Sweden’s newly elected archbishop Antje Jackelén has admitted she wasn’t prepared for the online abuse she has received from anti-Islamists labelling the attacks as “spiteful.”
Jackelén became the first female archbishop of the Church of Sweden in October and is known for her views on religious tolerance and arguments in favour of a multi-faith Sweden. She will take up the post next year but has already been the target of abuse by users on xenophobic online forums and Twitter who have slammed Jackelén for her beliefs and even her hairstyle.
“Choose Muhammed instead so we can be spared from your ugly old man’s haircut,” posted one user on a message board while another asked for her to be burned at the stake.
The North East Infidels, a far-right splinter from the English Defence League, held a demonstration in Hartlepool today. Here they are, expressing their respect for the war dead.
The mother of a former BNP election candidate has denied he posted racist and homophobic messages on Twitter. A friend claimed David Child, who received 23 votes in the 2012 Grove byelection, was the victim of a “hate campaign by lefties”.
After yet another attack on government plans to construct a mosque in central Athens, Greece’s neofascist Golden Dawn party has asked for a national vote on the issue.
A French court has upheld the controversial sacking of a childcare worker who wore a headscarf to work.
Stephen Timms MP has defended his support for a controversial Islamic conference, calling criticism of it “misplaced” and saying he would attend the event again if asked.