Category Archives: UK

Police closing in on Birmingham EDL riot suspects

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Police hunting thugs who brought violence to Birmingham city centre during a bloody EDL rally have identified almost a third of the suspects they want to quiz – and will be knocking on their doors.

As the Sunday Mercury exclusively predicted last week, West Midlands Police went ahead with a special appeal on TV’s Crimewatch and broadcast 64 images culled from CCTV footage. Last night they revealed that 17 men had now been identified as a result, and that the search for all the others was continuing as officers followed up new leads supplied by members of the public.

Stills taken from security camera footage were shown in the nationwide appeal to trace those who took part in bloody clashes on July 20 last year. Smoke bombs, cobblestones, and bottles were hurled at police as the EDL and their opponents drew battle lines in the city centre, leading to injuries and damage.

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Kevin Carroll backs leader of violent racist campaign against Rohingya Muslims

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Hasan Lennon Nawaz and Carroll
October 2013: Quilliam announces Lennon and Carroll’s ‘break with extremism’

Since Stephen Lennon (“Tommy Robinson”) and his cousin Kevin Carroll appeared at a Quilliam press conference last year to announce their resignation from the leadership of the English Defence League, opponents of racism and fascism have concentrated on exposing the fraudulent character of Lennon’s supposed break with extremism.

With “Tommy” now safely locked up, beginning an 18-month prison sentence for his part in a £162,000 mortgage fraud, it is perhaps time to turn our attention to Carroll – who, just like Lennon, was presented by Quilliam as a man that had renounced his far-right, anti-Muslim past.

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Mosque plan at school site abandoned due to parent fears

Posted on by Bob Pitt

SDL protest against Eastwood mosquePlans for a mosque within the grounds of a school in one of Scotland’s most affluent suburbs have been dropped.

Council chiefs said the ­proposals, for Newton Mearns, south of Glasgow, had created a significant public response and that it was being abandoned, in part, due to criticism of the move.

A report on wider proposals for the East Renfrewshire area, which is expected to be agreed next week, says: “In view of the volume of representations received, the sensitivity concerning the proposal and the extremely wide range of issues raised, it is recommended that this proposed modification be pursued no further and is not included in the plan.”

The proposals for the mosque had been put forward by the local Muslim community as there is no permanent place of worship for Muslims in Newton Mearns, despite demand for more than a decade. The Muslim community had suggested a ­residual parcel of land next to the new Eastwood High School was its preferred site for a religious and community facility.

The Scottish Government’s Reporter, who adjudicates on planning issues, has recently been critical of the length of time it has taken local Muslims to secure a permanent place of worship in the area and allowed temporary change of use of a former nearby British Legion club for Muslim prayer services.

An alternative location north of Newton Mearns has now been recommended, but another suggestion would be dependent on wider development plans.

Proposing the plans, Nazir Ahmed, a trustee of the East Renfrewshire Mosque and Community Centre group, said the East Renfrewshire Muslim community had been resident for more than 40 years and is “one of the fastest growing communities that actively contributes to the vibrant and ethnically authentic nature” of the area.

But the Eastwood High mosque plans sparked an opposition campaign, with parents complaining about a religious facility being built on non-denominational school grounds. Parents said they had concerns at the possibility of violent protests outside the school gates and the potential for vandalism, fireraising or even terrorist-style bomb attacks following interest in the proposal from far-right extremists.

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Derby pizza chain’s Facebook page is sabotaged in Halal ‘hate crime’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Derby Pizza Express Facebook page sabotaged

A Facebook page for a Derby business has been sabotaged to carry a claim that Halal food funds terrorists.

A mystery troll has put a profile picture on the online business site for Pizza Express in Westfield Derby. On it, the words say “Beware! Halal Foods Fund Terrorists.” The chairman of Derby’s Pakistani Centre has called the sabotage “a hate crime.” And Derbyshire Police has said it has received no calls about the online page.

The Derby Telegraph made Pizza Express aware of the sabotage yesterday. A spokesman for the food chain said: “Facebook automatically opens pages for individual businesses but we don’t run a page for Derby and are not responsible for the profile picture. We’ve asked Facebook to remove the image.” Last night, the image was still on the Facebook page.

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Posted in UK

MP says EDL not welcome in Slough

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A politician is calling on far-right group the English Defence League (EDL) to abandon its plans to march in Slough over fears of upsetting community cohesion. Slough MP Fiona Mactaggart has come out fighting after the EDL announced plans to host its first demonstration of the year in Slough on Saturday, February 1.

The group told The Observer it plans to march at 1pm down High Street, Slough, before speeches in the Town Square. An organiser said it will be a dry demonstration – meaning no alcohol – to “not offend other faiths and religions”.

Ms Mactaggart said: “The EDL is not welcome in Slough. We call on them to abandon their planned demonstration, which risks disrupting the good community relations which our town has enjoyed for many years and which our different communities and different faiths are determined should continue. Whether or not the EDL demonstration takes place, we pledge ourselves to work together to maintain and develop good community relations in our town.”

The EDL says the demonstration is a response to plans for a Muslim community centre in Langley and plans for an all-girls Muslim-faith based free school in Slough. An organiser said: “Because of Slough being such a diverse multi-cultural town I have made it a dry demo as to not offend other faiths and religions in the town with hordes of drunken fools.”

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EDL member nailed Qur’an to pub wall in protest against Islamic centre plan

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Graham FrenchA member of a far-right group nailed a copy of the Koran onto a pub which is due to be transformed into a Muslim education centre.

Graham French also wrote “EDL” on the wall of former Melrose Arms in Shotton Colliery – which has been the centre of demonstrations by the English Defence League in the village, after planning permission to change the use of the building was granted.

Since buying the property, local businessman Kaiser Javeed Choudry has been a repeat victim of crime, Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard. Prosecutor Vicky Wilson said there had been great opposition to the plans and Mr Choudry’s property had been targeted with spray paint and windows had been smashed.

Ms Wilson said on December 14, EDL had been daubed twice in white paint on the building, causing £500 of damage, and an open Koran had been nailed onto a wooden board covering a window. She added: “Police took the Koran for forensic analysis and found several links to the defendant, including a palm print on the page.”

She told the court that information on Facebook showed French, of Dene Crescent, Shotton, is a member of a group called the Shotton Defence League. When French was arrested, he said it was a “revenge attack” after he was followed home from the pub one day by a female wearing a Burka.

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EDL Birmingham protest wanted pics released

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Birmingham EDL protest wanted pics

West Midlands Police have released photos of individuals wanted for questioning in connection with violent clashes at an English Defence League march in Birmingham last year.

Anyone who recognises anyone in the images is asked to contact officers from Operation Lynx in the incident room by calling 0121 626 4017 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Alternatively people can email tellus@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

See also “Fresh images of EDL protest suspects released as part of Crimewatch appeal”, West Midlands Police news report, 22 January 2014

Update:  See “Birmingham riots: Dozens call police after TV appeal”, BBC News, 24 January 2014

Update 2:  See “Police closing in on Birmingham EDL riot suspects”, Islamophobia Watch, 26 January 2014

Police alerted to threats against Croydon Islamic centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EVF Croydon mosque harassmentPolice are investigating threats made against an Islamic centre by supporters of two right-wing groups. A video, posted on the internet, shows three men connected to the English Defence League (EDL) and one of its splinter groups, outside Anjuman-e-Zaini, in Brighton Road, South Croydon, late on what is believed to be Sunday night (January 19). Two of the men are seen ringing the door bell before one tells the camera that the building is an “illegal mosque”. When no one answers he says they will be back to “have the place over”.

The Advertiser alerted the community centre, which is a fully licensed place of worship, who contacted the police on Tuesday. Anjuman-e-Zaini is run by members of the borough’s Dawoodi Bohra Community, a branch of Islam.

Secretary Shaukat Dungarwalla said the incident was the latest example of the centre being targeted by extremists, including an attempt to set the building on fire during the riots in 2011. He said:

“Given what’s happened in the past we’re very concerned. This is far from the first time we have been targeted. During the riots someone pushed a pile of rubbish against the door and set fire to it in hope of burning us down. Bricks have been thrown at the building on at least four occasions and our windows have been plastered with anti-Islamic posters. As soon as we were informed of this video we contacted the police. There’s no smoke without fire. We’re on full alert.”

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Judge warns jury of wrongful prejudice over defendant’s Muslim face veil

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A judge warned a jury on Wednesday that it was wrong to be prejudiced against anyone because of their expression of religious faith, as a Muslim defendant prepared to go on trial wearing a full face veil. The judge, Peter Murphy, said Rebekah Dawson, 22, was fully entitled to dress as she chose, and that the jury trying her case for alleged witness intimidation had to put aside any personal feelings they might have on the issue.

“I am sure you will have noticed that the defendant Rebekah Dawson is wearing a full face veil – it hides her face apart from a narrow slit for the eyes,” he told the jury at Blackfriars crown court, London. “Let me begin by saying that in this country everyone is entitled to express any religious view they wish, or to hold no religious view. Also, we are entitled to express any religious view we may have in any way that we choose – that includes wearing a form of dress which a person may consider to be appropriate.”

He added: “It would be quite wrong to be prejudiced against anybody because of their expression of their religious faith. It is very important you understand that.” He continued later: “I emphasise that Rebekah Dawson is fully entitled to dress in any way she chooses. If you have any feelings about that put them aside because they have nothing to do with the case.”

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JIMAS to press ahead with HMD event featuring former EDL leader

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Organisers of an event on Holocaust Memorial Day in Ipswich have been criticised for inviting Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League, as a guest speaker. The event on Monday, January 27, was originally planned to take place in conjunction with the Education Quarter Multi Faith Chaplaincy at Suffolk New College and University Campus Suffolk.

However the colleges have since disavowed themselves entirely from the talk and organiser JIMAS has decided to proceed independently. Muhammad Manwar Ali of JIMAS, who is also a fellow of Suffolk New College and a member of the chaplaincy for SNC and UCS, said it would be a “solemn occasion” to mark the Holocaust.

It is not yet known where the event will take place. Other speakers will include Holocaust survivor Frank Bright; Pat Magee, who was convicted of planting the IRA’s Brighton Bomb; and Umme Thara, a former member of Al-Muhajiroun. Mr Ali said the idea behind the talk was to get those involved to make a “clear cut commitment against anti-Semitism and any kind of hatred and genocide. We’ve all been on a journey and we want to give a powerful message from ex-radicals to say they’re rejecting it and say ‘never again’.”

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