Category Archives: UK
Zayn Malik told to ‘die’ and branded a terrorist at One Direction concert
Zayn Malik’s fans are out in force on Twitter this evening after he faced even more racist abuse at a recent One Direction concert.
It was around a year ago that the Bradford bad boy first left Twitter because of the racial slurs being directed at him and his family but it seems the haters are not constrained to online abuse, they’ve been harassing him in person too.
A photo of a supposed sign is being circulated by fan groups on Twitter and it appears to read “Die terrorist Zayn Malik.” In response Directioners around the globe have been pushing to get the hashtag #ZaynIsNotATerroristTR trending worldwide.
Another photo of Zayn looking at his feet and appearing distraught is supposedly showing the moment that he caught sight of the banner which was flown at the band’s San Jose concert this week.
NWI and fascist allies to stage anti-immigration march in Leigh
Plans for a far right march through the borough this weekend have caused outrage.
The North West Infidels – a splinter group from the controversial and violent English Defence League – have announced that they are to parade through Leigh town centre on Saturday. Organisers say around 200 members of the shadowy group will march in what they are calling an “anti immigration” rally outside the town hall.
Anti-fascist groups across the borough are now planning a counter-demonstration, leaving traders fearful of disorder and unrest that could well hit takings during difficult times.
Horrific attack on 55-year-old Muslim woman
In the early hours of Monday morning, as a 55-year-old woman returned home after Suhur (closing fast) at a friends, she was brutally attacked in London’s exclusive Mayfair area in the UK. A man grabbed her from behind and repeatedly punched her in the back of the head.
She fell to the ground face first, he continued his attack with added profanities against Muslims, Ramadhan and Islam. He then grabbed her headscarf that was around her neck and then dragged her along the pavement.
The woman was bleeding and the attacker had her blood on his hands and clothes. In his final act of cowardice he slapped her across the face with his blood-stained hands leaving an imprint of it on her face. She fell unconscious as he ran away leaving her in the street.
The victim was treated in hospital and may need surgery to her face. IHRC has been supporting the victim and the matter has been reported to the Metropolitan police.
Chesterfield: Racist abuse ‘prevalent’ after Woolwich killing
Chesterfield’s Muslim community claims it has suffered an increase in racist abuse after the alleged murder of soldier Lee Rigby.
Two thugs who were convicted for being racially abusive on Cavendish Street in the town claimed they had been angered by the death of Fusilier Lee Rigby who was allegedly hacked to death in Woolwich, in May, by two converts to Islam.
Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard how Peter Levers, 33, of Circular Road, Staveley, was caught shouting, “Muslims, I’ll kill them all”, and in a separate case involving Mark Carr, 41, of Holme Road, Chesterfield, two Muslim women were subjected to racist abuse and swear-words during an incident where the comment “go back to your own country” was heard.
A Chesterfield Muslim Welfare Association spokesman, who did not want to be named, said: “The issue seems to have been about Woolwich which has affected the Muslim community. Some groups have latched on to it and used it for their twisted purposes, and the Chesterfield Muslim community is suffering with abuse, but we try and get on with our lives.”
Undercover: Book review
Undercover: The True Story of Britain’s Secret Police, by Rob Evans and Paul Lewis, Faber & Faber 2013, 346pp, £12.99
This study of police spies who infiltrated radical movements in the UK originated in a series of reports that Rob Evans and Paul Lewis wrote for the Guardian. However, as the cover of the book indicates (“They steal identities. They break the law. They sleep with the enemy”) the journalistic approach here bears more of a resemblance to that of the tabloid press, where balanced analysis is rejected in favour of generating shock-horror headlines.
Fresh calls for home secretary to ban EDL march through Tower Hamlets
A letter calling for the home secretary to ban far right group the English Defence League from marching through Tower Hamlets has been circulated to trade unions, faith and community groups. The borough’s mayor, Lutfur Rahman, is calling on interested parties to sign the letter to Theresa May to stop the EDL from going ahead with a planned demonstration on September 7.
Mr Rahman expresses fears that the group intends to bring a “message of hate” to Tower Hamlets in the wake of the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich in May. “Their protests invariably result in violence against property, the police, or local communities,” Mayor Rahman wrote. “We have real fears that the EDL presence will act as a catalyst for further violence, disorder and destruction of property. There must be no place for hatred in our communities. The home secretary must act, and act now, to ensure the EDL is not able to bring its tour of hate to the streets of east London on September 7,” the letter concludes.
EDL supporter spared jail over ‘Lee Rigby’ riot
A family man involved in riots that followed the murder of soldier Lee Rigby has been given a suspended jail term.
Paul Lloyd was singled out from a group of men who clashed with police when a supposed peace walk turned violent, Bristol Crown Court heard. The court was told members of the English Defence League, as well as supporters of United Against Fascists, converged in Kingswood for the social-media-sparked event. Police arrested Lloyd in a melee that resulted and spotted him mouthing “EDL” during a stand-off in a pub in St George, the court heard. Lloyd, 39, of Farley Close in Little Stoke, pleaded guilty to threatening unlawful violence.
Thug who racially abused Muslim women must pay compensation to victims
A foul-mouthed thug who racially insulted two muslim women in headdresses in Chesterfield town centre has been ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation.
Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard how former Navy serviceman Mark Carr, 41, of Holme Road, Chesterfield, had been drinking at The British Legion and The Victoria pub before unleashing racist abuse at the women, on Cavendish Street.
Prosecuting solicitor Becky Mahon said one of the women had children in a double buggy and said she saw a male who appeared drunk and he was with a second male and the defendant swore.
Miss Mahon told how the woman said she heard the words “f*** off, Muslim b*****d” and the defendant was waving his hands and her children were crying and scared. The second woman heard the words “f*** off and go back to your own country”, according to Ms Mahon, and a witness saw the women crying.
Man called for Muslim murders on Facebook
A man used Facebook to urge friends to murder Muslims on the day Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich.
Paul Fisher, 28, today admitted that his racist message was “intended to incite others to carry out serious violence and kill others”. Fisher, from Livingston, pleaded guilty on indictment to conducting himself in a disorderly manner and committing a breach of the peace by his abuse of the social media website on May 22.
The Crown will reveal details of the offensive messages Fisher posted when he returns to Livingston Sheriff Court for sentence in three weeks’ time. Sheriff Graeme Fleming QC called for criminal justice social work reports and an assessment of Fisher’s suitability for home curfew and unpaid work before adjourning the case.