Doctors asked to spot ‘patients at risk from Islamic radicalisation’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Doctors are to be drafted into the fight against terrorism by being asked to identify patients at risk of being drawn into violent extremism. The controversial move will be spelt out today by the Home Secretary, Theresa May, as she publishes the Government’s much-delayed strategy for combating extremism.

Plans to ask medical professionals to alert authorities about people vulnerable to radicalisation will alarm doctors’ groups, amid fears it could erode patient confidentiality.

Independent, 7 June 2011

See also the Daily Telegraph, 7 June 2011

The Guardian quotes a spokesperson for the British Medical Association as saying: “Doctors cannot look into the future and say how someone might behave. This would threaten the trust of the doctor and … patient relationship. A doctor’s role is to treat the patient in front of them, not predict how the patient will behave in future.”

Far-right arson attack on West Bank mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

al-Muayar mosque arsonPolice have launched an investigation into a West Bank mosque arson attack on Tuesday. Palestinians from the village of al-Muayar, near Ramallah reported that a carpet in the mosque was set fire in the early hour of the morning. A joint police IDF investigation was launched.

“We believe suspects set fire to a tire inside the mosque,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. “No actual damage was observed on the walls,” he added. A police forensics team arrived on the scene and began taking evidence.

Far-right graffiti was also found at the site, including the words “El Ain,” the name of a settlement outpost which was evacuated by security forces last week, sparking a clash which resulted in several injuries among right-wing activists and police. Police suspect the arson incident could be linked to last week’s outpost clearance.

Jerusalem Post, 7 June 2011

Birmingham universities rubbish Theresa May’s claims of ‘complacency’ over extremism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Two Birmingham universities have rubbished claims made by the Home Secretary of “complacency” in tackling radicalisation and Islamic extremism at UK universities.

Theresa May has criticised the establishments for their complacency and said they were “unwilling to recognise” that radicalisation could take place on campus. Her comments come ahead of the publication of the government’s revised Prevent counter-terrorism strategy, which is due to be released today.

The report is expected to name Birmingham as one of the 25 boroughs most “at risk” from Islamist extremism, along with areas of London, Leeds, Bradford and Manchester. It is also believed that the Government has identified 40 English universities where there could be a “particular risk” or radicalisation or recruitment on campus.

Mrs May’s claims were roundly rejected by Birmingham City University and the University of Birmingham, which said it took the threat of extremism “very seriously”.

A spokesman for the University of Birmingham said it worked with the police, student societies and community organisations to promote “good campus relations”. The spokesman said: “We respect the right of all individuals to exercise freedom of speech within the law. However, we will continue to actively challenge discrimination of any kind and strive to strike a balance that protects these freedoms and ensures vigilance against any forms of potential extremism.”

A Birmingham City University spokesman said: “We are confident that extremism is not a problem at this University; we offer a safe community for students, staff and visitors. We are fully informed on Home Office advice in this area and work closely with local agencies.”

A spokesman for Aston University said: “We feel fostering mutual respect and providing opportunities to discover more about different faiths and cultures is an extremely important step to helping avoid extremes of views.”

Birmingham Mail, 7 June 2011

Police hunt for EDL supporter who attacked Asian man in Rochdale

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL thug ManchesterA racist thug who abused and attacked a passer-by in a shopping precinct is being hunted by police.

The man, who was wearing a T-shirt promoting the English Defence League, targeted a 31-year-old Asian man as he walked through the Wheatsheaf Centre in Rochdale town centre. Images from CCTV cameras have been released by police in a bid to identify him.

The thug began to racially abuse the man as he walked past then grabbed hold of his shirt collar and pressed a ballpoint pen to the side of his face. Police said the victim could also feel a sharp item being pressed to his back. He struggled free but the abuse continued until security guards intervened.

The thug then escaped. He is white, in his late 40s to early 50s, around 6ft tall and skinny. He was wearing a T shirt labelled “EDL Stockport”.

Sgt Colin Macdiarmid said: “The abuse this victim suffered can only be described as vitriolic and appalling. Thankfully he was not hurt though the behaviour of the offender led him to fear for his safety. Racist thugs are not welcome anywhere in Greater Manchester.”

Call police on 0161 856 9961 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Manchester Evening News, 7 June 2011

MPAC complains about HIGNFY ‘joke’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A campaign group is urging members of the Muslim community to lobby the BBC over a comment made on the channel.

The remark was made on the “Have I Got News For You” show last Friday when host Sharon Horgan said: “The Independent described the Dostoevsky metro station … as the Mecca for suicides. Not to be confused with the Mecca of suicide bombers – which is Mecca.”

Campaign group the Muslim Public Affairs Committee said: “This offhand comment does nothing except reinforce the message that Islam has something within its fundamental beliefs that makes it a threat to civil society. Allowing this comment to go unchecked justifies the statement and condones such demonisation, as the comment implicitly implies that all Muslims are terrorists and all terrorists are Muslims.” The group is urging readers of it’s website to complain to the BBC over the remark.

However, Sharon Horgan has apologised for any offence caused and said she was not prejudiced in any way.

Asian Image, 7 June 2011

According to Sharon Horgan, whose contribution to the “joke” presumably amounted to reading it off the autocue, Have I Got News For You “deals in irony and in that sense it does the OPPOSITE of what it’s actually saying…. HIGNFY, like all good satire plays on prejudices and that’s exactly what we were doing with this joke”. So the joke was intended to mock anti-Muslim prejudice? Really?

Joe Kaufman’s protest against Florida mosque attracts twenty supporters

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Margate mosque protest placardsA mosque whose imam has been charged with sending money to the Pakistani Taliban has become the target of a small group of protesters seeking to shut it down.

Twenty mostly senior citizens supporting the Tea Party of Fort Lauderdale as well as groups that call themselves Americans Against Hate, Church of All Nations and Citizens of Margate gathered Tuesday morning in front of Masjid Jamaat Al-Mumineen mosque.

During a press conference to preview a demonstration that evening, speakers demanded that the congregation once led by Imam Izhar Khan be investigated.

When Khan and five others were arrested in the alleged plot last month, John V. Gillies, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami office said, “I remind everyone that the Muslim and Arab-American members of our community should never be judged by the illegal activities of a few.”

Tuesday’s speakers were not swayed. “The feds are acting politically correct,” said Joe Kaufman, chairman of Coral Springs-based Americans Against Hate.

Six Margate police officers, some perched in an observation tower that had been raised about the trees, watched the demonstrators and made sure they didn’t get hit by passing traffic on Holiday Springs Boulevard.

City Commissioner Lesa Peerman, who also came to watch, confirmed what a police spokesman said: the mosque has enjoyed a peaceful co-existence with the city for many years. “I don’t believe in holding an organization responsible for the actions of one individual,” Peerman said.

As a battered black pickup drove by flying a massive American flag from its tailgate, Peerman pointed out that the imam has been charged but not yet tried. “Thank God we live in a country where people can protest peacefully, people are innocent until proven guilty and we have freedom of religion,” Peerman said.

Orlando Sentinel, 7 June 2011

Muslim family in Leicester forced to move house after being targeted by racists

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Vandalism against Amod familyA Muslim family have been targeted by yobs again – even as they prepared to flee from their council house. Salim and Sabana Amod decided to move out earlier this year after they were persecuted by thugs in Saffron Lane, Leicester.

After the Mercury reported their story in April, the abuse initially died down. However, during the past two weeks it has flared up again, culminating in bricks being thrown through their window on Thursday night.

The family were today moving into their new house in Highfields, Leicester. Mrs Amod, 40, said: “It did go quiet after our story was in the paper. We thought people had realised how hurtful it was to call us names and to vandalise our home. But then the problems started again in the past few weeks. We are going to a new home, why can’t these people even let us move out in peace?  It is sad to leave Saffron Lane, but all the things that happened to us were my worst nightmare. We just want to live in peace.”

The couple and their children have repeatedly been persecuted by thugs who have slashed their car tyres, sprayed offensive graffiti on their home in Helmsley Road, where they lived for just over two years, and thrown stones at them. The couple, who are from India, were also racially abused. Some of the foul language was directed at their Muslim faith. Last weekend, yobs again covered the family’s car in paint and smashed three of the vehicle’s windows.

Earlier this year, a youth was arrested and admitted spraying offensive graffiti on the family’s home and car. He was later ordered to carry out community service.

In recent weeks, officers from Welford Road police station have arrested four people. Two 16-year-old boys are being investigated in connection with incidents of vandalism, while a 21-year-old man is to face trial later this year for allegedly breaching a court order which barred him from the neighbourhood. A 54-year-old woman has been charged with using threatening words or behaviour to the family.

Leicester Mercury, 4 June 2011

Via ENGAGE

Ham stuffed in shoes of worshippers at Bristol mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Al-Baseera mosqueA man hung slices of ham on the railings of a Bristol mosque and placed pieces of the meat in the shoes of its worshippers while they prayed.

Jamie Knowlson was spotted running off to a nearby hostel, and when mosque staff followed they had offensive taunts shouted at them.

The 30-year-old’s behaviour left the community of the Al-Baseera mosque on Wade Street in St Judes “disgusted and saddened”.

After he was arrested Knowlson said he had no idea that putting ham in worshippers’ shoes would be offensive, saying it was just a prank and a practical joke. But he later admitted to police that he had been fully aware of the implications. Knowlson, of Charlton Road, Kingswood, pleaded guilty to causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment last month at Bristol Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates sent the case to Bristol Crown Court for sentencing, and Knowlson could have faced up to two years behind bars. Instead he was given a six-month suspended sentence, only escaping prison because he returned to the mosque to apologise in person for his actions.

The court heard that at 6.30am on January 9 Knowlson had gone to the Al-Baseera mosque from Redwood House, a homeless hostel opposite. He was seen putting slices of ham from the hostel on to the railings and into the shoes of worshippers, which were left outside the mosque while they prayed.

CCTV showed him returning to the hostel, and the mosque’s caretaker, Abdi Djmaa, followed to complain. As Mr Djmaa returned to the mosque he heard someone shouting “bad meat”, “girls” and “the next visit will be harder”. Police were called, and as officers and another man removed the ham, they heard laughter coming from the hostel.

Prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, David Hunter said it had been a “premeditated offence” and that the Muslim community had been specifically targeted.

Bristol Evening Post, 6 June 2011

No doubt those intent on claiming that the courts discriminate in favour of Muslims will point to the fact that Knowlson was given a suspended prison sentence whereas Mohammed Hasnath, the youth recently convicted of posting up homophobic stickers in Tower Hamlets, was only fined. The reason for this disparity, however, is that Knowlson admitted that he intended to harass his victims but Hasnath denied intent. So Knowlson was charged under Section 4A of the Public Order Act which carries a possible prison sentence, whereas Hasnath was charged under Section 5 which only allows for a fine.

The flaw in the present legal position is that whereas there is a distinct offence of “racially or religiously aggravated” harassment under the Public Order Act, which specifies a heavier sentence, there is no such distinct offence if the harassment is aggravated by homophobia (just a general requirement to take that into consideration when sentencing). The LGBT community therefore has significantly weaker protection under the Public Order Act than that afforded to minority-ethnic and faith communities. Clearly this needs to be rectified. But it has nothing to do with Muslims getting a better deal from the law than non-Muslims.

Posted in UK