Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia

Grimsby EDL supporter convicted of religiously aggravated threatening behaviour – Muslim defence lawyer launches attack on media

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Grimsby solicitor has launched a scathing attack on the media and politicians for “inflaming” hostility towards Muslims after the brutal murder soldier Lee Rigby in London. Ghaff Khan strongly criticised the use of words like “Islamists” and “Islamic – and claimed that comments over people’s origins were not used when “other heinous crimes” were committed by non-Muslims.

He launched his broadside during a court case which featured mentions of the Grimsby mosque at the centre of an arson attack and references to the English Defence League. Christopher Rodger, 25, of Lime Street, Grimsby, admitted using religiously aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour on June 8.

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East End United rally vows to fight on after EDL march is banned

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Campaigners at a rally held last night in the wake of the Home Secretary’s ban on Saturday’s English Defence League march through London’s East End have vowed to continue fighting “the constant threat of neo-fascist organisations.” Around 150 supporters packed the rally by East End United anti-fascist campaign staged at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel.

Delegates from 21 community groups, religious organisations and trade unions joined politicians to reaffirm a ‘No Place for Hate’ campaign launched in 2010 when the EDL first attempted a march through Whitechapel. “There is the possibility that the EDL might again attempt to march through east London,” warned campaign orgaiser Weyman Bennett. “Neo-fascist organisations who seek to sow divisions in multi-cultural, working class areas are a constant threat.”

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Sun stirs up readers over Channel 4’s Ramadan coverage

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Sun Channel 4 Ramadan

The Sun reports: “Channel 4 yesterday said it will screen a Muslim call to prayer every day during Ramadan – because it is more relevant than the Diamond Jubilee.” The report helpfully adds: “Radical preacher Anjem Choudary, accused of encouraging terrorism, said he welcomed any move to promote Islam.”

The Sun quotes a UKIP spokesman as warning that the decision “will inflame community tension”. With coverage like that in the Sun, it very probably will.

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EDL ‘linked to a third’ of online anti-Muslim incidents

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Anti-Muslim Hate Crime and the Far RightThe mere presence of English Defence League (EDL) flash mobs is enough to induce fear without raising a brick or a baton. But new research by the Centre for Fascist Studies at Teesside University shows the EDL online presence is even more vitriolic and disturbing.

It’s the first study of anti-Muslim sentiment in the UK and is based on data from the monitoring and helpline charity Tell Mama where victims can report details of abuse either on the streets or online.

The data amounts to 584 recorded incidents of anti-Muslim hate crime in the year between April 2012 to April 2013. Almost two in every three cases were not reported to police. The majority of cases – 434 incidents – were online abuse: 300 were linked to the far-right movement, and 147 of those were linked to the EDL – a third of all online anti-Muslim incidents.

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Man in court over attack on Muslim women near Orléans

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The Collectif contre l’Islamophobie en France reports that the motorist who allegedly launched a vicious racist assault on three Muslim women in Saint-Jean-de-Braye near Orléans on 14 June has appeared before Orléans Criminal Court. The CCIF is a civil party in the case.

The accused is charged with “violence resulting in inability to work against the three plaintiffs” and “insult because of origin, ethnicity, nation, race or religion”.

The case is due to be heard at the end of July. The accused has been placed under judicial supervision, is not to approach the victims or use his vehicle and must report to the police every 15 days.

CAIR calls for hate crime probe of New Jersey mosque vandalism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Islamic Center of Morris CountyThe New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism of a mosque in that state as a possible hate crime.

An official with the Islamic Center of Morris County in Rockaway, N.J., told CAIR that someone spray-painted a Nazi swastika on an exterior door of the mosque Friday evening. The alleged perpetrator was caught on surveillance video entering the mosque and then going out to a vehicle and returning to spend time at the site of the graffiti. Rockaway Borough Police are investigating the incident as “criminal mischief.”

The mosque had faced opposition several years ago when it was in its planning stage.

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Secret no-fly list blamed for American’s Bangkok nightmare

Posted on by Bob Pitt

U.S. citizen detainedA Southern California medical student is back home after spending nearly two weeks at a Bangkok airport when he says his name turned up on a no-fly list. Rehan Motiwala’s ordeal ended Friday when he was finally granted permission to fly out of Thailand and was greeted at Los Angeles International Airport with hugs from his family, the Los Angeles Times reported.

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Geller and Spencer banned from UK

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Spencer, Carroll, Geller and Lennon in Stockholm

Two of the people behind a campaign against the building of the “Ground Zero Mosque” in New York have been barred from entering Britain to speak at an English Defence League rally in London this weekend, it has been announced.

The Home Secretary Theresa May has told Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, both of the anti-Islamic group Stop Islamization of America, that their presence in the UK would “not be conducive to the public good”. The decision, which they cannot appeal, will stand for between three and five years.

According to the Home Office, Mr Spencer and Ms Geller set up organisations “described as anti-Muslim hate groups” and, consequently, they have been told not to travel to Britain.

The decision follows pressure from anti-racist groups and chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz, who wrote to Ms May earlier this week asking her to consider a ban.

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