Newsweek has a useful profile of the Dutch far-right Islamophobe by Christopher Dickey.
EDL demonstrates against Islamification of Asda
A group of English Defence League (EDL) members demonstrated at the halal meat counter in Asda, Rochdale, on Saturday (14 January).
Rochdale Online understands that between 15 and 20 men arrived at the store, on Dane Street, at around 3.30pm but were swiftly moved on by the police and no arrests were made.
Sharia law compatible with human rights, argues leading barrister
Sharia council in Birmingham holds divorce hearing
A leading barrister has called for the UK to become more sharia-literate, while arguing that Islamic law can be compatible with the toughest human rights legislation.
Sadakat Kadri told the Guardian that so-called “sharia courts”, such as the Muslim arbitration tribunal, could serve “the community as a whole” by putting Sharia on a transparent, public footing and should be more widely accessible to those who want to use them.
Kadri said they played a role in safeguarding human rights: “It’s very important that they be acknowledged and allowed to exist. So long as they’re voluntary, which is crucial, it’s in everyone’s interests these things be transparent and publicly accessible. If you don’t have open tribunals, they’re going to happen anyway, but behind closed doors.”
Australian newspaper blamed disappearance of murdered woman on ‘Muslim hardliners’
Last week the Melbourne newspaper The Age ran a piece about a Christian convert of Iranian origin named Mandy Ahmadi (formerly Zahara Ramizadegan) who had been reported missing by her husband.
Readers were told of fears that Mrs Ahmadi had been “abducted by Muslim hardliners because of her attempts to convert Muslims to Christianity”. The notorious anti-Muslim bigot Danny Nalliah, head of the right-wing Christian fundamentalist Catch The Fire Ministries, was quoted as suggesting that “her zeal had come to the attention of militants, possibly in Iran itself”.
The author of The Age‘s report, the paper’s religious affairs correspondent Barney Zwartz [pictured], helpfully explained: “Islam, strictly interpreted, mandates death for adults who leave the religion, and there are many cases of Iranian converts being killed, both in Iran and in Europe. The same penalty may be applied to those who seek to persuade Muslims to leave their religion.”
A biblical bully who just needs to shut up
“David Caton is a plague of boils on the community’s spiritual life. Enough.”
Daniel Ruth takes on the leader (and only known activist) of the Florida Family Association over his recent attempt to witch-hunt teacher Kelly Miliziano for inviting Hassan Shibly of the Council on American-Islamic Relations to address her pupils.
Netherlands: Socialist Party level with VVD in new poll, support for Wilders shrinks
The Socialist Party has drawn level with the ruling VVD in the latest Maurice de Hond opinion poll, while support for Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam PVV has reached a post-election low. The poll puts both the SP and VVD on 30 seats, while the PVV is on 21, three down on last week’s total and six below its year-end position.
Dawkins resists ‘Muslim-led censorship’
I’ve been asked why Islamophobia Watch hasn’t covered the “Jesus and Mo” row at University College London. The reason, frankly, is that I had better things to do with my time than address this concocted controversy. However, on reflection, it’s worth a short post because of the role played by celebrity atheist and anti-Islam bigot Richard Dawkins, which is what attracted coverage of the issue in the national press last week.
EDL provokes confrontation outside East London Mosque
Police have arrested 15 people after violence between far-right activists and local youths outside a mosque in east London.
Witnesses said the clash near the East London Mosque in Whitechapel erupted after supporters of the English Defence League chanted anti-Muslim slogans. Scotland Yard said one man was injured and taken to hospital with “non life-threatening injuries”.
“The incident involved several hundred people,” a police spokesman said. “Bottles and other items were thrown.” He said all those arrested were later released. “The bulk of them were local kids,” he added.
Harry’s Place supports terrorism
Harry’s Place is a Zionist blog that specialises in witch-hunting politically engaged Muslims, and supporters of the Palestinian cause generally, by portraying them as supporters of violent extremism.
Yet last week one of HP’s main contributors, Gene Zitver, posted a piece on the murder of Iranian scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan which concluded approvingly: “Assuming it is the Mossad, their ability to operate like this in the heart of an enemy country is impressive, to say the least.” Yesterday Zitver sneered that in Iran “nuclear science appears to be a notably unsafe profession” and provided a link to his previous post.
EDL mobilises 100 supporters for Barking protest
The English Defence League was forced to drag in supporters from as far away as Coventry, Norwich and Weymouth to shore up a miserable turnout in the east London borough of Barking and Dagenham on Saturday 14 January.
Only around 100 EDL supporters turned up for what was billed as a regional mobilisation in Barking – although the racists and fascists had obviously mobilised from much further afield.
In contrast, around 80 people, overwhelmingly from the local area, came to an emergency counter-protest called by UAF at just two days’ notice. The antiracist and antifascist protestors included black, white and Asian people.