Furious residents are demanding to know why a Muslim extremist organisation they say is “peddling divisive hatred” was allowed to hold a conference for 2,000 people in London’s East End.

They contacted Tower Hamlets councillors about Hizb ut-Tahrir taking over Stepney’s Troxy theatre for the conference last Sunday (July 26), with police being deployed outside.

“It is extremely dangerous that this organisation is coming to the East End,” council Tory Opposition deputy leader Tim Archer told the East London Advertiser. “Hizb ut-Tahrir is known for peddling hatred and violence that can be divisive in the community.”

East London Advertiser, 31 July 2009

In reality, Hizb ut-Tahrir is a peaceful if highly sectarian organisation that poses no threat whatsoever to the people of East London. But what else can you expect from the Tories, given that David Cameron is on record as calling for HT to be made illegal?

Needless to say, Cameron isn’t calling for a ban on the far-right British National Party, even though no HT members have been convicted of the sort of violent crimes that BNP members have. Clearly the Tories apply different standards to white fascists than they do to brown Islamists.