Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia

Wilders anti-Islam sticker met with anger

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Wilders anti-Islam stickerA tweet from PVV leader Geert Wilders featuring an Anti-Islam slogan written in Arabic has drawn the ire of many on the social network.

Wilders, who last week told the BBC, “A responsible politician I believe never stirs up any problems in any society,” was showing off a bumper sticker affixed to his office door.

The sticker is designed to look like the flag of Saudi Arabia, and says, “Islam is a lie. Mohammed is a crook. The Quran is poison,” reports Hart van Nederland. Wilders tweeted out an email address where the sticker may be ordered for free.

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‘It is just a joke’: Muslim children, teens report bullying in California schools

Posted on by Bob Pitt

CAIR Growing in FaithA new survey that tracks bullying directed at Muslim children and teens in California finds that half have at some point been subject to “mean comments and rumors” over their religion.

The survey was put together by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national American Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. It surveyed 471 Muslim students in California public schools between the ages of 11 and 18.

For the most part, students reported “a healthy school environment in which they were comfortable participating in discussions about their religious identity” and in which they felt safe and respected by teachers and safe at school. But there were problems, too.

Of the 50 percent who reported social bullying, along the lines of name-calling and other remarks, it was “stuff you would expect,” said report author Fatima Dadabhoy, a staff attorney and civil rights manager and staff attorney with CAIR in Anaheim.

“Being called a terrorist, or ‘What is that thing on your head?’…girls being called a towel-head, or jokes like ‘Don’t throw that bomb on me’ or ‘Don’t bomb us today,'” Dadabhoy said. “These were the most common ones we heard about.”

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‘We really don’t want to ban Christmas,’ Muslims insist

Posted on by Bob Pitt

MCB Christmas card (1)In a gesture of goodwill, which would be touching if it weren’t so thoroughly depressing that it was necessary, the Muslim Council of Britain has released a Christmas card, assuring the public Muslims do not want to ban Christmas.

Riffing on the hackney-ed ‘Keep Calm…’ motif, the MCB issued a veiled challenge to any media outlet (who could they possibly mean?) who might suggest Muslim don’t enjoy twinkly lights or a chocolate log as much as the rest of us. One read: “Keep Calm, It’s Christmas”, and another “Don’t Panic, Christmas Is Not Banned”.

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Middlesbrough fans in anti-racism march after allegations supporters ripped up Qu’ran during Birmingham match

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Love Boro Hate Racism

Middlesbrough fans staged an anti-racism march after allegations supporters ripped up copies of the Qu’ran during a match against Birmingham City.

Police are investigating claims a minority of away Boro fans ripped up copies of the Qu’ran – the holy text of Islam – during the team’s 2-2 draw at St Andrew’s last week.

Ahead of the home game against Brighton on Saturday, supporters’ group the Red Faction staged an anti-racist protest march to the Riverside Stadium. More than 100 fans took part in the protest, chanting anti-racist songs.

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Mail changes Islamophobic headline as ‘gesture of good will’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

In September the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph published disgraceful reports that described a convicted drug dealer and wife beater as a “devout Muslim“.

Ash Choudry of the Building for the Future blog complained to the Press Complaints Commission and last week the PCC published the result of the complaint against the Mail, which turned out to be the usual PCC fudge:

“Although the newspaper did not accept a breach of the Code, the complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated the removal of the words ‘devout Muslim’ from the online article as a gesture of good will.”

Still, at least the headline has been changed, and credit is due to Building for the Future for pursuing this.

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Middlesbrough suspends two fans from matches after claims Qur’an ripped up at game

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Middlesbrough FC have suspended two fans from matches after claims that copies of the Qur’an were ripped up at a game.

Police are investigating reports some Boro fans ripped up the holy text of Islam during the club’s 2-2 draw at Birmingham City. After the allegations came to light, Middlesbrough Football Club vowed to ban anyone convicted of the crime from the Riverside Stadium for life.

And, in a statement, the club said: “We can confirm that, at this point, two individuals have been suspended from attending Boro matches. As investigations by West Midlands and Cleveland Police into the alleged incident at Birmingham last weekend are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”

A Birmingham City spokesman has also confirmed the club was aware of the incident and was co-operating with police. Police in Birmingham described the incident as a “hate crime”.

A spokesman for MFC said previously that the club operates a “zero tolerance policy” towards all forms of discrimination and is a strong supporter of football’s pledge to “eradicate racism in all its forms”. Boro supporters’ group, Red Faction, has organised an anti-racist march before the game with Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow.

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Alabama: Fear of pro-Islamic bias delays state board’s adoption of new social studies books

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Ancient CivilizationsConcerns that Alabama could recommend social studies textbooks with pro-Islamic bias caused the state board of education to cancel a planned vote on the books today, pending further review.

State Superintendent Tommy Bice said he would review the 12 books criticized by conservative groups and issue a recommendation to the board in January.

He had not decided whether he would recommend any of the books be excluded from the state’s recommended textbook list for social studies. “It’s not necessarily inaccurate  information but possible perceived omissions and terminology that was not strong enough, things like that,” Bice said of the allegations that the books “favored Islam.”

Board Vice President Charles Elliott of Decatur said he thought four of the 12 books would be removed.

[See a list of the 12 books in question.]

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