environment for people to ask questions about Islam or Muslims that they would feel too embarrassed or intimidated to talk about otherwise.

But outside, surrounded by police, EDL leader Tommy Robinson and around 20 of his followers handed out leaflets which stated that the centre promoted “Luton In Harm-enemy“. The protest was responding to the views expressed on a blog by the centre’s manager, Yusuf Bonner, which Mr Robinson claims are “extremist”. Mr Bonner was not present at the event.

Inside, those running the centre attempted to ignore the EDL and instead focus on what the new building would bring to the town.

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