Category Archives: UK

EDL demonstrator fined for abusive behaviour

Posted on by Bob Pitt

An English Defence League demonstrator was fined at court after becoming drunk during a march in Peterborough city centre in March.

Andrew Robinson (46) travelled from his home in Birmingham to take part in the demonstration in Peterborough on Saturday, 29 March. He was one of 450 people who took part in the demonstration, with about 100 taking part in a counter demonstration held by the Peterborough Trades Union Council on the same day. Robinson was the only person arrested during either demonstration, and he appeared at Peterborough magistrates Court on Monday.

Jackie Carradice, prosecuting, said: “As the EDL march went past Bridge Street Police Station, Robinson was trying to break out of the barriers set by police. He was clearly under the influence of alcohol, and other members of the march were trying to move him to the edges, and were clearly annoyed by him. Police officers pulled him out of the crowd, and Robinson swore at the officers, and at a member of the public passing by. The officers needed to use force to detain him as he resisted arrest.”

Robinson, of Stratford Road, Birmingham, represented himself in court, and addressing District Judge Ken Sheraton, spoke only to apologise for his actions. He pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour, and was fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Peterborough Telegraph, 16 April 2014

Police chief condemns appointment of terror officer over ‘Islamic schools plot’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Chris SimsOne of Britain’s most senior police chiefs has attacked Michael Gove’s decision to appoint a counter-terrorism expert to investigate claims of a Islamist plot to take over schools in Birmingham.

Chris Sims [pictured], chief constable of West Midlands police, condemned as “desperately unfortunate” the appointment of Peter Clarke to look into allegations of Islamic fundamentalists infiltrating schools.

Peter Clarke, who served as head of the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism unit and led the investigation into the 7/7 London bombings in 2005, has been asked to examine claims made in an unsigned and unverified document, circulated in Birmingham and beyond, boasting of an plot named Operation Trojan Horse.

The alleged plotters claimed to have “taken over” secular state schools in Birmingham, ousting non-compliant heads and governors and running the schools on “strict Islamic principles”.

Sims told the Guardian that the letter that sparked the controversy could be a hoax and was not being treated as a criminal matter. He said Clarke’s appointment made it appear as though the saga was being officially handled as a counter-terrorism issue.

Asked whether he thought the appointment may damage community relations, Sims said: “It must be a concern. People could be made fearful if they think that is the way this issue is being perceived.”

He added: “Peter Clarke has many qualities but people will inevitably draw unwarranted conclusions from his former role as national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism. I am a strong supporter of open and inclusive education for all children in Birmingham and across the West Midlands and am committed to the process adopted by Birmingham city council with educational and social inclusion at its heart.”

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We’re not probing ‘Muslim school plot’, say Bradford’s education chiefs

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Education bosses in Bradford say none of its schools are being investigated over an alleged hardline Muslim plot to force out governors and headteachers despite claims the issue was affecting the city.

The leader of Birmingham City Council, which is investigating 200 complaints in relation to the Operation Trojan Horse allegations, says his officers had spoken to authorities in Bradford and Manchester about the problem. Sir Albert Bore said: “There are certainly issues in Bradford which have similarities with the issues being spoken about in Birmingham.”

There are now 25 schools under investigation in Birmingham after an anonymous letter claimed a small but radical group of Muslims were pursuing their own agenda in the classrooms, with uncooperative headteachers and governors forced out. The council’s investigation, running in parallel to a separate inquiry by the Department for Education, is due to initially report back in May.

Michael Jameson, strategic director of children’s services at Bradford Council, said the authority and West Yorkshire Police were aware of the claims made “several months ago”. He said: “We work very closely with West Yorkshire Police and will continue to liaise regarding any potential issues that may arise locally. No schools in Bradford are being specifically investigated in relation to the allegations made in the Trojan Horse letter.

“The council’s primary concern is always the education of all the children in Bradford’s schools. If the council has any concerns about the effectiveness of a governing body, we will act quickly and appropriately to help that school make rapid progress in improving the education experience and outcomes for its pupils.”

Yorkshire Post 15 April 2014

Far-right terrorist Geoff Ryan claims he’s changed his ways

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Geoff Ryan at meetingTattooed Geoff Ryan warmly embraces the Imam of Braintree Mosque and says sincerely: “I’m sorry.”

Less than a year ago, the 44-year-old stormed the peaceful prayer centre, armed with knives and smoke grenades, and even threatened to kill a worshipper in a “revenge” attack for the brutal murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

After serving half of his nine-month jail sentence, the builder and former member of the English Defence League spent four hours discussing politics, extremism, religion and the events of that fateful night in May with leaders of the Muslim community, and now wants to help change negative perceptions of Islam.

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EDL-supporting former army trainee injured in homemade bomb explosion

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Jordan SmithA teenager who wanted to join the Army is believed to have lost both hands in an explosion at his home.

Jordan Smith, 19, was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after the blast at his parents’ luxury barn conversion. A bomb disposal squad was called in and four neighbouring homes were evacuated until the area could be checked.

The cause of the explosion was not known last night. Police say they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the blast.

Neighbours said they knew little of Mr Smith’s interests, but it later emerged that his Facebook page features slogans such as “No more mosques”, “We hate Muslim extremists” and “No surrender to Al Qaeda”, as well as references to the English Defence League.

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Five people charged after EDL demo in Thatcham

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Five people have been charged in connection with an English Defence League protest in Thatcham.

After twenty people staged a protest in Thatcham at the end of February, five people have been charged with a string of offences.

The four men and one woman face charges like racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. They had indicated they were members of the EDL carrying out a demonstration in The Broadway.

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Academy school in Birmingham is victim of ‘witch-hunt’, says governor

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Muslim-majority academy at the centre of a row over alleged Islamic fundamentalism in Birmingham is the victim of a “witch-hunt”, a governor at the school has claimed.

David Hughes, a trustee and governor at Park View school in Birmingham for more than 15 years, said the secondary was under attack “under the pretext of concerns about extremism and threats to the education of pupils”.

In recent weeks the school, in the Alum Rock area of the city, has been subject to emergency investigations by the schools inspectorate Ofsted and the Education Funding Agency (EFA).

According to Liam Byrne, the local Labour MP, the inspections were triggered by “serious” complaints from former and present staff. There were reportedly concerns over financial mismanagement and alleged extremist preaching during assemblies. “When allegations are made, they need investigating. We can’t just ignore them,” Byrne said.

But Hughes, who is a Christian, accused the Ofsted team of giving “every indication of having no wish other than to condemn the school – even the outstanding features.”

Writing in the school’s spring newsletter, Hughes claimed “in all my time as a governor we have not received a single complaint about ‘extremism’ or ‘radicalism’. If we had we would have investigated it openly and thoroughly.”

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Brandeis withdraws honorary degree for notorious Islamophobe Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A university has reversed a decision to grant an honorary degree to an advocate for Muslim women who has made comments critical of Islam. Brandeis University said in a statement that Somali-born Ayaan Hirsi Ali would no longer receive the honorary degree, which it had planned to award her at the May 18 commencement.

Ali, a member of the Dutch parliament from 2003 to 2006, has been quoted as making comments critical of Islam. That includes a 2007 interview with Reason magazine in which she said of the religion: “Once it’s defeated, it can mutate into something peaceful. It’s very difficult to even talk about peace now. They’re not interested in peace. I think that we are at war with Islam. And there’s no middle ground in wars.”

Brandeis, outside Boston in Waltham, Massachusetts, said it was not aware of Ali’s statements earlier.

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