Category Archives: Anti-Muslim violence

Club reinstates footballer jailed over threats to bomb mosques and kill Muslims, FA remains silent

Posted on by Bob Pitt

ShaunTuck Witton AlbionShaun Tuck, scorer of a decisive goal for Witton Albion on his return to action at the weekend, will not be sacked after spending part of the summer in prison.

The striker left jail in Merseyside a fortnight ago after serving half of a three-month sentence as punishment for writing malicious messages on the Internet in the hours following Drummer Lee Rigby’s murder in London. He has written an apology published today, Monday, and addressed to “everybody at the club”.

“It has always been up to Shaun to demonstrate he is truly sorry for his actions earlier in the summer and the shame this brought on himself, his family and the football club,” said chairman Mark Harris. “Witton Albion are giving him the chance to demonstrate that he has learned a tough lesson in life.”

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Threat to blow up mosque was ‘a cry for help’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Peter GillA Christian with a history of mental health problems threatened to blow up a mosque as “a cry for help”. Peter Gill, made the threat to attack Shelton Mosque during a phone call to police, just hours after he had expressed suicidal thoughts to officers.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre was told the 51-year-old was not a racist and had no intention of carrying out a bombing at the Regent Road building. But District Judge Rachel Davies told Gill that in the current climate the police were bound to take his threat seriously. She sentenced him to two months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

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Politicians must follow ‘hijab outcry’ with action

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Michael Privot, director of the European Network Against Racism, welcomes the development of grassroots initiatives across Europe against racist violence and intolerance. However, he argues:

“Public actions like the ‘hijab outcry‘ in Sweden also communicate the need for more political determination to tackle hate crime. So far, politicians in Sweden and Europe have failed to develop effective responses, and there is often an unwillingness to recognize the severity of the problem.”

The Local, 3 September 2013

Muslim teens say cops ripped off their hijabs during brutal Bronx arrest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Khalia Wilson and Lamis ChapmanTwo Muslim teenage sisters say the NYPD brutalized them and ripped off their hijabs after they were ordered to leave a Bronx park Monday night. In what appears to be an exclusive report, the Daily News says that Lamis Chapman, 12, and Khalia Wilson, 14, were thrown to the ground and had their head scarves ripped off by the officers at the Lester Patterson Houses in Mott Haven. Khalia says she was put in a choke-hold, telling the tabloid, “They said they asked for ID. I didn’t hear them.”

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Man questioned over Harlow Islamic centre arson

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with an attack on an Essex Islamic Centre. The man, from Harlow, is being questioned by police about the incident in the early hours of Monday 26 August.

Police said insulation foam was sprayed around the doors and windows at the Harlow Islamic Centre on Paringdon Road and then set on fire. The building suffered limited damage.

Police are looking for two men caught on CCTV security cameras. The men were filmed at 01:24 BST on Monday and anyone with information is asked to come forward.

BBC News, 29 August 2013

Update:  See “Man bailed after mosque arson”, ITV News, 30 August 2013

Solidarity with Aïssatou

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Soldarité avec Aïssatou

The Collectif contre l’Islamophobie en France has set up an email address (aissatou@islamophobie.net) so that messages of sympathy and solidarity can be sent to Aïssatou, the young Muslim woman attacked by  racists, who attempted suicide earlier this week. The CCIF also encourages support for the campaign launched by Al-Kanz, which can be followed on Twitter: #AvecAïssatou

Man banned from Cambridge’s Islamic centres caught carrying knife near mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

David CampA man banned from going near a number of Islamic premises in Cambridge after he threatened to burn down a mosque was convicted of carrying a knife close to the Mawson Road mosque.

David Camp, 35, of Thorpe Way, Cambridge, was stopped by police on Mill Road with a Stanley Knife in his rucksack on Monday. Camp explained to the officer that he had the knife in case he needed to repair his bicycle, which he was riding at the time of the incident on August 18 at 3 15pm.

But the Cambridge Magistrates Court heard the 35-year-old had earlier posted on social networking site Twitter: “Stan is always with me if you know what I mean.” In his police interview, Camp confirmed “Stan” referred to his knife.

The conviction comes just six days after Camp was sentenced to 15 months behind bars for having a folding lock knife on board a train travelling between London and Harlow and making racial comments.

Earlier this month, Camp was also given an Asbo by a Cambridge court after posting a “large number” of anti-Islamic messages on Twitter between April 1 and June 5.

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Grimsby mosque arson accused appear in court

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Grimsby mosque scorched doorA man accused of attacking a mosque in Grimsby has denied two counts of arson.

Daniel Cressey, 24, of Manchester Square, New Holland, pleaded not guilty to arson with intent to endanger life and to commit arson recklessly.

No-one was injured in the attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre on 26 May.

Stuart Harness, 33, and Gavin Humphries, 37, both pleaded not guilty to arson with intent to endanger life but entered guilty pleas to one charge of committing arson recklessly.

All three appeared before Grimsby Crown Court earlier.

Mr Harness and Mr Humphries, both of Dixon Avenue, Grimsby, were remanded until 25 November when all three men are due to reappear at the same court.

BBC News, 28 August 2013

Update:  See “Grimsby men admit mosque arson attack”, Grimsby Telegraph, 29 August 2013