An example of British National Party propaganda against the proposed centreControversial plans for Oswestry's first Muslim centre have been given the go-ahead. It will be sited in a 19th century former Presbyterian church.

The bid to change the church in Oswald Road, into a Muslim prayer centre sparked more than 70 objections and led to the town being targeted in a leafleting campaign by the British National Party.

But more than 40 people wrote in support of the bid by Oswestry Muslim Society and permission was given by Shropshire Council planning officers under delegated powers.

Planning officers revealed today that some of the objectors' views had not been placed on the council planning website where the public's representations can normally be viewed as they were of a "sensitive and potentially provocative nature".

A planning report said: "There have been a substantial number of representations received both in support of (41) and objection to (72) the proposal. Many of these relate either entirely or primarily to the race and/or religion of the applicants and individual perceptions about the potential influence on both the local and wider community. These matters are not material planning considerations and should not play any part in the determination of the application."

It said the bid was approved as the proposed use was appropriate for the building and would not have an adverse impact on the area.

Shropshire Star, 31 January 2013

View the Original article

An interesting feature of the recent controversy over the so-called "Muslim patrol" in Tower Hamlets was that some of those you might have expected to seize on the case as an excuse for a bit of anti-Muslim scaremongering balked at resuming their campaign against the Islamist menace on the basis of such flimsy evidence.

Ted Jeory of the Sunday Express admitted that he had suffered the "uncomfortable experience" of agreeing with Islamophobia Watch that the issue had been "blown out of all proportion", in a way that "would only serve to inflame the far right". And nobody familiar with Jeory's journalistic record could accuse him of failing to hype up the mythical threat of Islamism in east London. Even the Telegraph's Andrew Gilligan, of "Islamic Republic of Tower Hamlets" notoriety, claimed that he was offered the story but "didn't use it because I wasn't sure whether a few kids on YouTube had national importance".

As a result the story was broken by The Commentator, a hardline right-wing blog linked to the neocon Henry Jackson Society, which has an established record of whipping up Islamophobia. It was immediately taken up by the mainstream right-wing press, including the Mail and the Sun. Trevor Kavanagh contributed a comment piece to the latter paper in which he denounced the supposedly widespread problem of "hooded gangs" who "roamed Muslim-populated suburbs ordering women to cover up and confiscating liquor". Kavanagh went further, warning Sun readers that "thousands of young British-born Muslims have been radicalised – some of them trained in bomb-making and terror tactics in the badlands of Pakistan", and he threw in a reference to Mali and Algeria for good measure. At Kavanagh's hands, "a few kids on YouTube" had become part of the "global threat" of al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism.

Perhaps the Murdochs were so impressed by Kavanagh's attempt to portray the "Muslim patrol" stunt as part of an international terrorist movement that they thought the same message should be conveyed to readers of one of their more upmarket publications. At any rate, yesterday the Times published an equally ludicrous article by Maajid Nawaz of the Quilliam Foundation under the heading "Muslim patrols are a sign of things to come". Not content with describing the isolated actions of a few deluded Muslim youth in Tower Hamlets as comparable to "Hitler's Brownshirts", Nawaz went on to claim, on the basis of no evidence whatsoever, that there was a real danger that their ranks might be augmented by Islamist fighters returning from Syria – "the Muslim patrols could become a lot more dangerous and, perhaps willing to maim or kill if they are joined by battle-hardened jihadis". Faced with such idiocy in what purports to be a serious newspaper, you can only rub your eyes in disbelief.

Nawaz's motive for promoting this nonsense isn't difficult to identify – he makes a good living out of wildly exaggerating the role of marginal groups of Islamist extremists and then presenting Quilliam as the only organisation with the specialist knowledge required to counter them effectively. But here he surely runs the risk of reducing himself to an object of ridicule, even among those who share much of his anti-Islamist world-view.

However, this didn't prevent the Telegraph from publishing a report based on the Times piece in which Nawaz's fantasies were uncritically repeated ("Muslim patrols could become more prevalent and more violent, warns anti-extremist"), and this report was in turn reproduced at Harry's Place. When even the likes of Andrew Gilligan and Ted Jeory have recognised that association with the "Muslim patrols" hysteria would further damage their own already limited credibility, you can only conclude that other sections of the Islamophobia industry have entirely taken leave of their senses.

---

Muslim patrols are a sign of things to come

The Times, 30 January 2013

By Maajid Nawaz

We should worry that battle-hardened fanatics could impose their dogma on Britain's streets

On the streets of Greece supporters of the far-Right Golden Dawn party patrol neighbourhoods, attacking anyone who looks like an immigrant. In Denmark a group calling itself Call to Islam has declared parts of the country to be "sharia-controlled zones" and its "morality police" confront drinkers and partygoers. In France right-wing vigilantes ran Roma families out of a Marseilles estate and burnt down their camp. In Spain nine Islamist extremists recently kidnapped a woman, tried her for adultery under sharia and attempted to execute her before she managed to escape. And here English Defence League thugs march in towns and cities "reclaiming" the streets from Muslims.

Something very worrying is spreading across Europe. Fascists and Islamist extremists alike are copying what Hitler's Brownshirts excelled at – enforcing with threats and violence their version of the law in neighbourhoods. And the moderate middle is left gawping.

In Britain "Muslims Against the Crusaders" have recently declared an Islamic Emirates Project. They are seeking to enforce their brand of sharia in 12 British cities, naming the two London boroughs of Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets among their targets. Little surprise then that in these two boroughs "Muslim patrols" have taken to the streets and begun enforcing a narrow view of sharia over unsuspecting locals.

Petrified Saturday-night revellers have been stopped by hooded thugs in these so-called Muslim areas, who warn them that alcohol, "immodest" dress or homosexuality are now banned. To add to the humiliation of being threatened, all this is filmed and uploaded on to the internet. Now some shops in East London no longer feel free to employ uncovered women or sell alcohol without fear of violent reprisals.

While this street-level problem festers across Europe, al-Qaeda and its affiliates are busy capitalising on the chaos of the post-Arab Spring world. Syria, Libya, Mali and Somalia are being ravaged by jihadist outfits, and all of them are attracting European-born Islamists seeking the thrill of real combat.

British jihadists with South London accents have already been documented as shooting the British journalist John Cantlie in Syria. Scores of young European-born Arabs and Somalis are following in the footsteps of British Pakistanis in travelling to lawless conflict zones. What happens when these men, schooled in the use of political violence in far-flung places, return to Britain?

Five men have been arrested for assault, but the Muslim patrols could become a lot more dangerous and, perhaps willing to maim or kill if they are joined by battle-hardened jihadis. The killing last year of Osama bin Laden was hailed as a milestone in defeating al-Qaeda. President Obama was keen to portray himself as having severed the head of the snake. But no one man ever controlled this loose movement. And while it may lie dormant for a few years in different parts of the world, there are plenty of committed grassroots ideologues to ensure that will rise again. And worryingly, the Islamist world view is an entrenched default position even among many non-devout British Muslims.

I fear that the Muslim patrols are a sign of things to come. As Syria becomes the new Afghanistan, we should prepare for the blowback from a new wave of extremists.

The Government has a sensible policy to challenge extremism at home and abroad. It has committees, partnerships and policy papers all in place that understand the need to build cohesion at the national level and root out extremism in local communities. But very little has actually happened at the grassroots. I struggle to see initiatives that inoculate young Britons against extremist messaging.

The longer we stand by and watch the far Right and Islamists impose their dogma on our streets, the more the extremes will become mainstream for a rising new generation.

View the Original article

"I think I can safely speak for the majority of the community when I say that the government is guilty of double standards and an inability to tackle the issue appropriately. On the one hand we have politicians frequently scapegoating Muslims when they need to distract the public from their own failures, and on the other they think we should be grateful for the fact that they have provided us with a helpline to monitor the consequences of their actions."

Sofia Ahmed responds to Sayeeda Warsi's speech at the Tell MAMA dinner last week.

Huffington Post, 31 January 2013

View the Original article

A Muslim family say they have been forced to move from their home after offensive graffiti and a cross wrapped in ham were left outside their house. Murad Alam, 39, said his wife and two sons, aged eight and 10, had moved out of their home in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, to a "safe" place.

Mr Alam said he had found his son plotting escape routes on his computer after the "horrific" attacks last year. "My wife and children also had names called at them in the street," he said. "The first incident was when the big, wooden cross, wrapped in ham, fell into the house after a knock at the door," said Mr Alam.

He said they had names such as "Paki" and "tramp" shouted at them in the street. "The kids have been abused a number of times; the eldest had smoke blown in his face by an elderly local gentleman." Offensive graffiti was also painted on the path outside the family home.

"It really annoys me that they should use a cross and try and turn this into a religious argument," said Mr Alam. "My family were terrified from the very first incident; my wife had never experienced racism, neither had my kids.

"In fact I had to explain to my children what racism even was, because they're so young they didn't understand the concept that someone could dislike you because of your skin colour or religion."

The family has now moved to West Bridgford where they say they feel safe.

Mr Alam said Bingham was generally a nice area with a good reputation and it was a shame it had been tarred by their experiences.

"The week before we moved there, Bingham was named the eighth best place to live in the UK – but that's if you're white – there are not many Asian or black faces there. It is a nice, generally middle-class village and I'm sure most of the people there are great, it's just these choice few."

BBC News, 31 January 2013

View the Original article

Just three days into 2013, Annika Rydh, a Swedish government official from the town of Almhult, issued a shrill call to both her colleagues and neighbors. Worried about the perceived growth of the Muslim population in her homeland and beyond, she urged the European Union "to act by having some kind of restriction, like the one-child policy in China." If Muslims don't like the proposed rule, she continued, they can go back where they came from.

Rydh's appeal comes on the heels of a decade-long campaign to curtail Muslim immigration into western countries and reduce the number of babies born to Muslim families. International in scope, the anti-Islam movement relies on scare tactics that, more often than not, imply that the Judeo-Christian traditions are in danger of being trampled by Sharia law.

Eleanor J. Bader examines the demographic myths promoted by Islamophobes. She notes:

Surprising as it seems, a host of anti-choicers have demonstrated a clear tilt toward population control when it comes to Muslims. Indeed, it seems apparent that, for them, racism and Islamophobia trump unbridled procreation for Mohammed's adherents.

RH Reality Check, 29 January 2013

View the Original article

In an interview with the Guardian, DCS Tony Mole, who has just taken over as head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, appeals to members of the public to report any suspicious activity. This includes the following behaviour:

"People going off to training camps and getting very fit and becoming very insular. People who were previously quite outward forming very small groups, not letting anyone else in, doing a lot of fitness training, disappearing, travelling and being very vague about it. You might think: 'That's strange.' Now, there might be a legitimate reason for that. They might have decided to form their own fitness club. We'll assess that. But it could be that they have been exposed to some kind of rhetoric."

It seems clear that Mole is referring here primarily to Muslims, as this is not generally the sort of activity associated with far-right terrorism. What signs you should look out for that could identify a potential non-Muslim terrorist, so you can report them to the police, he doesn't explain. Becoming an active member of the English Defence League or one of its offshoots, perhaps? Regularly visiting the Atlas Shrugs or Jihad Watch websites? We're not told.

Mole refers to the "self-radicalisation" of Norwegian far-right terrorist Anders Breivik – which is the part of the interview that the Guardian highlights – but as to how you might spot a budding British Breivik, he really has nothing to say.

View the Original article

"The streets around Acton, which has been my home since 1996, have taken on a new identity. Most of the shops are now owned by Muslims and even the fish and chip shop and Indian takeaway are Halal. It seems that almost overnight it's changed from Acton Vale into Acton Veil."

Over at the Telegraph, Jane Kelly protests against the Islamification of west London. At least she doesn't bother trotting out the usual excuse that her dislike of Muslims is based solely on cultural differences and has nothing to do with race. She writes that "many white people in London and the Home Counties now move house on the basis of ethnicity" and justifies this on the grounds that "mass immigration is making reluctant racists of us all".

Kelly is consulting editor at the Salisbury Review, a publication that achieved notoriety back in 1984 when it published an article by Bradford headteacher Ray Honeyford entitled "Education and Race – an Alternative View" which featured a range of offensive racist stereotypes.

Describing a meeting with Bradford Asian parents to discuss education policy, Honeyford wrote: "The hysterical political temperament of the Indian sub-continent became evident – an extraordinary sight in an English School Hall.... A half-educated and volatile Sikh usurped the privileges of the chair by deciding who was to speak."

Which only goes to show how little things have changed on the Conservative right over the past three decades.

The Telegraph presents Kelly's op ed as "a provocative personal piece". I suppose that's one way of describing an article expressing bigotry towards an entire ethno-religious community. Perhaps the Telegraph might consider following it up with another "provocative personal piece" complaining that Golders Green or Stoke Newington have been taken over by Jews, and see how that goes down.

View the Original article

Bremen is the third German state to recognize Islamic organizations as official religious bodies. Holidays, funerals and pastoral care will be regulated by state contracts. Other states will likely follow suit.

For Erol Pürlü, spokesman for the German Muslim coordination council, the signing of the contract with the city-state of Bremen marked a "day of joy". Three Muslim associations were officially recognized as religious bodies. "That sends a clear signal that Islam belongs to Germany," said Pürlü.

Bremen is the third German state to confer this status on Islamic organizations. Hamburg made a similar agreement last November, while Hesse officially recognized two Islamic organizations and allowed them to offer their own religious classes in schools in December.

Deutsche Welle, 29 January 2013

View the Original article

The English Defence League (EDL) will not be marching through Cambridge, but will be kept to one place in the city, police said.

The Cambridgeshire force is planning its strategy to deal with the demonstration by the right- wing group which has protested against the building of a new mosque off Mill Road.

But almost 700 protesters have signed up to march against the group under the banner of Cambridge Unite Against Fascism (CUAF). Muslim leaders and politicians have signed a list opposing the EDL's planned march on February 23.

Richard Rose, of CUAF, said: "I think it is a clear sign of the weakness of EDL that they are now having a static protest rather than a march.

"We are delighted they will not be marching through Cambridge and we want them to have their little gathering in an out-of-the-way place such as an out-of-town car park and not in the city centre which would cause disruption.

"We are also pleased with the amount of support we've had including from the three mosques in Cambridge and from more councillors. We want to send a clear message that the EDL is not wanted here and they have no support."

Cambridge News, 29 January 2013

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The decline and break-up of the English Defence League has prompted a number of extremist groupings to try and establish a replacement anti-Islam street movement. While their stated aim is invariably to unite the far right, all they have succeeded in doing so far, thankfully, is contributing to its further fragmentation.

One of these groups is the English Volunteer Force, which was launched in July last year. It shares the EDL's rabid Islamophobia along with its lightminded attitude to the English language. As the EVF's mission statement explains: "We are convinced this country is currently being Islamified, This is apparant with recent immigration pattern's over the past 20 years, Also our food chain is being exploited & overran by the flood of cheap Halal meat being covertly sold in most supermarket's, In our opinion this need's to be governed much stronger."

Yesterday the EVF held its first public event, a demonstration in Birmingham "against the Islamification of Great Britain", which featured Tony Curtis, formerly a leading figure in the EDL, as a guest speaker. Reports by far-right sympathisers claimed an attendance of 150-200, although photographic evidence suggests that the actual figure was much smaller. The police estimate was 50.

Nor did the demonstration last very long. The Birmingham Mail reported: "The group continued their protest for 30 minutes until a cry of 'Let's all go to the Brasshouse' – a pub on Birmingham's Broad Street – was heard, and the demonstrators dispersed."

The British far right in its natural habitat – the English Volunteer Force in Birmingham

View the Original article

Brighton Organisations and Leading Figures Launch Unity Statement Ahead of Far Right March

People of Brighton should show unity against a racist march according to leading local politicians, unions and other individuals and group who are supporting a Unity Statement, that is now online for members of the public to sign.

Supporters include Brighton Trades Council, the Brighton University branch of the UCU union, Brighton and Hove NUT,  University of Sussex Students Union, Brighton Unite Against Fascism, Brighton Love Music Hate Racism, and Sussex Labour Representation Committee. Individuals who are supporting it include Caroline Lucas MP, and ten Green and Labour members of the council; as well as Simon Burgess, the former Labour leader of the council, James Ledward, the editor of Gscene magazine and Itch, the lead singer of the band King Blues, who is a Brighton Resident.

The March for England march, organised by members and supporters of the racist organisation the English Defence League, has met growing opposition when it has attempted to parade through Brighton in the past few years. It has stated it will return in April 2013.

The march's opponents are now calling on residents of the city to add their support for the statement which concludes by saying: "In Brighton we all stand together. And when someone tries to threaten our community we must stand together even more firmly."

The full statement can be read at brightonuaf.org, where there is also a link to sign it.

Roland Ravenhill of Brighton Love Music Hate Racism said: "The diversity and unity of Brighton is something worth supporting, and racist marches do not sit well here. We encourage people to read and sign the statement."

Full statement and list of supporters:

Brighton is a brilliant and vibrant city where many people of different cultures, backgrounds, abilities and faiths come together. It has a positive and unique character which its residents enjoy and embrace. Brighton people live here in the knowledge that they will be valued and that the things which make each individual different are celebrated here - not despised. We take great pleasure and pride in being surrounded by humanity in all its exciting diversity.

Because of this it is very saddening to discover that the far right group March for England, which is a division of the violent and racist organisation the English Defence League, is to march in Brighton (in April 2013).

When groups like this come to Brighton it is because our multicultural city in all its diversity proves that their own doctrine of hate is wrong, and they want to damage our unity. That is why we stand together: black, white and Asian; people of all faiths and of no faith; trade unionists; people of different political persuasions; University, school and college students; people of all abilities; whatever our sexuality.

In Brighton we all stand together. And when someone tries to threaten our community we must stand together even more firmly.

Supported by:

Brighton Trades Council 
Brighton and Hove Unite Against Fascism 
UCU – Brighton University
Brighton and Hove NUT.
University of Sussex Students Union 
Sussex Labour Representation Committee. 
Brighton Love Music Hate Racism
Caroline Lucas, Green MP Brighton Pavillion
Itch – King Blues 
James Ledward – editor Gscene
Jason Kitkat, Green Party Councillor, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council 
Ollie Sykes, Green Party Councillor, Brunswick and Adelaide Ward 
Les Hamilton, Labour & Co-operative Councillor, South Portslade 
Liz Wakefield, Green Party Councillor, Hanover & Elm Grove 
Pete West, Green City Councillor for St Peter's & North Laine Ward 
Warren Morgan, Labour & Co-operative Councillor for East Brighton 
Phélim Mac Cafferty, Green Party Councillor for Brunswick and Adelaide 
Alexandra Phillips, Green Councillor for Goldsmid ward, Hove
Rob Jarrett, Green Party Councillor for Goldsmid ward
Ian Davey, Green Party councillor for St Peter's & North Laine ward
Simon Burgess, Labour, former leader, Brighton and Hove council.

View the Original article

A businessman who hurled missiles as he marched through Bristol with the English Defence League handed himself into the authorities when he realised he was a wanted man.

Barry Johnson was one of hundreds of marchers who took part in the high-profile demonstration through the city centre in July last year.

Bristol Crown Court heard how he was caught on film by a cameraman and images were later posted online by Avon and Somerset police in a bid to track him down. When he saw the images Johnson travelled from his home in Peterborough to admit his involvement in the incident.

The 29-year-old from Poplar Avenue, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to affray when he appeared in court.

Judge Martin Picton told him: "Throwing missiles is clearly dangerous. Someone could have been hurt."

The judge handed Johnson a three-month prison sentence which was suspended for a year. He also fined him £250 and ordered him to pay £85 towards court costs.

Richard Posner, prosecuting, said: "On July 14 in Bristol there was a demonstration and march by the English Defence League in the centre of Bristol.

"The group was formed in 2009 and it claims to oppose Islamic extremism. It chose to assemble in Bristol and march. That led to tension with United Against Fascism, and there was anticipated to be tension between the two groups." He added: "Police went to the city centre to quell disorder."

Mr Posner told the court that police filmed Johnson in the thick of the crowd, throwing two missiles in the direction of the UAF supporters with no apparent provocation.

He said it was impossible to say if anyone was struck and there was no other violence taking place at the time of the incident.

The judge was shown the police footage which captured the offence. Johnson was in the middle of a crowd of jostling and gesticulating EDL marchers.

Mr Posner said: "There was an intention to identify people and the defendant was identified in that way. He handed himself in. He had seen himself on the Avon and Somerset police website, which asked Do you know who these people are?"

When Johnson handed himself in police interviewed him but he made no comment about the incident.

His criminal record revealed he had previous convictions for football-related violent disorder.

Johnson represented himself in court but, other than handing the judge a letter, said nothing in his defence. The judge confirmed he had read a pre-sentence report from the probation service which revealed Johnson ran his own business with his brother.

Bristol Post, 28 January 2013

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Two women have been charged after graffiti was sprayed near a mosque in Woking.

The two 19-year-olds, from Woking and Addlestone, are accused of five counts of racially aggravated criminal damage and four offences of criminal damage.

It follows incidents last November when graffiti was sprayed in a shop, on a wall outside the Shah Jehan Mosque and outside residential properties.

Surrey Police said the pair were due to appear before magistrates in February.

BBC News, 26 January 2013

See also "Two charged with racially aggravated criminal damage", Surrey Police news report, 25 January 2013

Via ENGAGE

View the Original article

The decline and break-up of the English Defence League has prompted a number of extremist groupings to try and establish a replacement anti-Islam street movement. While their stated aim is invariably to unite the far right, all they have succeeded in doing so far, thankfully, is contributing to its further fragmentation.

One of these groups is the English Volunteer Force, which was launched in July last year. It shares the EDL's rabid Islamophobia along with its lightminded attitude to the English language. As the EVF's mission statement explains: "We are convinced this country is currently being Islamified, This is apparant with recent immigration pattern's over the past 20 years, Also our food chain is being exploited & overran by the flood of cheap Halal meat being covertly sold in most supermarket's, In our opinion this need's to be governed much stronger."

Yesterday the EVF held its first public event, a demonstration in Birmingham "against the Islamification of Great Britain", which featured Tony Curtis, formerly a leading figure in the EDL, as a guest speaker. Reports by far-right sympathisers claimed an attendance of 150-200, although photographic evidence suggests that the actual figure was much smaller. The police estimate was 50.

Nor did the demonstration last very long. The Birmingham Mail reported: "The group continued their protest for 30 minutes until a cry of 'Let's all go to the Brasshouse' – a pub on Birmingham's Broad Street – was heard, and the demonstrators dispersed."

The British far right in its natural habitat – the English Volunteer Force in Birmingham

View the Original article

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud) castigated fans of the soccer club he supports, Beitar Jerusalem, after three were arrested at the capital's Teddy Stadium Saturday night for calling out racist chants during a match against Bnei Yehuda.

The chants were aimed at two Chechen players who are slated to become the first Muslim players to join the team: Dzhabrail Kadiyev and Zaur Sadaev.

"Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Imagine the outcry if groups in England or Germany said that Jews could not play for them," said Rivlin. He said he would work to put an end to the club's anti-Muslim discrimination.

Club coach Eli Cohen, also condemning the fans' behavior, initially said Saturday night that these were friendly European Muslims not Arab Muslims; he later clarified that he opposed all racist sentiments.

The club's owner Arkady Gaydamak said the two players would indeed be signed. A very small group of "so-called supporters" — no more than a few hundred — were not representative of the greater Israeli public, he said, interviewed by Army Radio from Moscow, and would not be allowed to influence what happens at the club.

The deal to bring the two aboard has not yet been signed, according to team officials.

The team, which boasts a nationalist fan base, has famously and staunchly opposed bringing aboard Arab or Muslim players, bowing to pressure from fans.

Last season, several dozen fans rampaged through the neighboring Malcha Mall after a match, chanting anti-Arab slogans and reportedly beating up Arab workers.

"We are against racism and against violence and we pay a price for our fans," Assaf Shaked, a team spokesman, told the Associated Press last year. "But we aren't going to bring an Arab player just to annoy the fans."

The two Chechen players are expected to arrive in the country this week, according to Israel Radio.

Times of Israel, 27 January 2013

See also Ali Abunimah, "Israel's ultra-racist Beitar Jerusalem football team in uproar over hiring of Muslim players from Chechyna", Electonic Intifada, 26 January 2013

View the Original article

Controversial anti-Islamic Dutch MP Geert Wilders will face protests from Muslims and others in Melbourne next month.

The Baillieu Government has also warned that Mr Wilders could fall foul of the state's hate speech laws if he incites tensions.

Mr Wilders had been due to visit Australia last year but had to postpone the trip following delays in processing his visa.

He opposes the "Islamisation" of the Netherlands and has called for the banning of the Koran, which he equates with Adolf Hitler's autobiography Mein Kampf.

Mr Wilders was invited to Australia by a nationalist group called the Q Society.

A meeting is planned for Melbourne on February 19, and there are appearance dates in Sydney and Perth.

Islamic Friendship Association president Keysar Trad said he had been approached by Leftist groups about protests against the Right-wing politician.

Q Society spokesman Andrew Horwood said details of meetings would be released with only 48 hours' notice, for security reasons.

"We feel strongly that as a democracy we can't not talk about things because of the threat of violence," he said.

Mr Horwood said Islam was unlike any other religion, and his organisation was concerned that Australia, like Europe, was changing as Muslim numbers grew.

Victorian Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Minister Nick Kotsiras said Mr Wilders had the right to free speech, subject to the state's racial and religious vilification laws.

Herald Sun, 25 January 2013

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Geert Wilders has launched a new website, MoskNee (MosqueNo), which aims to offer advice to non-Muslims who want to mount a legal challenge to plans for a new mosque in their area. The site claims:

"Netherlands is not an Islamic country and should never be. Yet we see the influence of Islam increase hand over hand.... Under the influence of the fast-growing Muslim population – around 1 million people in 2013 – the number of mosques has increased sharply. Netherlands now has more than 450.... What would be nice is a Netherlands without mosques. The PVV therefore says: enough is enough. As far as we are concerned there will be no more mosque in Netherlands."

In an interview with Algemeen Dagblad Wilders states that "the mosque is a symbol of an ideology of hatred, violence and oppression" and that ideally the PVV would like to ban mosques from the Netherlands altogether. However, this has proved legally impossible, so the PVV has adopted a different approach. The purpose of the initiative is to promote "more resistance to the Islamisation of the Netherlands", Wilders explains. He also admits that MoskNee has been set up in conscious imitation of Gavin Boby's Law and Freedom Foundation (aka Mosquebusters) in the UK.

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The state-sponsored blackmail and harassment of a former Haverstock schoolboy and other Somalis living in Camden by MI5 is a "national disgrace", according to one of the country's leading miscarriage-of-justice campaigners.

Solicitor Gareth Peirce – who has represented the Guildford Four, Birmingham Six, the family of Jean Charles de Menezes and Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg – spoke in support of Mahdi Hashi at a packed public meeting inside the Town Hall on Friday night.

The 23-year-old was stripped of his British citizenship after refusing to spy on young Muslims in Camden, according to his family.

Mr Hashi, who lived in Gilbey's Yard, Chalk Farm, was later arrested in east Africa and taken to New York where he has been charged with being part of an international terrorist network. He has told his legal team how he was threatened with outlawed torture by US officials shortly after his capture in Djibouti last September.

Ms Peirce, whose law firm is based in Camden Town, said:

"Blackmail is unlawful. Threats, harassment and rendition are unlawful. These are crimes. If hundreds of Somalis under suspicion for travelling to east Africa get in touch with us and say they have been blackmailed and harassed, how many thousands of police and security officers are being deployed for this purpose? It's a disgrace, a national disgrace, a badge of shame."

Camden New Journal, 24 January 2013

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Jak Beasley, Dean Spence and Christopher CaswellThree men linked to a right-wing pressure group have had their convictions quashed for racially aggravated public disorder. The trio's fines were also slashed for behaviour described by a Teesside judge as obnoxious, unnerving, disgraceful, drunken, anti-social and inconsiderate.

They were among six men, all associated with the English Defence League (EDL), convicted by Teesside magistrates of racially or religiously aggravated disorder last August. It was alleged the men sang a highly inflammatory religious chant at Middlesbrough railway station.

Jak Beasley, 23, Christopher Caswell, 32, and Dean Spence, 23, appealed against the conviction at Teesside Crown Court yesterday. This appeal was not opposed by the prosecution as a crucial witness had since emigrated to New Zealand.

The men accepted they committed a lesser disorder offence without the racial element, and appealed against fines imposed by magistrates.

Prosecutor Tamara Pawson said the group of men, including the three, were seen to be drunk, loud, swearing, abusive and singing EDL chants on the platform. She said they were verbally aggressive to a British Transport Police officer, accusing him of being "anti-British".

CCTV showed members of the group clapping, putting hands in the air and taking pictures with phones during the incident on the evening of December 10, 2011. The men had visited several pubs after coming to Middlesbrough to watch football.

Lewis Kerr, defending, said: "This was a relatively brief, although unpleasant, incident. The three men in the dock were not so heavily involved." He said fines and costs should be reduced to reflect incomes and debts of labourers Beasley and Spence and self-employed roofer Caswell.

Judge John Walford, sitting with two justices, said the men should be ashamed of their behaviour and he hoped they'd learned their lesson.

Beasley, of Cedar Road, Bishop Auckland; Caswell, of West Auckland Road, Darlington; and Spence, of Yew Close, Spennymoor, each had their £455 fines reduced to £185, £515 costs reduced to £250.

Evening Gazette, 25 January 2013

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A candidate for Bob Katter's fledgling political party declared his preference for buying ''guaranteed non-halal meat'' so his money does not ''go to the Muslim community''.

Jamie Cavanough, who is standing for Katter's Australian Party in Sydney's most marginal federal seat, Greenway, is under fire for the apparently divisive comments he made to a community forum in one of the city's most ethnically diverse areas.

Katter's Australian Party played down the comments on Friday, describing them as a non-issue.

Mr Cavanough made his comments on Saturday, less than a fortnight after controversy in the Greenway community over plans for a supposed Muslim enclave, dubbed ''Halal housing'', in Riverstone.

Mr Cavanough posted on the Riverstone Community Group forum, which has 732 members on Facebook: ''Can anyone advise me where I can buy Guaranteed NON halal lamb for Australia day.''

When a forum user suggested he might try a butcher, Mr Cavanough replied: ''have not asked yet, just wondering if anyone new [sic] of any, I would prefer to always buy non halal as proceeds of halal goes to the Muslim community.''

And in a separate post, Mr Cavanough called on people to sign a petition against a supposed plan by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to scrap the name Australia Day in favour of Harmony Day, saying ''the Muslim church is in favour of this''. The Prime Minister's office confirmed there was no such proposal.

Mr Cavanough told Fairfax Media he was simply looking for a better deal on meat and his comments were not racially motivated.

''In my view, and it's not the view of any party, I want to be able to purchase a product that has not been faced to a god that I don't believe in and blessed,'' he said.

Sydney Morning Herald, 25 January 2013

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"The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is being sued for religious discrimination. And for good reason. The government watchdog agency was created in 1998 to officially promote and protect religious freedom abroad, but it actually suppresses religious freedom, rather than supporting it. It should be shut down."

Elizabeth Shakman Hurd examines the case of Safiya Ghori-Ahmad and attributes her treatment to a world view that embodies "a toxic combination of Christian supremacy and flagrant bias against Islam".

Boston Review, 24 January 2013

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An outfit calling itself the Creative Zionist Coalition has announced that it is awarding Pamela Geller with the "Queen Esther Award for Jewish Heroism" and Robert Spencer with the "Shushan Award for Righteous Gentile".

Loonwatch reports on the background of the CZC's founders, Jessica Felber and Orit Arfa, and their links to the Zionist Organization of America.

The CZC's stated aim is to "vigorously support and defend Israel without apology, taking principled positions based on reason, logic, ethics and history". Quite what Geller and Spencer have to do with reason, logic and ethics, or indeed with any honest approach to history, is unclear.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Kamal Saleem, the self-proclaimed former terrorist whose multiple appearances in West Michigan have been marked by controversy, will talk at three West Michigan events next month.

Saleem is scheduled to speak about the "threat of Islam" at separate events Feb. 7-9 for the Fremont-based American Decency Association, according to the ADA's website.

A Christian, Saleem has made waves for claiming he is a former member of Islamic militant groups in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Muslim Brotherhood.

A number of academics and groups, including a Calvin College professor and the Southfield-based Council on American-Islamic Relations of Michigan, have called Saleem's claims dubious.

The American Decency Association, which did not return requests for comment this week, said on its website that Saleem was invited to talk about "a threat that is very real."

"We at ADA are committed to stand against evil and we’re giving you an opportunity to become informed about a threat that is very real – radical Islam, Sharia Law, and the attack upon the American Constitution – so that you, too, can prepare yourself to oppose it," the ADA wrote on its website.

MLive, 24 January 2013

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A new survey by Paris-based Ipsos research company on Thursday showed 74% of French respondents believe the Muslim religion is ''intolerant'' and incompatible with their social values.

The survey, published on the Le Monde newspaper website, also showed eight out of 10 French people believe the Islamic religion tries to impose its views on others, 10% believe a majority of Muslims are fundamentalists, and another 44% believe a many but not all Muslims are fundamentalists. Most respondents did not know how to define fundamentalism, however.

The data varied across age groups and political affiliations, but represents a majority in each category of respondents.

ANSAmed, 24 January 2013

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Fewer than one in four people now believe that following Islam is compatible with a British way of life, Britain's most senior Muslim minister will warn today.

Highlighting unpublished research showing that a majority of the country now believes that Islam is a threat to Western civilisation Baroness Sayeeda Warsi will say that "underlying, unfounded mistrust" of Muslims is in itself fuelling extremism.

And she will cite new figures from the Association of Chief Police Officers showing that between 50 to 60 per cent of all religious hate crimes reported to police in Britain are now perpetrated against Muslims.

"My fear is that seeing one community as the 'other' is a slippery slope that will enable extremists to advance their twisted interests unchecked," she will say. "I don't have to remind anyone what happens when an unfounded suspicion of one people can escalate into unspeakable horror."

Two years ago Baroness Warsi, who has responsibility in Government for faith and communities, was criticised claiming that Islamophobia in Britain "had passed the dinner table test".

But in her speech to a support service for those who have suffered anti-Muslim attacks Baroness Warsi will say new data supports the evidence of widespread anti-Muslim feeling in the UK.

She will cite new research by academics that shows that just 23 per cent of a representative sample questioned said that Islam was not a threat to Western civilisation.

Just 24 per cent thought Muslims were compatible with the British way of life – with nearly half of people disagreeing that Muslims were compatible. This compares with research among Muslims that showed 83 per cent were proud to be British, compared to 79 per cent of Britons overall.

"When I said that Islamophobia had 'passed the dinner table test' I got a fair amount of stick," she will say. "There were those who denied the problem existed. There were those who said talking about it was dangerous. But let me tell you what's really dangerous: It's when a country turns a blind eye towards that discrimination."

She said preliminary figures from the Association of Chief Police officers found that between 50 to 60 per cent of religious hate crimes were now perpetrated against Muslims – amounting to hundreds of attacks a year.

But Baroness Warsi will warn that not enough leadership is being given by politicians to tackling Islamaphobia and misconceptions about Islam in the UK.

"Anti-Muslim hatred is a form of prejudice and there should be no place in Britain for this prejudice," she will say. "It would be a more powerful message from a non-Muslim, someone for whom this is not personally painful.

"The fact is that everyone should have an interest in this issue. It's not just a matter for Muslims or a matter for people of faith. It's a matter for everyone who cares about Britain being the modern, equal, fair society that we want it to be."

Independent, 24 January 2013

Update:  The National Secular Society posts a link to this report under the heading "Baroness Warsi: It isn't Islam's fault that hardly anyone in Britain trusts it".

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A new bill on the amendment to Poland's animal rights law to make kosher and halal slaughter legal in Poland has been submitted for public consultation, a spokesperson for the Ministry of agriculture has announced.

Spokeswoman Małgorzata Książyk says the public consultation period will last one week, following a Constitutional Court ruling late last year which said that ritualised slaughter of animals for religious purposes was inconsistent with Polish animal rights law.

The court concluded that a 2004 amendment that introduced exceptions to an animal protection law that forbade the slaughter of animals without prior stunning was "unconstitutional."

Last week, the new draft law, which would make Polish law compatible with European Union regulations, was considered by the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers, and the bill has now been passed on to social and trade union organizations for consultation.

TheNews.pl, 24 January 2013

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A man who placed a pig's head outside a community centre used for prayers by Muslims has been warned he faces a possible jail sentence for the offence.

Liam Ferrar (24) appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court today to admit religiously aggravated harassment aimed at the Muslim community.

The court heard that Ferrar had acquired the pig's head at a wedding the previous summer and kept it in a freezer at his home in Brook Road, Thurnby Lodge, Leicester.

On Christmas night, December 25, he went to the Thurnby Lodge Community Centre, in Thurncourt Road, and placed the head by the locked doors, facing out towards the Muslim worshippers who arrived at the centre the following morning.

The community centre has been the scene of regular protests over a former Scout hut nearby which Leicester City Council was going to allow Muslim group As Salaam to use for prayers. The protesters wanted the Scout hut to be kept for use by the wider community.

The court was told the protests had involved racial abuse being shouted by members of the Forgotten Estates campaign group, and other insults.

Group member Ferrar, who at times acted as a liaison between the protest group and the police, was recognised by officers viewing CCTV footage. After being arrested on December 28, he "became tearful" and confessed, the court was told.

Louise Cocks, prosecuting, said: "The defendant is a member of the Forgotten Estates group that has been involved in the protests about the use of the Scout hut. There's intelligence about this defendant playing a fundamental role in the protest group."

Miss Cocks said that on Boxing Day morning, members of As Salaam arrived at the community centre to find the pig's head. Moulana Mohammed Lockhat, the Imam for the As Salaam group, decided to call the police, who went to remove the head.

Miss Cocks said Mr Lockhat said in his statement that the incident was "extremely distressing". "The pig is a creature Muslims are forbidden from using any part of," she said. Miss Cocks added: "He says that prior to the pig's head incident he received malicious communications in relation to pig's heads and blood."

After Ferrar's guilty plea, the case was adjourned for a probation report. District judge John Temperley told Ferrar it was an "extremely serious case" and that "all options, including custody" were being considered.

Ferrar has been required by a court order to live outside the area and has been staying with a relative in Leicester's West End. Steve Morris, representing Ferrar, made an application for his applicant to be allowed back onto the Thurnby Lodge estate, but the application was declined.

Ferrar is due back at Leicester Magistrates' Court at 10am on Monday, February 18, for sentencing.

Leicester Mercury, 24 January 2013

For the background to Forgotten Estates see here and here. Despite the organisation's clear links to the far right, Leicester mayor Peter Soulsby saw fit to give them control of the disputed scout hut rent-free for the next two years. As Salaam, meanwhile, have been offered alternative premises at an unaffordable rent. Did someone mention a "two-tier system"?

EDL member Chris Hopewell presents Forgotten Estates petition to Peter Soulsby

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A man who made hoax bomb threats against mosques in Southampton has been spared jail.

Timothy Bingham, 43 of Fairbairn Walk, Chandlers Ford, made calls to police giving false information about bombs in and around the city.

He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for two years at Winchester Crown Court. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work and given a six month curfew.

BBC News, 24 January 2013

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Most Australians think multiculturalism works well, with only occasional problems.

A Galaxy poll of 1000 people run exclusively for News Limited revealed people's attitudes in the run up to Australia Day to the sometimes divisive issue.

One in 10 said multiculturalism worked very well and made Australia what it is, while just over half said it worked generally quite well, causing only the occasional issue.

One quarter said multiculturalism generally did not work very well and seemed to create more problems than the benefits it brought. Thirteen per cent said it caused lots of cultural issues and problems.

Australian National University immigration expert Dr James Jupp, who worked with the late Jerzy Zubrzycki, the Polish-born sociologist often called the father of Australian multiculturalism, said the result was good news after the damage John Howard did when he abolished the position of minister for multicultural affairs as prime minister.

He said Australians' growing love of travel had helped open up minds to different cultures. People had always travelled to Bali, but were now expanding their appetites to places like China, Burma, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, Dr Jupp said.

"People are going to and coming from practically every country in Asia, except North Korea, and that's really very different from 15 years ago," he said. "And it's mostly young people."

Dr Jupp said racist elements existed in the community, but they were a minority.

A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister and Acting Multiculturism Minister Chris Bowen said migration had made an enormous contribution to Australia's culture, economy and social fabric. "Australians are overwhelmingly very tolerant and the majority of Australians appreciate the benefits of our diversity," she said.

Of Australia's 22 million people, about 44 per cent were either born overseas or one or both of their parents were born overseas.

News.com, 24 January 2013

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A 36-year-old Ohio woman who is half-Jewish and half-Arab is suing the FBI and other federal agencies, saying she was yanked off an airplane at Detroit Metro Airport on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, strip-searched, and jailed for more than four hours in a dirty cell because of her ethnic background.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit on behalf of Shoshana Hebshi of Sylvania, who was on a Frontier Airlines flight that landed at the airport on Sept. 11, 2011. She and two Indian-American men sitting in her row were targeted by federal agents who entered the plane, handcuffed them, and pushed them down the stairs into vehicles, Hebshi said.

She was then placed in a cell, where she was ordered to strip naked, squat, and cough while an officer looked at her.

"I was frightened and humiliated," said Hebshi, a freelance journalist and mother of 7-year-old twins. "As an American citizen and a mom, I'm really concerned about my children growing up in a country where your skin color and your name can put your freedom and liberty at risk at any time."

"We often think of racial profiling as a problem that impacts other people," she added. "I am proof that racial profiling hurts us all."

At the time, Hebshi's case drew international attention, leading to reports from the Guardian to the Economist that raised questions about the profiling of minorities in the U.S. Hebshi told the Free Press she hopes the lawsuit can lead to changes and "heightened awareness" of abusive law enforcement.

The suit was filed against Frontier Airlines, the FBI, TSA (Transportation Security Administration), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and CBP (Customs and Border Protection).

"The FBI was clearly calling the shots" during Hebshi's detainment, said Bill Goodman of Detroit, one of the attorneys representing Hebshi.

FBI Detroit spokesman Simon Shaykhet declined to comment.

Detroit Free Press, 23 January 2013

See also ACLU press release, 22 January 2013

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The English Defence League (EDL), an extremist far-right pressure group, has announced that they are planning a march in Cambridge. The anti-Islamic group will gather on the 23rd February, following their controversial march in July 2011.

In response, the Cambridge branch of Unite Against Fascism (CUAF), a national anti-fascist campaigning organisation, has called for a "massive" counter march. PhD student Owen Holland, whose previous political history saw him suspended for one term by the University after interrupting a talk by Universities Minister David Willets, has come out in support of the UAF's counter-demonstration. "When the English Defence League tried to march in Cambridge in July 2011, they were vastly outnumbered." He calls for "the people of Cambridge" to "come together to show that racist ideas and organisations do not have coherent solutions to resolve the present crisis".

His pledge of support has been echoed by other political figures in and around Cambridge. Richard Howitt MEP called for "all the decent people of Cambridge to attend this counter demonstration to show their opposition to racism". Richard Rose, the coordinator of UAF in Cambridge, explained "the racists seek only to spread hatred, scapegoating and division; whatever problems people face in their lives, the EDL will only make them worse".

Academics and activists have also organized an anti-fascist teach-in on Sunday the 17th of February in King's College. Dr. Martin Ruehl, a Fellow at Trinity Hall who specializes in fascist ideology, will speak at the event along with other UAF activists. This comes as academic interest in the study of far right ideology grows; the University of Newcastle has recently established a new centre "for the study of the far-right".

The 2011 EDL march in Cambridge provoked much controversy and overt policing, largely due to the group’s radical stance on Islam. Stephen Lennon, a leading member of the EDL, in a recent interview with Jeremy Paxman, explained that the EDL exist to prevent the spread of Islamism across Britain. He said: "there are one-hundred sharia law courts operating in this country...sharia law is incompatible with western democracy." When asked if the EDL would allow a Muslim to join their group Lennon responded, "of course they could".

Yet in discussing the problems of gang culture, drug chains and "pimping", Lennon argued that "it's an Islamic problem … none of the other communities are spreading it … are we going to pretend that Muslim groups are not out there purposely trying to target our youth and pimping 'em?". Lennon has now been jailed for trying to enter the United States on a false passport.

Fred Cotterill, a Cambridge undergraduate planning to take part on the march, said: "The EDL march has no place in Cambridge." Fred added that "Patriotism is not something to be ashamed of – I am proud to be British – and it should be reclaimed from the racists as it was during the Olympics".

Varsity, 23 January 2013

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Aiman Mazyek, chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, warns against the trivialisation of anti-Islamic tendencies and right-wing extremist violence, both of which are increasingly posing a threat to social peace in Germany.

Qantara.de, 23 January 2013

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A Thatcham man was today (Weds) sentenced to three months' imprisonment after admitting to one count of racially aggravated harassment and a section 4 public order offence at Reading Magistrates' Court.

Rory Rowbottom, aged 21 of Poffley Place, pleaded guilty to the offences in connection with an incident in Newbury in October where a pig's head was discovered outside a mosque in Pound Street (pictured).

Deputy local police commander for the Newbury area, Ch Insp Lindsey Finch, said: "I welcome the outcome of the court case today, and hope that it serves as a reminder that racial harassment of any kind is totally unacceptable in today's society and will be dealt with as a priority by both the police and the courts.

"This kind of harassment will not be tolerated by the police, or by the community as a whole.

"It was heartening to see the response from other communities in West Berkshire who were equally distressed and horrified that this could happen to Muslims in Newbury.

"This was a particularly distressing crime, targeting a very respectful and close community in West Berkshire.

"The police response when alerted to this incident was swift and decisive, and a detailed and comprehensive investigation then followed.

"I also take this opportunity to remind people that they can continue to have confidence in reporting racial incidents to the police and that they will be investigated fully and respectfully."

A representative of the Newbury Mosque Committee, Lucky Nizami, said: "The mosque has been in Newbury for a number of years and this incident shocked members of the mosque because Newbury is such a close and tight-knit town.

"We cannot understand why someone would want to do such a thing and it has saddened many, many people. However the mosque committee is very grateful for the support and kindness shown by a large number of people from the Newbury area.

"Muslims in West Berkshire are a very respectful community who do not interfere in matters of faith for other local communities.

"The Muslim community is very tolerant of others' beliefs, but hold several things very close to them – those are the Koran, the Prophet and the Mosque.

"It was therefore beyond the understanding of the community why anyone would wish to insult them by directly attacking one of those – in this case, the Mosque.

"Police responded so effectively and respectfully to this incident, and have conducted a very thorough and wide reaching investigation.

"This positive and supportive response has further increased confidence that the police will continue to respond robustly if incidents are reported to them.

"This is also evident in the way that the community left all aspects of the investigation in the hands of the police and trusted that the outcome would be the right one.

"We are really pleased that the man who was responsible has appeared before the court and we accept the decision of the court."

Newbury Today, 23 January 2013

See also "EDLer Rory Rowbottom jailed for mosque pig's head", EDL News, 23 January 2013

After he appeared in court last month Rowbottom took to Facebook to express his displeasure at press reports of the case:

There would seem to be solid grounds for a further charge against Rowbottom, under Section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003, which makes it an offence to send over a public electronic communications network a message that is "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character". The offence carries a possible 6-month prison sentence.

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In rare criticism of a Jew, the Anti-Defamation League called on Knesset candidate Jeremy Gimpel to apologize to Muslims for suggesting blowing up the Dome of the Rock mosque.

Gimpel, an ordained rabbi, is a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen. If elected to the Knesset he would be required to give up his U.S. citizenship.

Gimpel, who is 14th on the candidate's list for the Jewish Home Party and could be voted into the Knesset in Tuesday's elections, was shown Jan. 18 on Channel 2's nightly newscast in a video of a speech before a Christian group speculating on the mosque located on the Temple Mount being blown up.

"Imagine today if the golden dome, I'm being recorded so I can't say blown up, but let's say it was blown up, right, and we laid the cornerstone of the Temple in Jerusalem," Gimpel said in the clip filmed several years ago. "Can you imagine what would be? None of you would be here. You would be going to Israel. It would be incredible."

Gimpel has explained that the clip was from a speech he delivered to a Christian group and that his words were taken out of context.

"Although Mr. Gimpel has now retracted the statement, saying he 'opposes' the idea of destroying Al Aksa mosque and that 'it was a joke,' we are appalled by the notion that an Israeli rabbi, no less one seeking elective office in Israel, would suggest an act of terrorism as a legitimate means of achieving a religious objective. Terrorism is no joke and expressions of violent aggression in the name of Judaism or any religion are never justified," the ADL Israel office said in a statement.

"His original comment and his recent outrageous explanation for it call into serious question his qualifications to represent the people of Israel in the Knesset. Mr. Gimpel should apologize for his gross insensitivity to the Muslim religion," the statement, which also pointed out that the al Aksa mosque is a holy site for all Muslims, concluded.

Forward, 22 January 2013

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Metropolitan Police statement, 22 January 2013

Officers investigating a series of incidents that took place over the course of the weekend of 12/13 January in east London, whereby a small group of individuals were seen to approach and harass members of the public at various locations, have arrested two men.

Videos of the incidents were uploaded onto YouTube.

A 22-year-old man was arrested in the Acton area on Sunday, 20 January and a 19-year-old man who voluntarily attended an east London police station on Monday, 21 January have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

The pair were arrested on suspicion of GBH and Public Order offences and have been bailed to return to an east London police station on a dates in February and March pending further enquiries.

The Metropolitan Police Service takes these incidents very seriously and is pursuing various lines of enquiry with a view to identifying and prosecuting the individuals concerned.

The investigation is being coordinated by the Community Safety Unit at Tower Hamlets.

Patrols continue across east London to reassure local communities.

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact police at thcsu@met.police.uk for the attention of DI Cliff Jones, DS Chris Bagshaw, DC Stacey Yarker or to report it to police via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Police are investigating a racist message which was stuck to the front door of a mosque in Horsham.

On Friday January 18 a notice was found on the front of Madina Mosque in Park Terrace East, Horsham, which included racist language.

It is believed that the notice was placed on the mosque between 7pm on 17 January and 7am on 18 January. The incident was reported to Sussex Police on Monday 21 January and is being investigated as a hate crime.

Chief inspector Howard Hodges, district commander of Horsham, said: "Sussex Police takes incidents of this nature very seriously and a thorough investigation to identify those responsible for the notice is taking place. Hate crime is not acceptable and the deplorable actions and views of this minority are thankfully not shared among the community."

He continued: "Hate crimes and hate incidents are hurtful and can be very threatening; they can be confusing and frightening and create a lot of worry. We are working closely with the local community, including users of the mosque, our partners and other residents in the town, to gather information about this incident and offer reassurance and support to those who may have been affected by this incident.

"Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person's disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender identity. Whether you experience hate crime against yourself or your property it is important to always report it."

Anyone with information regarding this incident which may assist police with their enquiries, or anyone concerned about this incident, is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 396 of 21/1 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sussex Police news report, 22 January 2013

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A former Marine who said he set fire to an Ohio mosque because he wanted to avenge the killings of American troops asked Tuesday to withdraw his guilty plea to federal hate crime charges.

In his request, Randy Linn said he was under duress and depressed when he entered his plea last month in the fire at a suburban Toledo mosque. "I made the wrong decision," he wrote.

A deal between prosecutors and Linn had called for him to be sentenced to 20 years next April after he pleaded guilty to intentionally damaging and destroying religious property and two gun-related charges.

Associated Press, 22 January 2013

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ENGAGE draws our attention to an Early Day Motion on "Recording Islamophobia as a crime", tabled by Labour MP Keith Vaz and jointly sponsored by fellow Labour MP John McDonnell and Conservative MP Peter Bottomley. It states:

That this House notes the recognition of anti-Muslim sentiment and hate crime in the Department for Communities and Local Government's document Creating the Conditions for Integration; further notes that the document acknowledges the limited collection of data on anti-Muslim hate crime; recognises that currently only the Metropolitan Police Service specifically records this hate crime under the definition Islamophobia as a specific crime flag, similar to anti-Semitism, racism and others, whereas the recording of this crime outside of London is under different recording flags in different constabularies; and believes that all police constabularies should record this hate crime under the same flag, which will bring national uniformity in the recording of this crime and enable authorities to gather data that will aid in tackling this issue.

You can write to your MP and urge them to support the EDM here.

ENGAGE points out that you can also send the EDM to your Police and Crime Commissioner and ask if, and how, they will implement the recommendation in their policing plan and local crime strategy.

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A teenager pulled a hijab from a woman's head in a racist attack on her in a park. Paige Bain and her aunt Eileen Kennedy assaulted Umaimi Musa as she was sitting with her friend Mary Marandran in Glasgow.

On Monday, Glasgow Sheriff Court heard 16-year-old Bain also attacked Mrs Marandran, who was five months pregnant at the time of the incident in the city's Royston Road.

As Ms Musa and Mrs Marandran were sitting in the park, one of Bain or Kennedy, 28, uttered racist phrases towards them, including "f****** black African" and "f****** brings you to this country?"

The incident was captured on CCTV which was shown to the court, while the camera operator alerted police to the attack on September 3, 2012.

Sheriff Kenneth Mitchell sentenced Bain to two years and eight months in detention, while Kennedy was earlier jailed for two years and six days.

Bain, who was 15 at the time of the attack, and Kennedy pled guilty to racially assaulting 41-year-old Ms Musa to her injury. Kennedy also admitted resisting arrest and claiming she had an infection before spitting on a police officer. Bain pled guilty to the racially aggravated assault on Mrs Marandran, 40, by repeatedly punching her on the head and pushing her to her injury.

STV, 21 January 2013

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The Commentator provides an update on its "Muslim patrol" report with a more recent video, also apparently from Tower Hamlets, in which the self-appointed mutaween target a man they take to be gay.

The harassment recorded here is significantly more unpleasant and intimidatory than in the first video, and we can only hope that the people responsible are quickly identified, arrested and prosecuted. In fact the case underlines the need for new legislation to introduce specific homophobically aggravated offences, on a par with the racially and religiously aggravated offences already on the statute book.

However, it is almost certainly the same two individuals who are involved in this most recent video, one of whom carries out most of the actual harassment while the other records the victim's response on his mobile phone. This doesn't prevent The Commentator from referring to "Muslim Patrols" in the plural, in order to suggest that it is part of some wider and more frightening pattern.

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Trevor Kavanagh takes the opportunity to use the Algerian gas plant attack and the conflict in Mali in order to paint the British Muslim community as a terrorist threat:

Britain is a melting pot of nationalities and faiths, home to hundreds of thousands of Malians, Iraqis, Syrians, Somalis, Kenyans, Nigerians, Yemenis and Pakistanis.

Not all are grateful. Indeed, many are becoming outspokenly defiant. Some have colonised suburbs in major cities. One London borough is so staunchly Muslim it has become known as the Islamic Republic of Tower Hamlets.

Last week, hooded gangs of self-appointed religious police [in reality, probably just two individuals – ed.] roamed Muslim-populated suburbs ordering women to cover up and confiscating liquor. Police are investigating YouTube clips which show the men branding mini-skirted white girls as "naked animals".

MI5 claims thousands of young British-born Muslims have been radicalised – some of them trained in bomb-making and terror tactics in the badlands of Pakistan. That number has certainly grown in recent years.

The security forces have done a remarkable job in keeping a lid on this threat at home. It is now more than seven years since the 7/7 London bombings and the terrorists have been silent. But Mali and Algeria should remind us of Gerry Adams' chilling warning about the IRA: "They haven't gone away."

Now, as David Cameron warned yesterday, we face a global threat which could take "years, even decades" to resolve. He might have added, "if ever".

The Sun, 21 January 2013

See also Rob Ford, "Knee-jerk Islamophobia: why Trevor Kavanagh is wrong about British Muslims", New Statesman, 21 January 2013

Ford writes: "This kind of evidence-free, stereotype-laden assault on the British Muslim community has got to stop. In an era when all the relevant evidence is available at the click of a mouse, it is not acceptable for a senior journalist at the nation's most read paper to make demonstrably false claims about one of its largest minority communities. Kavanagh's article is irresponsible rabble-rousing of the worst kind."

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