Category Archives: Resisting Islamophobia
Anti-Muslim license plate battle back in court
Iraqi War vet, Sean Bujno, who is suing to use the license plates “ICUHAJI,” had his case dismissed for a second time by a circuit court judge.
The license plate is deemed offensive and racist towards certain groups, such as Arabs and Muslims. Bujno’s attorney says it is a First Amendment issue. They are considering a third appeal, this time possibly with a U.S. District Court.
Le Pen and Wilders launch far-right alliance
Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-right National Front, joined notorious anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders in The Hague on Wednesday to announce a “historic” Europe-wide alliance of far-right parties ahead of next year’s European elections.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Dutch anti-Islamic leader Geert Wilders on Wednesday launched what they called a “historic” alliance to fight next year’s European elections, with other eurosceptic parties expected to join.
“Today is a historic day. We have taken a decision to ally ourselves with other patriots willing to work within the same dynamic,” Le Pen told journalists after talks with Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Wilders.
“Today is the start of the liberation of Europe from the monster of Brussels,” said Wilders, known for his platinum-blonde hair and his eurosceptic and anti-Islamic views.
Anne Marie Waters and Dispatch International – one more time
The appalling Anne Marie Waters, who is a member of the National Secular Society council and spokesperson for the anti-sharia campaign One Law For All, has featured on Islamophobia Watch a number of times. (So many times, in fact, that even I’m getting bored with the subject – which is why it’s taken me a while to get round to writing this piece.)
In addition to whipping up fear and hatred of Islam through the NSS and OLFA, Waters also hoped to acquire a parliamentary platform for her views, via the Labour Party. Unfortunately for Waters, the latter ambition proved irreconcilable with her other activities. Her attempt earlier this year to win selection as the Labour candidate for the Brighton Pavilion constituency was defeated, thanks not least to Andy Newman’s admirable work (see here and here) in exposing her Islamophobic views.
Last month Waters resigned from the Labour Party, announcing her decision in an open letter to Ed Miliband that was published in the “counterjihad” newspaper Dispatch International, to which she is now a regular contributor. The reasons Waters gave for leaving the party were that she was opposed to Labour’s support for multiculturalism, to Ken Livingstone’s selection as Labour candidate in the 2012 London mayoral election, and to Labour’s “introduction of insidious hate speech laws”.
Exeter: 800 against planned EDL march
Momentum is gathering against a far right wing organisation’s plans to hold a march in Exeter.
The English Defence League (EDL) plans take to the city’s streets on Saturday, November 16. However a group opposing the bid, Exeter Together, has signed up more than 800 people and organisations to condemn it.
Spokeswoman Hannah Packham said they would be holding an inclusive family-friendly Celebration of Diversity – to celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage. “Our event is being held away from the EDL march, and will be an opportunity for Exeter to come together to celebrate the multi-cultural, multi-race, multi-faith diversity of the city,” she said.
Quebec’s divisive secular charter draws the pushback it deserves
Demonstration against the ‘Charter of Values’ in Montreal in September
The Toronto Star has a hard hitting editorial on Quebec’s so-called Charter of Values, which the Parti Québécois government has insisted it will try and force through the National Assembly.
Muslim text protest sows hostility
The Orlando Sentinel has a good editorial condemning the Volusia County school textbook campaign. It argues:
“This concocted controversy calls to mind another appeal to antipathy toward Muslims – the ongoing effort in the Florida Legislature to ‘protect’ state courts from the non-existent threat of Islamic Shariah law.”
See also “Christian history taught before Islam in state curriculum”, Daytona Beach News-Journal, 9 November 2013
One arrest at EDL protest in Shotton Collliery
Police made one arrest this afternoon during a demonstration by the English Defence League (EDL) in Shotton Colliery, County Durham.
There was also a counter protest by the Tyne and Wear Anti-Fascist Association.
A spokeswoman for Durham Police said that some 200 people were involved in the demonstration, which took place in the centre of the village between 1.30 and 2.30pm this afternoon.
Islamophobia Awareness Month
The second Islamophobia Awareness Month has been launched. The month-long campaign will see activities and projects held throughout Britain to combat the continuing rising tide of Islamophobia.
Islamophobia Awareness Month is being spearheaded by the Enough Coalition Against Islamophobia, the Muslim Council of Britain and ENGAGE, and other partners.
Muslim workers claim they were fired for prayer
At the DHL Global Mail plant in Hebron, Kentucky, 24 Muslim workers took a break to pray. They say it cost them their jobs. The company denies any wrongdoing.
At a news conference Thursday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says the workers were fired unjustly. “These workers contend that they were dismissed from their jobs for asserting their right to a reasonable accommodation for their religious practices including daily prayer,” said Karen Dabdoub, executive director of CAIR-Cincinnati.