Why Myanmar’s hardline Buddhists are fans of the EDL

Myanmar Buddhists also support English Defence League

Are feelings of mutual admiration blossoming between two headline-grabbing, anti-Muslim factions: one in England, one in Myanmar?

Wirathu, the soft-spoken but sharp-tongued face of Myanmar’s 969 movement, has told the Times of London that his organization aims to imitate the English Defence League or EDL, a movement that recently made headlines by launching angry street protests after two hardline Muslim men hacked a British soldier to death in a London street.

“People give me various names: the Burmese bin Laden, the bald neo-Nazi… we would like to be like the EDL. Not carrying out violence but protecting the public,” the well-known Buddhist monk told reporter Richard Lloyd Parry.

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Racist vandals paint swastika on proposed mosque site

Worcester Park fascist graffitiVandals daubed a swastika on the door of a proposed mosque.

The graffiti was painted onto the front door of the old Bank Chamber building, which is owned by an Islamic group that wants to convert it into a mosque, in Green Lane, Worcester Park, between 8am and 11pm on Tuesday, June 4.

The attack comes in the aftermath of the murder of soldier Drummer Lee Rigby near his barracks in Woolwich last month and in the midst of a spate of vandalism on Muslim buildings around the country.

Vandals painted the red swastika – the emblem of the Nazi party – on the door of the building but it was quickly covered up by green paint. Police are investigating.

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English Defence League leader condemns attacks on Muslims

Stephen Lennon with anti-mosque placard2The leader of the English Defence League has said he “utterly condemns” attacks on Muslims.

Tommy Robinson denied claims his group had firebombed an Islamic community centre in London, where the letters EDL were sprayed on the building. He told the BBC the graffiti could have been placed there to make it look as if the group was responsible.

Mr Robinson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he condemned all acts of violence by EDL members and the group was about peaceful protest.

He denied his group was behind the blaze in Muswell Hill last week. “If something was set fire and someone wrote David Cameron on the side of it, does it mean he did it?” he said. “If I’m honest, I’m completely sceptical that it is even non-Muslims that have done that.”

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Four arson arrests over Islamic Darul Uloom School fire

Four teenagers have been arrested after a fire at an Islamic boarding school in south-east London.

About 128 pupils and staff were evacuated from Darul Uloom School in Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, on Saturday.

Two 17-year-olds and two 18-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of arson on Sunday, the Metropolitan police said.

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Racist abuse aimed at Papiss Cissé on Newcastle EDL Facebook page

Papiss CisséNewcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has been the subject of racist abuse on the NEWCASTLE – English Defence League Facebook page.

The abuse centres around Cisse’s religion and comes after reports emerged that Cisse will refuse to wear Newcastle’s new kit which will be branded with Wonga.com, a payday loans company.

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BBC provided platform for phoney ‘Afghan veteran’ to spout hatred against Muslims

Cody Aidan Lachey on BBC News

The Daily Star Sunday exposes Cody Aidan Lachey, a self-styled Afghan veteran who was given a platform by the BBC in the aftermath of the Woolwich murder to incite hatred against Muslims. The Star claims that Lachey joined the Army in 2001 as Craig Langley, but he went absent without leave in 2002 and left the Army the following year, later changing his name to Cody Lachey. They say he has never served in Afghanistan.

When Lachey appeared on Newsnight he was described by host Kirsty Wark as having “fought for Queen and country twice in Afghanistan”. According to the Star: “On Daybreak he was asked questions by hosts Kate Garraway and Aled Jones while in his Army uniform and he spoke on behalf of all soldiers. On BBC World News he was referred to as an ­Afghan veteran and used his appearance to spout hatred towards Muslims, claiming anyone in ­Britain who didn’t like Westerners should be ­deported.”

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UK mosques urged to improve security measures

An American Islamic group has been advising British mosques on security measures, including the installation of safe rooms and panic alarms, warning that they are at greater risk than in any other western country.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has discussed its revamped security regulations with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) in light of the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, in Woolwich, south-east London, which it said had even provoked attacks in the United States.

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EDL protest in Shrewsbury over Islamic centre plan

EDL Shrewsbury June 2013More than 60 members from the Shropshire division of the English Defence League staged demonstrations today over plans for the former Shrewsbury Register Office at Column Lodge to become an Islamic centre.

The plans by Shropshire Bangladesh Welfare Society, to move Shrewsbury’s first Muslim prayer centre into the town’s former register office have sparked fierce debate. Shropshire Council has received hundreds of letters of both objection and support since the plans were submitted on April 30.

Protests by the EDL began at 1pm. A dozen police officers were present but the protest passed off peacefully. During the 30 minute protest the crowd, mainly men, stood on the Column roundabout chanting and a number of comments were passed between EDL supporters and a handful of opponents who gathered on the other side of the road.

Shropshire Star, 8 June 2013

EDL returns to Sheffield

EDL Sheffield June 2013Hundreds of English Defence League supporters who protested in Sheffield city centre were able to lay their wreath – but have been accused of inciting counter demonstrators.

Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield claimed EDL supporters made Nazi salutes as well as Churchill-style “V” signs when they entered Barker’s Pool and approached the war memorial to lay the wreath.

Shouts of “there’s only one Lee Rigby” were chanted by the EDL as they entered, after leader Tommy Robinson had grabbed a megaphone and urged them to hold a “peaceful protest”. The Star filmed EDL supporters, who initially shouted “Yorkshire” changing their chants to “Allah is a paedophile” and “if you wear a yellow jacket, you’re a ****” at police.

Labour MP Mr Blomfield said: “I congratulate The Star for exposing the EDL for what they are. They claimed to be coming here peacefully but I am disgusted that they stood in front of the war memorial and gave a Nazi salute, then chanted obscenities at the police and towards Sheffield’s Muslim citizens.”

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Lincoln anti-mosque protest meets counter-demonstration

Anti-mosque protest Lincoln
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Lincoln on Saturday, June 8, for a protest against plans to build a mosque in Lincoln, as well as a separate anti-racism demonstration.

Around 250 anti-mosque protestors were in the City Square area, while around 100 people took part in the counter-demonstration in Cornhill. There was a strong police presence in the city throughout the day, with Lincolnshire Police getting assistance from Thames Valley and Metropolitan Police forces. No arrests were made.

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