Göteborg: anti-mosque protestors outnumbered by counter-demonstrators

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Goteborg anti-mosque protestors
National Democrat protestors make up for lack of numbers with lots of flags

Hundreds of proponents and opponents held rallies in Sweden’s second-largest city Goteborg on Saturday to voice their opinions over the building of a mosque there.

Heavy police presence kept the two groups appart and a spokesman for the force said only one person had been arrested for violent behaviour toward an officer. It was the biggest police effort in the city since the EU Summit in 2001, when several thousand people gathered to protest against U.S. President George W. Bush, the EU and globalization.

Mosque opponents claim the construction will ruin a nearby park and that the area is not suitable, while supporters say the opposition is racist. The mosque – which will be the city’s second – is due to be completed in mid-June.

Associated Press, 21 May 2011

The anti-mosque demonstration involved the National Democrats and the Swedish Defence League – the sister organisation of the EDL, who sent a delegation. But the National Democrats reportedly refused to co-operate with the SDL who they regard as pro-Zionist.

The National Democrats, who split from the far-right Sweden Democrats in 2001 because they opposed the party toning down its racist rhetoric in the interests of electability, distributed a leaflet headed “Warning! Sweden is occupied by a foreign power!” which claimed Islam was responsible for suicide terror attacks, rape gangs, child marriages and robbing pensioners.

The counter-protest was organised by Göteborg Against Racism and the Left Party. About a hundred people joined the anti-mosque protest and they were met by 700 counter-demonstrators, according to police figures, though the organisers put the figure at over 2,000.

SDL and EDL

Cultural festival in Kent will oppose EDL racism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Courier front pageRacist revelations in Sherwood have prompted concerned residents to plan an event promoting more integration.

Exposure by the Courier of anti-Muslim remarks on the Facebook pages of local English Defence League activist Adrian Ratcliffe and English Democrat candidate JoJo Stanley have led to calls for a festival of cultural diversity.

Ideas centred on a fete are being backed by social housing chiefs Town and Country, which said many residents had found content on the website both “racist and upsetting”.

A spokesman said: “Residents felt that it was not a true reflection of life on the estate, which in their experience was a diverse and welcoming place to live. They wanted to counter any negative impression and felt the best way to do this would be to focus on the many positive things which make it such a friendly and inclusive place to live.”

Plans to celebrate different races and cultures on the estate include proposals for a music and dance stage, along with marquees containing various attractions and diversity themes.

Inspiration has been gained from a recent Spirit of Kindness project in which more than 20 events celebrated all the good things that Sherwood residents did for each other.

It is hoped the initiative will help soothe tensions arising in the community following the exposure of Ratcliffe last month.

The 61-year-old, who lived in Greggswood Road and was a preacher at St Philip’s Church in Sherwood, had denied he was racist but claimed he would do “whatever necessary” to fight “militant” Islam in the UK.

Nasir Jamil, president of the West Kent Muslim Association, said it welcomed efforts to improve cultural relations. He said: “We always campaign for community cohesion. We have difficulty with negative propaganda all over the world and need these type of events.”

Anyone wishing to contribute ideas or help out is invited to talks at the Robin Hood pub on Thursday, May 26 from 6pm. For more information call Brendan McGowan on 01892 523464.

Kent & Essex Courier, 20 May 2011

Update:  Exposing… draws our attention to the fact that the EDL are threatening to attend both the organising meeting on Thursday and the festival itself.

Bulgarians lay flowers in solidarity with Sofia mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Sofia mosque flowers

A number of Bulgarian citizens have come to the Banya Bashi mosque in downtown Sofia to lay flowers as a gesture of apology, ashamed of Friday’s incident in which the nationalist party Ataka assaulted praying Muslims.

The incident occurred as the far-right party led by its leader Volen Siderov rallied near the mosque to demand a ban of the use of loudspeakers but the rally quickly got out of hand.

The event entitled “A Flower for a Free Bulgaria” gathered 1,200 supporters on Facebook until Saturday afternoon, after it was announced Friday afternoon as a reaction to the brawl in downtown Sofia.

The organizers originally called for a gathering to lay flowers at the Banya Bashi mosque Saturday evening in order to demonstrate to the Muslims who were assaulted that there are “other people” in Bulgaria who condemn the acts of far-right extremism. However, many Bulgarian citizens have flocked to lay flowers during the entire day on Saturday, as well as Friday night.

Messages for tolerance, which is traditional for Bulgaria, prevail on the Facebook wall of the initiative, together with calls to find a solution to the problem with the loudspeakers of the Sofia mosque.

Novinite, 21 May 2011

Another small EDL protest in Shotton

Posted on by Bob Pitt

More than a hundred English Defence League protesters have marched through a Flintshire town to the site of a proposed new Islamic cultural centre.

The site at the Shotton Lane Social Club was burnt down in a suspicious fire in February. Flintshire Muslim Cultural Society was planning to turn the property into a multi-cultural centre. Police said their strategy ensured the protest passed off without incident.

Early reports had suggested between 200 and 300 people were taking part but police said it was just over 100. The march ended with speeches outside the Shotton Lane Social Club before the protesters dispersed.

BBC News, 21 May 2011

Update:  And over at the Casuals United blog you can find the EDL endorsing the arson attack on the social club.

Islamophobia discussed in London conference

Posted on by Bob Pitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY7Xialu_-8

She may be a criminal in the eyes of French law, but here at a London conference on Islamophobia, Kenza Drider was welcomed as a champion of women’s rights.

Last month, as a French citizen, she made a public stand against France’s new law outlawing the wearing of the niqab or face veil. She’s been arrested twice, but has refused on principle to pay the fine.

She was one of many speakers at a conference on the spread of anti-Muslim hatred across Europe. Academics and activists have noted a change in social interaction as fears of abuse and attacks grew.

There have been many instances of violence against Muslims across Europe. One case which highlights the consequences of leaving Islamophobia unchecked is the story of Marwa Sherbini, now known as the hijab martyr. She was killed after being stabbed 18 times by a man who’d called her a terrorist.

Doctor Robert Lambert has been investigating attacks on Muslims for a decade. He says politicians could do far more to combat the problem. But there was also recognition that bridges had been built across groups and communities in the UK, particularly in London, that strengthened resistance to rise of the far right.

And so while there has been progress in terms of recognising Islamophobia, the threat of anti-Muslim hatred remains serious. The feeling here is that the attitudes of European governments must change first before European societies can deal with the problem, and stave off the increasing incidents of violence against Muslims and the growing prospect of isolated communities.

Press TV, 21 May 2011

See also “Activists condemn Islamophobia”, Daily Mirror, 21 May 2011

Important conference tomorrow

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Confronting Anti-Muslim Hatred2

Speakers include:

Kenza Drider – France | Professor John Esposito – Georgetown University, USA | Tony Benn – Veteran anti-war campaigner | Mehdi Hasan – New Statesman | Dr Robert Lambert – European Muslim Research Centre | Hiba Aburwein – European Forum on Muslim Women, Belgium | Peter Oborne – Daily Telegraph | Azad Ali – Islamic Forum of Europe | Liz Fekete – Institute of Race Relations | Seumas Milne – The Guardian | Salma Yaqoob – Respect | Dr Sabine Schiffer – Germany | Dr Kamal el-Helbawy – Former Muslim Brotherhood spokesman | Dr Laura McDonald – Birmingham University | Marwan Muhammad – Collective Against Islamophobia in France | Muhammad Habibur-Rahman – London Muslim Centre | Dr AbdoolKarim Vakil – Muslim Council of Britain | Lindsey German – Stop the War Coalition | Dr Daud Abdullah – British Muslim Initiative | Nabeel Ahmed – Federation of Student Islamic Societies | John Rees – author, Imperialism and Resistance | Lez Levidow – Campaign Against Criminalising Communities | Mohammed Ali – Islam Channel | Sabby Dhalu – One Society Many Cultures | Rizwan Hussain – TV presenter | Lowkey – Rap artist and political activist

Organised by the Enough Coalition: The British Muslim Initiative, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Federation of Student Islamic Societies, Stop the War Coalition, Islamic Forum of Europe, One Society Many Cultures, Muslim Safety Forum.

Muslims targeted in US terrorism cases, report says

Posted on by Bob Pitt

CHRGJ reportU.S. government tactics in pursuing domestic terrorism cases target and entrap Muslim community members and fail to enhance public safety, according to a report released Wednesday by a human rights center at New York University’s law school.

The government’s use of surveillance, paid informants and invented terrorism plots prompts human rights concerns, according to the report by NYU’s Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. The authors examined three high-profile cases in New York and New Jersey that they said raised questions about the role of the FBI and New York Police Department in creating the perception of a homegrown terrorism threat.

In the cases, each of which resulted in convictions and lengthy sentences, informants pretending to be Muslims pushed ideas about violent jihad and instigated plots that law enforcement later foiled, the report says. The researchers urged the FBI and NYPD to revise guidelines that govern such investigations.

Los Angeles Times, May 19 2011

See also CHRGJ press release, 18 May 2011

Download the report here

Swiss canton to hold referendum on veil ban?

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A petition in Canton Ticino could force a referendum on prohibiting women from wearing burqas in public, a first for the country.

A local committee in Ticino, Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region, said it has collected 11,316 signatures, over a thousand more the required number to launch a referendum. Canton authorities will check the signatures over the next few days, reports say and could then call for a referendum.

According to local newspaper Corriere del Ticino, as well as banning burqas, niqabs and other Islamic headresses, the initiative also aims to ban the use of balaclavas and other headgear that disguise people’s faces. These are sometimes worn by people attending football matches in Switzerland.

If the referendum goes ahead, it will be the first time in Switzerland that citizens have been asked to express an opinion on burqas. A similar ban came into effect in France recently, causing a hot debate on personal and religious freedom in the country and beyond.

In 2009, the Swiss voted to ban the construction of minarets in a country, a decision that has sparked controversy in the Muslim world and in other European countries.

The Local, 20 May 2011

Ketron distributes anti-Muslim DVD to win backing for bill

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Losing Our CommunitySen. Bill Ketron has distributed a DVD to his fellow senators that claims Nashville Muslims radicalized a Memphis man who shot an Army recruiter after converting to Islam.

Ketron said the video shows why his Material Support for Designated Entities Act, which gives law enforcement officials in Tennessee the power to declare a person or group a terrorist organization, is needed.

The video makes many claims that are vague or misleading, and local Muslims say it shows that Ketron’s bill is targeted at them, despite his statements to the contrary.

The 16-minute video titled “Losing our Community” was produced by the Boston-based Americans for Peace and Tolerance and the Tennessee Freedom Coalition.

It focuses on members of the Islamic Center of Nashville, where Abdulhakim Muhammad, who was born Carlos Bledsoe, worshipped for a time while he was a student at Tennessee State University. Muhammad later shot and killed a soldier at a military recruiting center in Arkansas, saying his actions were justified because U.S. soldiers were killing Muslims in the Middle East.

Daily Herald, 19 May 2011

See also “Smear tactics behind terror bill”, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 19 May 2011