French Muslims call on Hollande to speak out on Islamophobia

French Muslim leaders have appealed to President François Hollande come out as strongly against Islamophobia as he has against anti-Semitism. They estimate that the number of anti-Muslim acts in France rose 34 per cent last year.

Leaders of the Muslim umbrella body, the CFCM, which was set up by former president Nicolas Sarkozy when he was interior minister, met Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Thursday to call for action against what they claim is a rise in Islamophobia.

They called on Hollande to condemn it in a “solemn declaration”, similar to his call for the fight against anti-Semitism to become a “national cause”.

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Jury shown photograph of EDL supporter wielding stick outside Kingston Mosque

Henry Hunter with stickA jury has been shown a photograph of a man wielding a stick outside Kingston Mosque moments before an attack by masked and hooded men.

Henry Hunter, 19, denies violent disorder and racially and religiously aggravated criminal damage, after a group of men targeted the mosque in East Road.

At Kingston Crown Court, a jury of eight women and four men heard how Mr Hunter took part in a protest march through Kingston town centre on November 21, 2010.

Prosecutor Anthony Montgomery said that although the march passed without incident, several men who had been captured on CCTV during the protest later threw sticks, bottles and rashers of bacon at the mosque, and damaged a sign attached to the building.

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EDL member claims he only attacked mosque because of news report from Libya

A man launched a drunken attack on a mosque after watching a news report about the desecration of Commonwealth graves in Libya.

Barry Stanbury, 42, was caught on CCTV cameras at shortly before 2.30am on March 5, wandering around the Exeter Mosque before a window was smashed, Exeter magistrates heard.

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Police: Anti-Muslim bigot beat Sikh cab driver

A Federal Way man accused of viciously beating a Sikh cab driver while shouting anti-Muslim slurs now faces a hate crime charge.

King County prosecutors contend Jamie W. Larson attacked the cab driver during an Oct. 17 ride after commenting on the man’s turban.  According to charging documents, Larson, 48, tore out chunks of the man’s beard during the assault, which also loosened one of the driver’s teeth.

“Two witnesses saw the attack which was described as savage, and the defendant continued his tirade after officers arrived,” Deputy Prosecutor Gretchen Holmgren told the court, noting that the cab driver was taken to a hospital following the 4:30 p.m. attack.

The afternoon attack came after Auburn police called a cab to pick up Larson, who was apparently too intoxicated to drive or walk.

Seattle Post Intelligencer, 28 October 2012

Australian soldiers receive ‘formal reprimands’ over violent, racist Facebook posts about Muslims

Defence has reprimanded two military personnel and counselled 13 others over violent and racist comments posted on Facebook in the wake of last month’s Islamic protests in Sydney.

The action, which has been welcomed by the Islamic Council of NSW, comes a month after a group of Australian soldiers from Townsville-based 3rd Brigade were caught joking on Facebook about using sniper rifles and machine guns on Muslim men who protested in Sydney on September 15.

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EDL supporter gets suspended sentence for encouraging people to petrol bomb takeaway

Alan ClarkeA former hospital worker involved with a far-right political group used Facebook to encourage people to petrol bomb an Indian takeaway at the centre of a major child abuse probe.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how Alan Clarke’s reckless comments on the social networking site led to him being sacked by bosses at the city’s Cumberland Infirmary.

He admitted using Facebook to collude with others in a way that could have encouraged people to commit criminal damage – namely by attacking the Spice of India takeaway in Botchergate, Carlisle.

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Worshippers at French mosque threatened with shotgun

It has been reported that Muslims celebrating Eid-al-Adha at a mosque at Seynod in south-eastern France were subjected to racial abuse and threatened with a shotgun by a man who accused worshippers of occupying two parking spaces outside his business that were reserved for customers. Seynod’s Muslim community is currently using premises in an industrial estate while they wait for the construction of a purpose-built mosque, which has faced opposition from a residents’ association and local businesses.

Plans for mosque in Lincoln win backing of residents’ association

Boultham Park Dairy siteA group which opposed the building of a £500,000 mosque in Lincoln has now promised to work alongside the Islamic association.

The proposed, two-storey place of worship at the Old Boultham Dairy, could win full planning permission on November 7. If approved, the mosque could be up and running in about two years.

Boultham Residents’ Association started a petition against the plans last year. Members were concerned about the level of traffic the building would bring to the area.

A joint statement has now been issued by Jean Flannery, chairman of the residents’ association and Dr Tanweer Ahmed, trustee of the Islamic association which says they are happy to work together.

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‘They just see the hijab and they start shouting abuse’ – white Muslim revert talks to Sun about experiences

The young Muslim woman in the hijab hardly noticed the man she passed in the street – until he stopped, spat and swore at her. But then as a white-skinned blonde in Islamic garb, religious convert Amy Sall is used to attracting attention. What has shocked her since she became a Muslim has been the level of hostility she has attracted from complete strangers.

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