Anindya Bhattacharyya analyses the rise of racist hysteria against Muslims and the need to organise resistance.
EU allies itself with Islamic extremists in plot to destroy Christian civilisation (according to Leo McKinstry)
“Filled with barbaric hatred and envy, Islamic extremists constantly plot the downfall of our civilisation. Tragically for us they have an ally in their lethal cause: the elite of the European Union. Just like Muslim zealots, the ideological fanatics of Brussels have nothing but contempt for our Christian culture and our national identities. They aim to obliterate our past, our traditions and our patriotism so there will be little resistance to their imposition of a political entity called the United States of Europe.”
The inimitable Leo McKinstry in the Daily Express, 17 January 2011
Springfield, Missouri: anti-Muslim graffiti on Islamic Centre
A spokesman for the Islamic Center of Springfield says removing the graffiti left on the group’s building late Friday or early Saturday could cost $1,000 to have sandblasted off.
Joseph Pollpeter said the graffiti was discovered on three outside walls when members showed up for the 6 a.m. prayer Saturday morning. Those who attended prayer Friday night did not see any. Pollpeter said he contacted the Springfield police, as well as the FBI. He believes the messages constitute a hate crime.
He described graffiti left on the building at 2151 East Division St. as including: a phallic symbol near the door where women enter; phrases saying “gay insurrection,” “gay is ok” and a reference to Allah being gay; profane four-letter words; and the words “You bash us in Pakistan we bash you here;” a pentangle; and a Star of David.
“I don’t know if the people happened to be gay or bisexual or not, or if they were just using terms to be insulting,” said Pollpeter. “There is no one we have our fingers pointed at. We are on good terms with all our neighbors.”
Springfield News-Leader, 13 January 2011
Via LoonWatch
See also “Islamic center cleans up graffiti”, Ozarks First, 15 January 2011
Unsubstantiated allegations of cultural links to sexual abuse whip up Islamophobia
In the wake of recent convictions for sexual grooming and rape in Derby three myths have been fostered by sections of the media and some politicians.
Firstly, that young Muslim men have a tendency to be paedophiles, sexual groomers and rapists due to their cultural background; secondly, that citing ethnicity as a causal factor for sex crimes stops racism, and finally, that there has been a ‘conspiracy of silence ‘on the issue of grooming by Pakistani heritage men, which some politicians and newspapers are now bravely trying to break.
These myths must be exposed and challenged. They do nothing to protect the victims of sexual violence; they only serve to give legitimacy to racist views and organisations.
Sexual predators and paedophiles exist in all communities, as do their victims. And sexual abuse and violence is a crime irrespective of who is the perpetrator. Everyone has a responsibility and a duty to challenge such crimes and support the victims.
Convictions of individuals do not show any link between background or religion and these crimes. Moreover, those responsible for research – that has been widely cited as demonstrating such a link – have themselves refuted this claim, saying there is nothing in their research to prove this.
Sabby Dhalu at One Society Many Cultures
Toronto: protests against Jewish Defense League solidarity meeting with EDL
On January 11, 2011, the alliance of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) and the English Defence League (EDL) was challenged by counter-protests from anti-racist and human rights activists.
The JDL and EDL alliance was supposed to be cemented in Toronto at an event held by the JDL in support of Tommy Robinson of the EDL, who addressed the Zionist group about his recent arrest.
In response to this JDL/EDL alliance, two separate counter-protests gathered, but organizers from both publicly expressed their solidarity with the other. One was an explicitly peaceful vigil outside Lawrence Square with candles and music, organized by the CUPE 3903 First Nations Solidarity Working Group and Christian Peacemakers Team and was also attended by several other groups. Another protest, more militant in dress and slogans but still simply a demonstration, was organized mainly by a new incarnation of Anti-Racist Action Toronto.
Swedish government minister takes stand against Islamophobia
Sweden’s integration minister Erik Ullenhag is meeting on Thursday with representatives from the Swedish Muslim community to develop a strategy for combating Islamophobia in the wake of the Stockholm suicide bombing.
The suicide bombing in Stockholm risks resulting in suspicions being cast against hundreds of thousands of Swedish Muslims, Ullenhag writes in a debate article in the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper. He argues that it is unacceptable to blame an entire group for one person’s actions.
“We who believe in the Swedish values of openness and tolerance have a responsibility to fight the Islamophobia and prejudice which can follow in the wake of terror,” writes Ullenhag. “We should never allow one individual’s act to result in an entire religion being seen as suspect or having a group saddled with collective guilt.”
Kent parish magazine publishes anti-Islam article
An anti-Islamic article aiming to “liven up” a church magazine has sparked outrage after it branded the religion a “threat”.
Muriel Clark’s controversial piece on “Islamisation” in the monthly Hildenborough Keys has been slammed for urging residents to take a stand against Muslims coming into this country. The 80-year-old divorcee claimed in her column for the St John’s Church publication that young Christian schoolchildren were being brainwashed with Islamic ideology.
Both magazine editor Nick Hawkins – who admitted toning down the original submission because it was “too extreme” – and the Reverend John Chandler this week defended the piece, which was sent out to all homes in Hildenborough.
But residents and the West Kent Muslim Association (WKMA) have called it “unacceptable” and “harmful to the community”. WKMA president Nasir Jamil said: “We strongly condemn these views. Islamisation is a very sensitive issue. Her views are a bit extremist and it’s a bit out of the blue. It really hurts us. How can they publish it, especially to a small community? It creates a bad impression that Muslims are extremists.”
Tonbridge Green Party’s Steve Dawe said he hoped the article – which sits alongside more benign offerings about coffee mornings and whist drives – was a one-off. He said: “I hope those responsible indicate this was a mistake, and will never occur again. If not, then this is clearly a matter for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, who may wish to bring a case on the grounds of incitement to religious hatred.”
But the writer, editor and vicar have all stood by the piece. Mr Hawkins said: “A couple of things were too extreme, so I took them out. But we should be awake to what’s going on. We wanted to liven things up a bit. I thought it might be a bit thought-provoking.” Mrs Clark, of Bramble Close, said she stood by her views, saying: “This used to be a Christian country.” Mr Chandler said the church magazine should raise serious issues and he did not regret the article being published.
What makes Arizona’s killer just a loner, not a terrorist?
If the shooting had been carried out by a Muslim, we’d be deep in Islamist conspiracies now. So why the double standards?
Mehdi Hasan poses the question in the Guardian, 13 January 2011
In France, far right seizes on Muslim street prayers
Nick Vinocur reports on the Front National’s exploitation of Islamophobia.
Hemel Hempstead mosque vandalised
A mosque was left with around a dozen windows damaged after it was targeted in a racially-motivated attack.
Bennetts Ends Mosque at St Albans Hill, Hemel Hempstead, had windows smashed as a yob hit the outside of the building with a shovel on December 27. Police were called to the incident at around 12.03am, after the vandal had entered the grounds of the mosque through a metal gate. After attacking the mosque, the man ran from the scene.
Dacorum borough councillor Suqlain Mahmood said: “I think it was an act of vandalism which was an isolated incident. We have never had something like this before.” He suggested that the offender could have been drunk and disorderly. He added: “Obviously we are addressing the issue and security has been put up and CCTV.”
A spokesman from the mosque’s committee said it is not yet known what the cost of the damage will be. He said: “We have been here 20-odd years and never had a problem. It is nothing to be going crazy about.”
Via ENGAGE