Conservative MP denounces anti-Muslim bigots as ‘bloody fools’

Desmond SwayneOne of Hampshire’s top politicians has criticised the “crazy fools” insulting Muslims following the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby. New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne has condemned the current wave of anti-Muslim incidents, including attacks on mosques, which began shortly after the young soldier was killed in Woolwich.

Writing in his weekly blog Mr Swayne says: “I have regular correspondents on the subject of Islam. Some are Internet ‘trolls’ who send me e-mails filled with complete drivel that they have picked up from nasty right-wing websites…. Then there are a few ‘churchy’ folk who send me considered but equally misguided stuff peppered with quotes taken out of context from the Koran and enclosing articles from evangelical publications.”

Continue reading

National campaign: Don’t let the racists divide us

UAF_logoUnite Against Fascism is launching a campaign – Don’t let the racists divide us – to organise a nationwide response to the attempts by the racist and fascist English Defence League and British National Party to exploit the tragic death of Lee Rigby to whip up racism and hatred.

This campaign will be launched at its ‘United communities – Don’t let the racists divide us’ event, taking place at 12 Noon, tomorrow Saturday 1 June, opposite Downing St.

The campaign is being launched in response to the stepped up activities of racist and far right groups in the aftermath of the murder, which have cynically attempted to exploit this tragedy to pursue their own agenda directed against Black, Asian and especially Muslim communities.

This has already led to a spike in Islamophobic attacks and a wave of assaults on Mosques. Muslim communities are experiencing verbal abuse, women’s headscarves have been torn off as well as more serious threats and violent attacks. Racists are simply stepping up their campaign.

This Saturday the English Defence League are organising 55 protests in different towns and cities across the country over the weekend. The far right British National Party is trying to re-launch itself after its recent splits by holding a national protest in Whitehall, Central London at 1pm – the first time they have done so since 1998.

UAF is organising local community responses around the country and the event in Whitehall to counter the BNP’s mobilisation.

Continue reading

Lee Rigby death no excuse for attacks, says family

Killed soldier Lee Rigby would not have wanted his death used to excuse reprisal attacks, his family have said.

Drummer Rigby’s family called for calm as the Queen met army personnel during a visit to the barracks near to where he was killed on 22 May. In a statement his family said his friends’ different cultures and religions “made no difference to Lee”.

The family’s plea came amid reports of a rise in anti-Muslim incidents since the soldier’s murder last week.

Continue reading

Appeals Court overturns mosque ruling

Murfreesboro Islamic Center (2)

A Tennessee Court of Appeals panel ruled Wednesday that the Rutherford County Planning Commission did provide adequate public notice prior to approving construction of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.

“We have concluded that the (Rutherford County Chancery) Court erred in finding the notice provided to be inadequate under the Open Meetings Act,” said Judge Andy D. Bennett, who authored the opinion.

As part of the decision, the Appeals Court overturned the ruling by Chancellor Robert Corlew III, who has contended the Planning Commission should have utilized multiple media outlets given what he has described as the “totality of the circumstances” – a standard that is not required by law.

The ruling is a victory for the Rutherford County government, which has argued it followed the law.

Continue reading

Drummer Lee Rigby’s regiment urges members not to participate in ‘self-serving’ demonstrations

The regiment of Drummer Lee Rigby has urged its members not to participate in “self-serving” demonstrations following the soldier’s brutal murder in Woolwich last week.

A number of demonstrations have been held since Drummer Rigby’s death last Wednesday, with members of the English Defence League marching through central London on Monday. EDL members protested outside Downing Street, with protesters heard chanting “Muslim killers off our streets” and “There’s only one Lee Rigby”.

Drummer Rigby’s regiment has now distanced itself from such demonstrations, with regimental secretary Brigadier Ian Liles criticising organisations trying to “exploit” the murder for “a range of self-serving and unhelpful reasons”.

Continue reading

French burqa ban to be heard by the Grand Chamber ECtHR

The Chamber of the ECtHR to which the application in S.A.S. v France (No. 43835/11) was assigned has relinquished jurisdiction to the Grand Chamber, neither party having objected to relinquishment.

Under Law no. 2010-1192 of 11 October 2010, which came into force on 11 April 2011, it is forbidden in France to conceal one’s face in a public place: “Nul ne peut, dans l’espace public, porter une tenue destinée à dissimuler son visage”.

The applicant, a French national who is a practising Muslim, states that she wears the burqa in order to live according to her faith, her culture and her personal convictions. She also wears the niqab veil in public and in private, but not consistently; however, she wants to be able to wear it when she so chooses. She states that her purpose in wearing the burqa or the niqab is not to inconvenience others but to live according to her principles. She also asserts that neither her husband nor any other member of her family puts pressure on her to wear the burqa.

Continue reading

Far-right groups plan day of demonstrations across England

Far-right groups are planning their biggest mobilisation for 30 years this weekend with more than 50 demonstrations planned in towns and cities across England.

Anti-racism campaigners have branded Saturday a “day of hate” after identifying 55 English Defence League (EDL) events as well a BNP march in London.

Guardian, 30 May 2013