Home Office-hired academic denies reports of seeing Muslim Brotherhood review

An academic published by a think-tank, said to be close to the UAE rulers, has distanced himself from recent reports in The Telegraph that alleged he was involved in a UK government review into the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Telegraph over the weekend quoted Lorenzo Vidino as someone who had “worked on the Cabinet Office report” citing an opinion piece he authored for the UK-based daily on the Muslim Brotherhood.

“It is clear that the Brotherhood has many dark spots, ranging from its ambiguous relationship with violence to its questionable impact on social cohesion in Britain,” Vidino wrote on 19 October.

However, Vidino told MEE he had not read the review and said The Telegraph had incorrectly portrayed his role in the government investigation.

“I was blindsided by The Telegraph,” he said. “It overstates the case of what my involvement was in the review. I was simply commissioned to do a paper and brief the people conducting the review – as many academics have been asked to do.”

“If you read The Telegraph article you get the idea I was one of the guys writing the review, which is not the case. I want to dispel the idea that I worked on the review, as that is simply not the case.”

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Reza Aslan: Media has pushed Islamophobia to ‘unprecedented levels’ in U.S.

Religious scholar Reza Aslan ripped comedian Bill Maher on Monday, saying Maher had “gotten away” with making Islamophobic statements in the past because people like him – but adding that the tide has turned.

“I like him,” Aslan told Fusion host Nando Villa. “I think at a certain point, though, there’s been a kind of ‘jump the shark’ moment, and I think that people who are smart, engaged are just not putting up with it any longer. And so a much-needed conversation is finally being had. Not just about the problem of religion and violence, but in how we talk about it.”

Aslan conceded that the ongoing conversation around Islam was precipitated by Maher’s argument with actor Ben Affleck on the Oct. 3 episode of Real Time, during which Maher said the religion was “like the mafia.”

“The problem is that anti-Muslim sentiment in this country is at unprecedented levels, thanks in great part to the media rhetoric,” Aslan said.

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Massachusetts: bigots upset over Islam in school curriculum

Some parents in Revere were angry when they learned students were being taught about Islam and the Muslim religion.

“No religion should be taught at school. In their paper it says Allah is their only God. That’s insulting to me as a Christian who believes in just Jesus only,” said Anthony Giannino.

A section of the textbook describing the beliefs of Muslims says, “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah.”

Giannino immediately pulled his son out of the classroom. “We don’t believe in Allah. I don’t believe in my son learning about this here,” he said. “If my son was from another country and came here, he would have been catered to. But where he’s not being catered to, they give him an F.”

The superintendent of Revere Public Schools wrote the parents a letter explaining that it is simply part of the history in that section of the curriculum, and stated, “I want to be very clear that no religion is taught with the purpose of converting students to that religion…”

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Australian cookie maker under fire for halal Anzac biscuits

Byron Bay Anzac biscuitsByron Bay Cookies is seeking legal advice after being inundated with borderline racist remarks for making halal-certified Anzac biscuits.

Customers have left angry and borderline racist posts on the Aussie biscuit manufacturer’s Facebook page.

Many have claimed the decision to make such a biscuit was a “disgrace”, “disrespectful” and “un-Australian”, according to smartcompany. One customer wrote: “I was a big fan of the cookies but won’t ever buy them again now that they are Halal. Shocking.”

Another wrote: “I won’t be buying them either, why are you guys paying money to Islam just to satisfy a minority group? This isn’t being racist as if you were paying it to Jehovah’s I would say the same thing. Disappointed.”

While another customer wrote: “Not a fan of religious taxes so won’t be assisting you in paying a Halal ‘certification’ fee. Similarly wouldn’t pay a ‘Catholic’ tax or any other kind of religious tax.

“Might want to go check the definition of racism before crying to the media Byron Bay Cookies because the last time I checked religion was not defined as a race.”

Yet another wrote: “The power of social media and the unity of Australians will destroy your business!”

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Welsh Shia Muslim accused of supporting ISIS

Shazia Ramzan and familyA mother flying a black flag outside her family home in a quiet suburban street has told her neighbours: “We are not supporting Islamic State.”

Shazia Ramzan, 35, shocked her neighbours when she raised what looked like the black flag of jihad in her street. Passers-by threatened to call the police after Prime Minister David Cameron said anyone seen with the Shahada flag should be arrested.

But mum-of-two Shazia said it was not the same banner used by the terrorist organisation – and she branded IS as “scumbags”.

She said: “We did not want to cause any grief by putting the flag up. But I’m scared that our house will be bricked. Islamic State are scumbags. Islam does not say what they proclaim; Islam is beautiful and a true religion when followed correctly. They are not Muslims. True Islam does not say anything Islamic State does.”

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Stephen Lennon unavailable for Oxford Union speech

Lennon claims police want him dead
More paranoid, deluded, self-pitying whingeing from the former English Defence League leader

The founder and former leader of the English Defence League will not talk at the Oxford Union as he is back in jail.

Stephen Lennon, who calls himself Tommy Robinson, was sentenced in January to 18 months in prison for mortgage fraud. He was released in June under licence and had been due to debate at the prestigious union on Thursday.

A statement on Facebook from his supporters said: “Tommy Robinson has been recalled to prison for responding to a threat on Twitter.” His lawyers said the recall was for a fixed term of 28 days, according to a spokesman for the union.

Mr Lennon tweeted: “I was going to speak this Thursday exposing police persecution and tactics. Police are at my house recalling me back to prison for my licence, reason given that I responded to a death threat targeting my family. All this to prevent me exposing the facts on Thursday at Oxford Union.”

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Perth mosques, Islamic school vandalised in weekend attacks

Ban Islam graffiti

Two Perth mosques and an Islamic education centre have been vandalised in weekend attacks. Slogans including “ban Islam” and using profanities were spray painted on the walls of an Islamic school and mosque, and beer bottles were thrown at another mosque.

Muslim sheikh Burhaan Mehtar said these sorts of religious attacks were becoming more common. “Perhaps it’s better to ignore this minority group that are terrorising Australian Muslims, but there is a limit to what people can actually digest and they do become fearful at what happened,” he said.

“These type of things breed fear in the hearts of the innocent ladies and children, especially who want to perhaps ride around the worship centre or come by bike to the mosque. You do feel a bit stressed, anything can happen.”

He said the wider Australian Muslim community was very tolerant, but many were becoming sad and fearful over the perceived rise in anti-Islamic sentiment.

Police said they were investigating the graffiti attacks, but there had been no recent increase in racially-motivated crime. “Western Australia is a tolerant and inclusive state, and people should respect the diversity in our community,” a spokeswoman said.

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Police frisk man in Muslim dress – moments after letting him walk past in Western clothes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRLkwkG5nPE&list=UU0W6NYJ_y7cd3laVfaSOl0A

A shocking video that apparently shows a New York police officer pushing two Muslim men up against a wall just because of how they are dressed has sparked fury online.

YouTube star Adam Saleh uploaded the video to the internet after claiming he had had enough of police officers ‘racially profiling’ him when he is dressed in traditional Muslim clothing.

Adam runs a YouTube account called TrueStoryASA with his friend Sheikh Akbar where the two young men make funny and prank videos.

However, they decided to make a new video for their 650,000 subscribers after becoming frustrated at police following them when they are dressed in traditional Muslim attire.

In the three minute video, branded “messed up and cruel” by online fans of the pair, the two young men are first seen wearing western clothing and having an argument in American accents.

A police officer stands close by and appears to watch as the two play out a row that, at one point, gets physical. Despite Adam ‘threatening’ and pushing Sheikh, the officer does nothing.

Just 20 minutes later, the two young men have changed into traditional Muslim dress and are walking past the officer again. They again pretend to have an argument but the officer, who appears to have no clue it is the same men as earlier, instantly steps in and demands to know what is going on.

The officer, whose face is blurred throughout, asks the men what is going on, but when he is told it’s nothing, asks sternly: “What’s all the arguing about, why are you dressed like this?”

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Reports and comment from Islamophobia Watch 13‑19 October

Reports and comment from Islamophobia Watch 13-19 October 2014

Paris Opera expels veiled woman during performance

Opéra BastilleFrance’s government is drawing up a new set of rules for theatres after the Paris Opera ejected a woman for wearing a veil during a performance, the institution’s deputy director said Sunday.

The incident took place when a veiled woman was spotted on the front row of a performance of La Traviata at the Opera Bastille, Jean-Philippe Thiellay told AFP, confirming a media report.

France brought in a law in 2011 banning anyone from wearing clothing that conceals the face in a public space, or face a 150 euro ($190) fine.

The woman was sitting just behind the conductor, visible to monitors, wearing a scarf covering her hair and a veil over her mouth and nose during the performance on October 3.

“I was alerted in the second act,” said Thiellay, adding that “some performers said they did not want to sing” if something was not done.

France’s ministry of culture said a bill was currently being drafted to remind theatres, museums and other public institutions under its supervision of the rules regarding veils.

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