Le Pen acquitted of racism charges

Le Pen and FN anti-Islam posterA Paris court has acquitted far-right French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, who had faced charges of racism over campaign posters for his National Front party.

The court said Thursday that Le Pen was not personally responsible for the posters, reading “No to Islamism” and featuring a woman in a black face-covering Muslim veil next to a map of France swathed in the Algerian flag. The posters were issued ahead of March’s regional elections.

The anti-racism group SOS Racism had brought the charge of “inciting racial hatred” against Le Pen.

The public prosecutor had asked the aging firebrand be handed a two month suspended sentence, a €20,000 fine and a 1-year-long ban on running for office.

Associated Press, 2 December 2010

Political issues key to Muslim-West engagement, Gallup poll finds

As President Barack Obama reiterated his commitment to improving relations with global Muslim communities during his Asia tour, Gallup findings underscore the need to address political issues. Irrespective of where they live, individuals who are ready for Muslim-West engagement say tensions between majority Muslim and Western societies stem from differences in political interests, rather than religion or culture.

These findings are based on Gallup’s latest report, “Measuring the State of Muslim-West Relations: Assessing the ‘New Beginning’.” The report presents an in-depth analysis of Muslim-West relations – one of the core themes outlined in Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think, which Gallup published in 2008.

Gallup news release, 1 December 2010

Australian far-right party to hold anti-mosque protest

Elermore Vale residents fear an anti-Muslim protest today will fuel a race debate and hijack their concerns over controversial plans for a $6million mosque in the suburb.

Right wing nationalist group the Australian Protectionist Party said on its website that it would protest in Civic Park against the proposed mosque.

The party claimed the rally was being held on behalf of residents opposed to the development. But an Elermore Vale residents’ group has distanced itself from the protest, saying it would frustrate community efforts to have the development rejected on planning grounds.

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A mosque could be built in an old Bristol factory despite objections

Bristol disused factoryA mosque could be built in an old factory on a Bristol industrial estate despite a string of objections.

A decision by councillors is due to be made next week, nearly nine months after the plans were submitted.

The proposal, to convert the former Weston White factory in Aiken Street, Barton Hill, proved controversial when it was announced earlier this year, with extreme right-wing supporters making up part of an internet group against the application.

But despite more than 50 letters of objection, it has been recommended for approval by council officers.

The site, a former packaging factory empty since it closed in 2008, is owned by the city council.

Of the 75 letters received by the council over the plans, 14 were “judged to contain racist content” and were rejected. From the remaining letters, 50 objected and 11 were in support.

Avon and Somerset police’s Crime Reduction Unit said officers had concerns that, if built, the mosque could be targeted. It said any attacks would be “robustly and fully investigated and any such possibility should not compromise the planning decision process.”

A petition with 96 signatures has been submitted in support of the mosque, and Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy has also written to the council giving her backing.

People against the proposals argued there are “already enough mosques in Bristol” and said it would encourage segregation of the community by catering for a specific ethnic group.

There are currently around half a dozen main mosques in Bristol; including ones in Totterdown, Kingsdown, Montpelier and two in Easton.

Some objectors said the loss of employment use was not acceptable while others called for housing on the site. Other objections included excessive noise, increased traffic and inadequate bicycle parking.

Concerns were also raised about potential conflict with the Lord Nelson pub opposite, on the grounds that “Muslims are not supposed to drink alcohol but would attend the mosque on Friday nights”.

Statements in support of the plans say the centre would benefit the community in general, help with integration and would provide a social space for Somali women.

The officer’s report recommending approval is due to be considered by the council’s development control committee next Wednesday. It states:

“The applicants say that due to the rise in the Somali population there is an urgent need for a suitable community gathering place in the Barton Hill area. The applicants also advise that it is their intention to encourage all members of the local community to make use of facilities, regardless of faith, race, age or ethnicity.”

The report argues that the community benefits would outweigh the loss of employment land and that complaints about noise would be unlikely. It states:

“It was recognised early in the consultation period by officers that the application had the potential to generate racial tension. Members are being advised that whilst community tensions may result from the proposal they are not in themselves sufficient grounds to resist the development.”

Although not mentioned in the report, more than 1,200 people joined a protest group against the mosque on the social networking site Facebook. Some of the comments posted contained offensive language, while others claimed mosques were “breeding grounds for terrorists” and called on visitors to the site to vote for the anti-immigration British National Party.

Batook Pandya, director of Bristol Support Against Racist Incidents, said he believed the centre could help with community cohesion. He said:

“When the Somali community came to Bristol they put quite a large number in Barton Hill. There were some problems at first but they have settled and they are now part of the community. If there is respect on both sides, we can co-exist.

“The biggest issue is parking. If they can assure local residents that it won’t get stupid for them to park I think it will be good. There will be a community cohesion room where we can invite schools to understand the culture.”

The chief executive of community organisation Barton Hill Settlement Joanna Holmes said: “Many people who live in Barton Hill would use a mosque, however some people are concerned about parking and noise nuisance. We are aware that a few people are against the mosque and hopefully their concerns can be dealt with.”

The applicant, Khalif Abdirahman, was not available for comment yesterday. But Hassan Naqvi, a member of the Council of Bristol Mosques, said a mosque in Barton Hill would be for the whole community, not just Muslims. Mr Naqvi said:

“We are working with the Somali community in Barton Hill to plan for this so that we can engage with the wider society and community of Bristol. This is a project in Bristol’s Muslim community to unite people. It will be open to everyone, of whatever faith. It will bring people together, not segregate them.”

Bristol Post, 2 December 2010

Ban on niqab in Swedish schools is discrimination: ombudsman

A ban against wearing veils that cover the face at schools and universities violates the Swedish discrimination act, the country’s equality ombudsman ruled Wednesday.

The decision by Katri Linna was the first concerning full-face veils in Sweden.

It was sparked by a complaint made in early 2009 by a young Muslim woman who was studying to become a kindergarten teacher, who was told she could not wear the full-face niqab at her school in Stockholm.

In her decision, Linna said the right to wear religious garb did not mean that safety measures should be neglected but “schools, or employers, are obliged to seek solutions to possible obstacles.”

The plaintive finished with good results, suggesting that “her niqab did not constitute an obstacle for her training,” Linna said.

In August, Education Minister Jan Bjorklund said he wanted leaders of Swedish schools and universities to be allowed to ban students from wearing clothes that cover their faces, including the burqa, the niqab or balaclava masks.

DPA, 1 December 2010

Attacks on immigrants on the rise in Greece

A wave of violent attacks against immigrants by suspected right-wing extremists has put Muslims and the police on alert in rundown parts of Athens with burgeoning migrant populations.

Immigrants have been beaten and stabbed near central squares, and several makeshift mosques have been burned and vandalized. In the most grievous attack, at the end of October, the assailants locked the door of a basement prayer site and hurled firebombs through the windows, seriously wounding four worshipers.

“The attacks are constant – I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Naim Elghandour, who moved to Athens from Egypt in the 1970s and now heads the Muslim Association of Greece. “I used to be treated like an equal. Now I’m getting death threats.”

Tensions in neglected, crime-ridden parts of Athens with growing immigrant communities have been mounting over the past two years. Highlighting expanding public discontent, the extreme right-wing group Chrysi Avgi, or “Golden Dawn”, won its first ever seat on the Athens City Council in local elections three weeks ago. The group mustered strong support in working-class neighborhoods in the capital and elsewhere in Greece by describing migrants as a drain on the economy, which is reeling from a debt crisis, and calling for immediate deportations.

The Greek news media linked the group to the violence after a spray-painted cross merged with a circle – a symbol used by extreme rightists worldwide – was found on the wall of a firebombed prayer site.

New York Times, 1 December 2010

Hundreds attend vigil to show solidarity with Oregon mosque after arson attack

Corvallis mosque vigilCORVALLIS, Ore. — People of all faiths surrounded a local mosque Tuesday night to stand up against an arson attack that was possibly retaliation for the foiled bomb plot in Portland last Friday.

Side by side, hundreds of Christians, Jews and Muslims tolerated the rain to stand together outside the mosque.

“We’re here together to shine light toward our Muslim brothers and sisters and say our light and your light are here together,” said Benjamin Barnett, a rabbi.

Elizabeth Oettinger, senior minister of the First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, said a number of religious leaders organized the event to show support for the Muslim community. “We wanted to surround it in fire and light in solidarity and friendship,” she said.

“In the most strongest terms, we all abhor any act of violence against anyone,” said Mohammed Siala, the center’s administrator. He said members have already forgiven whomever set the fire.

“We forgive him or forgave them, not because (we are) outnumbered or because we are weak, but with your support here tonight and standing by your side, we tell them that there is no place for prejudice toward anybody, regardless of the faith or race or nationality,” he said.

“(The) person who did this to the mosque and that person who did this in Portland doesn’t represent the whole community as Muslims and Americans,” said Hassan Armutawa, a Muslim.

While local Muslims have felt the burn of hatred and Islamaphobia before, they said the light from Tuesday’s vigil outshines the hate. Members of the mosque said they were deeply touched and thank members of the community for attending.

Katu.com, 1 December 2010

EDL cancel Harrow protest over Halal school menus due to ‘Tommy’s court case’

An Islamaphobic group has reportedly called off a planned Harrow demonstration due to the start of its founder’s trial.

The English Defence League (EDL) had been due to protest against Halal meat being served in schools outside Harrow Civic Centre, in Station Road, on January 15. But forum pages for the group say the event has been canceled because of the start of “Tommy’s court case”.

Stephen Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, is facing a charge of assaulting a police officer following a counter-protest in Kensington against an Islamist group which burned poppies to mark Armistice Day. He pleaded not guilty at West London Magistrates Court and his trial is due to start on January 12.

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