Happily ignoring the actual evidence, the Sunday Telegraph attempts to whip up hysteria about the Islamification of Europe.
Salma Yaqoob condemns racist protestors
On Saturday 8 August a group under the name of “English Defence League” will attempt to stage a demonstration in Birmingham which they claim is directed against “Islamic extremism”. The English Defence League staged a similar protest in Birmingham on 4 July. Adrian Goldberg interviewed one of their leaders on his Talksport radio show during which he confirmed their “opposition to all Muslims practising their faith in Britain”, and admitted links with the BNP. The broad-based campaign, Unite Against Fascism, is calling for a peaceful counter-demonstration to assemble at 5pm on Saturday outside Waterstones bookshop in the Bull Ring.
Councillor Salma Yaqoob commented:
“The instigators of this demonstration are fascist thugs. They are coming to our city with one intention only: to sow racist division by stirring up anti-Muslim hatred.
“One of their ringleaders made their intentions very clear when he publicily stated his opposition to all Muslims practising their faith in Britain”, and admitted links with the BNP.
“The police have assured me that they will deal with any troublemakers. I am concerned, though, that the West Midlands Police are playing down the racist nature of this protest, and the links the protestors have with far-right organisations. Everyone has the right to their opinions, but
“No-one has the right to incite hatred against others on the grounds of race or religion. It is very important that the West Midlands Police act firmly to deal with any incitement to racist hatred.
“Birmingham is a multi-cultural city and proud of it. It is also important that people of all faiths and cultures stand together in a spirit of peace and unity. We must show these people that they are not wanted here, and that Birmingham will not be divided by race or faith. I urge everyone attending this protest to show the best of our city and ensure that this is a peaceful and respectful demonstration of unity.”
Muslim women avoid reporting racism
Shouts of “Terrorist” and “Osama Bin Laden” on the way into an Eid party. Being chased out of a park crying because a man thinks the way you dress is a danger to children. Both racism. Both to Muslim women. Neither reported to the police.
Catrin Nye of BBC Asian Network has been investigating after a charity set up to offer the women support claimed hundreds of racist crimes against Muslim women in Scotland are going unreported.
Via ENGAGE
Fear keeps Turkey out of the EU
“When on his recent visit to Turkey President Obama called for Turkish entry into the European Union, he put his finger on a strategic and cultural sore spot. The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking for the majority position in Europe, was quick to respond: Turkey may one day enjoy a privileged relationship with the EU, but full membership is out of the question. Turkey is not European – geographically or culturally….
“Political parties that call for an increasingly narrow view of Europe are gaining ground. These parties promote a strictly Judeo-Christian perspective of European history, mistrust of Islam, repressive hardline immigration policies and reject a Turkey they claim is overpopulated and excessively Muslim. Europeans have become fearful. Economic crisis has brought with it calls for greater security and for protection of purchasing power, and from ‘foreigners’ and ‘immigrants’, who are seen as threatening financial stability and cultural homogeneity.”
Tariq Ramadan in the Guardian, 7 August 2009
Mosque threat man avoids prison
A Derbyshire man who threatened to blow up Glasgow Central Mosque has been sentenced to three years’ probation.
Neil MacGregor, 36, had also said he would execute a Muslim a day unless all of Scotland’s Mosques were closed. He made the threats after watching an internet video of a British hostage being beheaded in Iraq.
Sheriff Andrew Mackie said he did not believe custody would help to address the root cause of MacGregor’s problem which was his mental health.
At an earlier hearing, MacGregor, from Melbourne, Derbyshire, admitted a racial breach of the peace. He telephoned and e-mailed Strathclyde Police to make the threats from a flat in Glasgow, between 30 January and 15 February 2007. The court heard that the e-mail read:
“I’m a proud racist and National Front member. We as an organisation have decided to deal with the current threat from Muslims in our own British way, like our proud ancestors. Our demands are very small. Close all mosques in Scotland. If our demands aren’t met by next Friday, we’ll kidnap one Muslim and execute him or her on the internet, just like they did to our Ken Bigley.”
MacGregor then followed up the e-mail with a call threatening to blow up Central Mosque.
Muslim leaders criticised the way MacGregor’s case was dealt with by the police and courts. Osama Saeed, of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation, said he believed that if a young Muslim had similarly threatened violence after viewing videos from Iraq, he would have been dealt with completely differently by the police.
See Scottish Islamic Foundation press release, 7 August 2009
Update: See also Inayat Bunglawala’s piece at Comment is Free, 8 August 2009
Update 2: See “Former soldier who issued mosque bomb threat jailed”, BBC News, 6 April 2011
Welcome to Eurabia?
A big YouTube hit makes startling predictions about the Islamification of Europe over the next few decades and has been viewed more than 10 million times. But can you believe what it says?
The BBC Radio 4 programme More or Less says no.
Eastern Eye interviews John Denham
Phrases that ‘label’ Muslims hurt fight against extremism
By Aditi Khanna
Eastern Eye, 7 August 2009
The government is to undertake a major re-labelling drive to redefine its relationship with Muslim communities.
The reason behind the plan is because phrases like “Preventing Violent Extremism” as part of its anti-terror strategy seem to be alienating the very groups it plans to work with, according to communities secretary John Denham.
The newly-appointed minister for communities and local government is taking a personal interest in matters concerning race equality and cohesion. He said his key focus would be on a clear policy shift away from defining the government’s relationship with Muslims entirely around tackling extremism.
Denham told Eastern Eye: “I am very concerned at the extent to which the relationship between the government and Muslim communities is defined by the issue of international terrorism and extremism.
“Muslims want to engage on a range of wider issues and while we are committed to that, it may not always come across as such. They are communities of high aspirations, and need to feel that we consider issues of social mobility and access to professions as absolutely crucial.
“It has been brought to our attention that some of the labelling around government policy may be working as a disincentive. Some local authorities have already dropped the phrase ‘pre- venting violent extremism’ because they feel it identifies them as part of the problem.
“We want the Muslim community to play a positive role. If labelling is preventing them from participating in our efforts, then it defeats the entire purpose.”
A new, revised guidance around preventing extremism is being drawn up and will be re-launched in the coming months.
The communities and local government department is also working on a document aimed at addressing the rise in “white racist extremism”.
Denham added: “We have had a formal police warning recently about the threat of terror attacks from extremist far-right groups. We are determined to have a consistent approach towards extremism wherever it exists.
“There is not just one type of extremism that raises concerns. The recent European elections say more about voter abstention than support for far-right groups like the BNP.
“But a major push in tackling far-right extremism is high on our agenda. We will make sure unfairness, whether real or perceived, is tackled.”
At least 100 council wards in England will be identified for the scheme. Measures include meetings for residents to express concerns about immigration and ensuring councils are transparent about housing allocation.
The initiative comes after the British National Party won two seats at the European Parliament elections for the first time in June.
Nod for mosque brings despair
Thus the headline in the Dudley News, reporting the High Court decision to grant outline planning permission for Dudley Muslim Association to build a mosque and community, training and enterprise centre.
The hate preacher who … er, didn’t in fact preach hate
The Board of Deputies has sent an angry protest to the Home Office about the UK visit of a leading Saudi Arabian cleric who has made numerous antisemitic speeches.
Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais has been on a lecture tour to mosques and shared a platform with Tony Baldry, Tory MP for Banbury, in the town last week.
Vivian Wineman, president of the Board, said: “There is no doubt that the presence of Sheikh Al-Sudais undermines British values of tolerance and respect and we will continue to ensure that the government is aware that the Jewish community sees his presence here as entirely offensive.”
Blackwater founder implicated in murder
Over at The Nation Jeremy Scahill reports that former employees of Blackwater, the private military and security company that worked as a contractor for the United States government during the invasion and occupation of Iraq, have made some shocking acusations against its owner Erik Prince, including allegations of involvement in the murder of individuals who were co-operating with federal authorities investigating the company.
Among the charges against Prince is that he “views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe”, according to a declaration by one of the witnesses. The declaration continues:
“To that end, Mr. Prince intentionally deployed to Iraq certain men who shared his vision of Christian supremacy, knowing and wanting these men to take every available opportunity to murder Iraqis. Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades.
“Mr. Prince operated his companies in a manner that encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life. For example, Mr. Prince’s executives would openly speak about going over to Iraq to ‘lay Hajiis out on cardboard’. Going to Iraq to shoot and kill Iraqis was viewed as a sport or game. Mr. Prince’s employees openly and consistently used racist and derogatory terms for Iraqis and other Arabs, such as ‘ragheads’ or ‘hajiis’.”
Via Lenin’s Tomb