German Catholic leader warns against anti-Muslim incitement

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Archbishop Robert ZollitschThe leader of Germany’s 26 million Catholics spoke out Tuesday in defence of Muslims and warned Christians to stay on their guard against hatemongers.

Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, told the German Press Agency dpa that his church wants more dialogue with Muslims.

Asked if current anti-terrorist alerts might lead to discord between Christians and Muslims, he said “there has been no sign of it” as far as he can tell. “Christians as well as non-religious people in our country can differentiate perfectly well between terrorists, whatever ideology they follow, and their Muslim neighbours,” he said.

Zollitsch also noted that Muslims in Germany “are just as much endangered by the (terrorist) threat as everyone else”. “They have the same interest in effective and at the same time moderate policies by the state as the rest of the population,” he said.

Zollitsch said that a key to keeping relations between Christians and Muslims in Germany harmonious is “preventing political troublemakers from exploiting fears and from inciting people to hate one another”.

DPA, 28 December 2010

Legal challenge to Murfreesboro Islamic Center costing taxpayers thousands

Posted on by Bob Pitt

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee taxpayers are footing the bill for $75,000-plus in legal fees as four residents continue their challenge of a mosque set to be built outside of Murfreesboro. An attorney for the four confirmed to The Tennessean their plans to fight the mosque through a final hearing on the matter, which is expected to happen sometime next year, keeping the tab open.

“I do think it is unfortunate that the county is having to bear this expense, but, that’s the way the legal system is,” said Rutherford County Attorney Jim Cope, whose law office contracts with the county to perform legal services.

Cope’s office billed the county almost $30,000 on Nov. 30 just for the first few days of an eight-day hearing on the May approval of the 52,000-square-foot mosque. Cope estimated the full cost for the entire eight days could top $75,000. The County Commission even added an extra $50,000 to its legal budget in October in anticipation of the legal costs.

Attorney Joe Brandon Jr. represented Rutherford County residents Kevin Fisher, Jim Estes, Lisa Moore and Henry Golcznski, who sued to challenge the county’s approval of the mosque. Brandon said in a statement that they plan to continue their fight to a final hearing on the matter, which is expected to happen sometime next year.

Associated Press, 26 December 2010

For details of the funding behind the lawsuit, see TPM.

EDL members accused of attempted insurance scam

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Caris coachAlmost 80 far-Right extremists are trying to claim for whiplash injuries after a coach crash – when there were only 25 people on board the vehicle and just 57 seats.

Supporters of the English Defence League have been accused of attempted insurance fraud after dozens sought compensation for neck injuries.

The claims were lodged after the coach carrying members to a rally was in a collision in which it sustained minor damage. Driver Christopher Cartwright said he would be amazed if any of those on board were hurt, adding: “There was not much more than a scratch on the back corner.” But days after the accident during a journey from Gateshead to Preston last month, the claims for injuries allegedly caused by the crash began to flood in from EDL supporters.

Coach firm bosses said only 25 people were on the vehicle, but more than three times that many claims had been made. Maria Caris, of Caris Coaches in Gateshead, said she is considering legal action amid fears that EDL members are trying to cheat her company. She said: “They must think we’re idiots. There are 78 claims in so far and the phone is still going with people asking for our insurance details. They are all saying they were on the coach.”

The rally in Preston ended in violent clashes with the police, who arrested 14 people for public order offences and drunk or disorderly behaviour. Mrs Caris said: “These ‘whiplash injuries’ could have been caused when they were fighting with the police in Preston.”

Daily Mail, 27 December 2010

But what else can you expect from the EDL? After all, their leader Stephen Lennon told an EDL protest in Peterborough earlier this month that Muslims make up 10% of the population, when the real figure is around 3%. Maths clearly isn’t the EDL’s strong point.

As for Caris Coaches, some of us might think they brought this on themselves. The moral of the story is – don’t hire out transport to ignorant racist hooligans with criminal records.

Bishop of St Albans urges Christians to ‘stand firm’ against EDL

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Rt Rev Alan Smith 3The Bishop of St Albans spoke of the need to “stand firm” against racism in society. The Rt Rev Dr Alan Smith used his Christmas sermon in St Albans Cathedral to warn against “destructive powers which try to divide communities, races and religions”.

He acknowledged “hatred and unrest” could be found within Britain, using the example of the controversial marches undertaken by far-right group the English Defence League (EDL), which provoked clashes in town and cities during the year.

He said: “But hatred and unrest is not just found in far away places. In the past year we have seen racist marches on our streets in London and Bolton, in Dudley and Peterborough, in Aylesbury and Bradford, led by individuals who want to stir up unrest.

“Even as I speak, demonstrations are being planned in Luton in six weeks’ time which could seriously undermine community relations. Some people are even trying to commandeer Christianity to support their cause.”

Press Association, 25 December 2010

Emails show Mayor Bloomberg’s office’s help and desire to get Ground Zero mosque built

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Daily Mail picks up on a story that has already done the rounds in the right-wing media in the US (the paper has in fact lifted it directly from the New York Post). It concerns the release of emails between Nazli Parvizi, commissioner of New York’s Community Affairs Unit, and Feisal Abdul Rauf and Daisy Khan, which reveal the assistance given by Parvizi with the planning application for the Park51 development – the so-called Ground Zero Mosque.

You have to read right to the end of the report before you find the information that counters the main thrust of the article. A spokesperson for Mayor Bloomberg is quoted as pointing out that Parvizi’s job is “to help groups navigate city government, and from helping prepare for a Papal visit to extending approval of a Sukkah in a midtown Manhattan park, this kind of assistance is typical of its regular work”.

But this is of course the Mail‘s usual procedure. It is able to claim that its reporting is balanced because it has quoted an opposing view, while relying on the fact that most readers won’t get beyond the scaremongering headline and the opening paragraphs.

Stand by for the usual outpouring of anti-Muslim vitriol in the comments section to the Mail‘s report.

Feisal Abdul Rauf will tour US to ‘inspire interfaith understanding’ of Park51 project

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Muslim cleric who hopes to build an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site said Friday that he’ll tour the country in an effort “to inspire interfaith understanding” for a project that has ignited explosive faceoffs between supporters and opponents.

“The major purpose is to make people aware of what America means as a country that protects the right to freedom of religion,” Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf told The Associated Press. American Muslims like himself, he said, “can play an important role as interlocutors between the United States and the Muslim world.”

Rauf’s first appearance is scheduled for Detroit on Jan. 15. The city has North America’s largest Muslim population. The imam said he’ll continue on to Chicago, Washington, San Antonio and college campuses including Harvard, Georgetown, Yale and the University of North Carolina. He did not release specific dates for his speeches.

Associated Press, 24 December 2010