NYCLU study examines rise of anti-mosque activities in New York State

Posted on by Bob Pitt

NYCLUThe New York Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday released a white paper examining the rise of anti-mosque activities throughout the state.

As you might guess, the paper devotes significant attention to one project in particular, the proposed Park51 community center in Lower Manhattan. One of its developers, real estate broker Sharif El-Gamal, took part in a conference call on the release, along with NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman, the organization’s Advocacy Director Udi Ofer and Prof. Foroque Ahmad Khan, director of the Islamic Center of Long Island.

“The anti-mosque and anti-Muslim sentiment expressed in the opposition to Park51 was not an isolated incident,” Lieberman said, hastening to add that the civil rights group recognizes the right of the mosque’s opponents to speak out.

The report cites nine examples of anti-mosque activity, ranging from the international furor over Park51 to ugly but rather penny-ante vandalism of a mosque in Hudson – many of them occurring during last year’s election cycle, when Mosque Mania ruled the hustings. The report deals with several incidents in which public officials attempted to block the construction or expansion of mosques out of what Lieberman termed “an undifferentiated fear and distrust of their Muslim neighbors”.

Khan noted that too many Americans have little knowledge of their local Muslim communities, a void currently being filled by anti-Islam pundits and activists. “Some people … have made a cottage industry out of this,” he said.

Khan described what he saw as a “double standard”, noting that the vast majority of terrorist acts in North America are not committed by Muslims. He cited coverage of July’s rampage by Sweden’s Anders Breivik and noted a dearth of analysis on his twisted version of Christianity.

Khan praised Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Rep. Jerrold Nadler for “setting the tone” with their opposition to broad-brush intolerance. He noted that one of the promising aftereffects of 9/11 was a strengthening of interfaith and outreach efforts across the country. “That’s the only way you can break down the stereotypes,” he said.

Albany Times Union blog, 24 August 2011

See also NYCLU press release, 24 August 2011

Download the report here

With CIA help, NYPD built secret effort to monitor mosques, daily life of Muslim neighborhoods

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the New York Police Department has become one of the nation’s most aggressive domestic intelligence agencies, targeting ethnic communities in ways that would run afoul of civil liberties rules if practiced by the federal government, an Associated Press investigation has found.

The operations have benefited from unprecedented help from the CIA, a partnership that has blurred the line between foreign and domestic spying.

The department has dispatched undercover officers, known as “rakers”, into minority neighborhoods as part of a human mapping program, according to officials directly involved in the program. They’ve monitored daily life in bookstores, bars, cafes and nightclubs. Police have also used informants, known as “mosque crawlers”, to monitor sermons, even when there’s no evidence of wrongdoing.

Neither the city council, which finances the department, nor the federal government, which has given NYPD more than $1.6 billion since 9/11, is told exactly what’s going on.

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Alleged mosque bombing plotter not fit for trial, judge finds

Posted on by Bob Pitt

DETROIT — A Wayne County Judge on Monday ruled Roger Stockham, the California man accused of making terrorist threats toward the Islamic Center of America, is not mentally competent to stand trial.

Stockham is charged with making terrorist threats and possession of illegal explosives with unlawful intent. He now will remain in custody at a mental institution until he is either rehabilitated enough to stand trial or is committed to the facility.

Dearborn Police arrested Stockham in January in the Islamic Center’s parking lot with a paper grocery bag full of some legal and illegal fireworks. A local pub manager who said Stockham had just left his bar after threatening an explosion at a mosque alerted police.

Stockham’s mental competency has been the source of differing opinions since the case against him began in January. His first court-appointed attorney requested a competency exam, but was subsequently rejected as counsel by Stockham. Then, Evans stepped in and didn’t see any issue with Stockham’s mental state.

But after Stockham sent a letter to Islamic Center officials while he was in custody, Wayne County Judge Bruce Morrow ordered a competency hearing.

A Vietnam veteran and diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder sufferer, Stockham has a lengthy history of mental issues. At his arraignment in 19th District Court, Stockham’s initial court-appointed attorney – who he subsequently rejected – re-quested a mental competency exam.

Dearborn Press & Guide, 23 August 2011

Southend: man attacked as he visits mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man visiting a mosque for early morning prayers was attacked by a teenager in the street.

The 46-year-old was walking towards the Essex Jamme Masjid Mosque, in Chelmsford Avenue, when he was set on by a boy aged about 15. The boy was part of a group of four youths of similar ages.

The victim suffered cuts and bruises to his face and has been very shaken up by the unprovoked attack. It happened at about 4.15am on Tuesday August 16 and police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the local neighbourhood police team on 101, extension 470123, or to call the police beat mobile number, 07817 968114.

If you are calling from outside Essex, please call 0300 333 4444 or you can leave information anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Echo, 23 August 2011

Via ENGAGE

EDL supporter denies threatening behaviour at Telford protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

An 18-year-old who attended an English Defence League demonstration in Wellington has denied using threatening behaviour.

Myles Davies, of Melton Mews, Whitchurch, was at Telford Magistrates’ Court today where he pleaded not guilty to using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment or stress at Wellington Train Station on August 13. He is due in court again on August 30.

Shropshire Star, 23 August 2011

Rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism in Sweden, study finds

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Antisemitism och islamofobiThe number of xenophobic web sites have almost doubled since 2007 and Jews and Muslims wearing apparent religious symbols are subjected to significant discrimination in Sweden today, according to a new report from the Living History Forum (Forum för levande historia).

“Sweden as a whole is a tolerant country but this report shows that racism is growing and is being professionalized on the internet. There is today a small but growing minority that harbour hatred against Muslims and Jews,” minister for integration, Erik Ullenhag, wrote in a statement on Monday.

The report, which was requested by the government and carried out by the Forum, also shows that an increased number of racist web pages have been created in recent years and that prejudice is being spread through schoolbooks.

According to the report, the number of racist sites in Sweden has almost doubled in two years. In 2009 there were around 8,000 xenophobic Swedish sites whereas today the authors of the report estimate an increase to 15,000. This follows a EU-wide trend where right wing extremist groups are using the internet to spread hate-propaganda.

According to the report, these are characterized by anti-Semitic and Islamophobic views, where conspiracy theories are the most recurring elements. The Jewish group is often cast as world conspirators whereas the Muslim group is seen as physical occupiers, actively are on their way to taking over society through mass-immigration and rising nativity figures.

The Jewish community in Sweden consists of some 20,000 individuals and the Muslim community of 300,000. Fresh crime statistics show that there were 161 reports of crimes with anti-Semitic motives and 272 with Islamophobic motives last year. But according to the Forum it is difficult to get a fair idea of the situation from these statistics as they are based on police reports and the authors believe there may be many more unrecorded cases.

“Above all this study shows that research and follow-ups into preventative actions regarding intolerance against Jews and Muslims is sorely needed,” said head of Forum for Living History, Eskil Franck, in a statement.

The Local, 22 August 2011

Wilders’ PVV almost level with ruling VVD in latest opinion poll

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The latest opinion poll from Maurice de Hond puts the populist Freedom Party (PVV) almost on a par with the conservative VVD, the senior partner in the current Dutch coalition.

The poll indicates that, if an election were to be held now, the VVD would just remain the largest party with 30 MPs, down from its present 31. It also forecasts that the PVV would get 29 seats in parliament, up from its current 24. The Socialist Party would, according to Maurice de Hond, become the third largest group in the 150-strong parliament.

The present coalition is made up of the VVD and the Christian Democrats. This minority government relies on parliamentary support for most of its policies from the PVV.

RNW, 21 August 2011

Four found guilty of Redbridge mosque attack

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Four thugs who bombarded a mosque and an imam with bricks in a racist attack are facing jail.

The group of youths tried to storm Redbridge Islamic Centre, Eastern Avenue, Redbridge, after taunting worshippers arriving for evening prayers with racist chants. The front window was smashed and the imam Shafeel Begg was hit by a brick as he tried to pursue them on March 24.

Rocky Beale, 21, of Purleigh Avenue, Woodford Green, Eliot Jones, 19, of no fixed address, Matthew Stephenson, 18, of Burrow Road, Hainault and a 16-year-old who cannot be named because of his age, were convicted of violent disorder at Snaresbrook Crown Court after just 90 minutes deliberation by the jury on Wednesday. They will be sentenced on September 28.

Two others, Daniel Leal, 19, of Queenborough Gardens, Gants Hill and Ryan Jones, 23, of no fixed address were cleared of violent disorder after a two-week trial.

Pam Oon, prosecuting, said the 16-year-old “threw a brick, which smashed the front window of the mosque”. He and another of the attackers then ran inside, and Mr Begg and caretaker Mohammed Wahud gave chase.

“In the process the caretaker was injured by some broken glass,” said Ms Oon. “When the imam and the caretaker came out of the mosque, the youths were still throwing bricks and shouting abuse, before they ran down Eastern Avenue towards Redbridge Tube station.”

Ilford Recorder, 19 August 2011

Via ENGAGE