'Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!' EDL leader says he's the victim of a state conspiracy

English Defence League leader Stephen Lennon's latest address to the masses, "Tommy's November video diary", was posted on the EDL website yesterday. It's little more than an extended self-pitying whinge about his personal problems and how he's being persecuted for his beliefs. He's been charged with tax evasion, his sunbed business is closing down because he's behind with his rent, his wife is stressed, his mother's ill. And all as a result of Tommy's selfless commitment to leading the EDL in their heroic struggle against the Islamification of Britain.

As evidence of his supposed persecution Lennon produces an email sent by James Brokenshire – who holds the junior ministerial position of parliamentary under secretary of state for crime and security at the Home Office – to the Labour MP for Newcastle North, Catherine McKinnell. Lennon quotes Brokenshire as stating that "we are working with a range of partners to address the driver of the EDL". Lennon claims this is proof that the Home Office is colluding with "the police, the tax office, the VAT" in an attempt to destroy him and the movement he leads.

Lennon's video has inspired a Cambridge EDL supporter named Gerry Dorrian to post a piece on the 300-word theses blog under the headline "Did James Brokenshire order a man's life pulled apart?" In this account, the email has been elevated to the status of "leaked Home Office minutes". Dorrian asks: "Did a senior Conservative MP order police and financial authorities to put such pressure on the voluntary head of a human-rights group that he has lost his house, is facing bankruptcy and is now looking on as his family bear the fallout?"

The email to Catherine McKinnell would in fact appear to be the Home Office's stock reply to politicians who write to express concern about the EDL. The same response was sent to Calderdale councillors last month. A report in the Halifax Courier, however, quotes the Home Office as stating that it was working with its partners "to address the drivers of EDL activity", which makes a lot more sense. "Drivers" in this context of course means "underlying causal factors". It's not a reference to the individuals who lead the EDL. And Lennon has misquoted the sentence in order to make out that it's about him personally.

In short, Lennon's claim to have uncovered a state conspiracy against him is a fantasy based upon a combination of narcissism, paranoia, illiteracy and lies. If we're trying to identify the "drivers" behind EDL activity, then one of them is undoubtedly the stupidity of EDL members who uncritically swallow Lennon's bullshit.

Drunken thugs who attacked Scunthorpe mosque get suspended sentences

A mourner at a funeral service at a Scunthorpe mosque was attacked when four men burst in, a court was told.

Grimsby Crown Court heard that despite Anayat Shah's attempts to keep them out, the men barged through the Pakistan Social Cultural and Islamic Centre's doors, in Parkinson Avenue, and attacked the man and disrupted the service. Earlier, they had urinated against the walls of the mosque as the funeral service for Mr Shah's aunt was coming to an end.

The court heard mourners including children and relatives were in tears following the attack on December 7.

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Pamela Geller: 'I endorse Herman Cain. What he doesn’t know, we’ll teach him'

TPM reports on Pamela Geller's endorsement of would-be Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain. The kiss of death to Cain's campaign, surely?

Sweden: Muslim kicked off train for praying

A devout Muslim was kicked off a train bound for Flen, south of Stockholm, in May, after failing to show his ticket to the conductor as he was deep in prayer.

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Offers of aid pour in after fire at Wichita mosque

When the Rev. Jackie Carter learned of the fire that heavily damaged a mosque in west Wichita early Monday morning, she knew what she needed to do.

"They are welcome to use the worship space at our building," said Carter, pastor of First Metropolitan Community Church at 156 S. Kansas. "We believe it's important for everyone to have sacred space, and now they don't."

It's just one of numerous offers of assistance for the mosque and those who pray there, said Hussam Madi, a spokesman for the Islamic Society of Wichita. The society posted a letter of appreciation on its website today.

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Right-wing Christian crank to challenge Keith Ellison

This is the ad that Gary Boisclair has announced he will broadcast as part of his planned challenge to US Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary in Minnesota. Boisclair's prospects of defeating Ellison are zero, but he intends to use his campaign to force media outlets to air right-wing fundamentalist Christian propaganda. Abortion rights are Boisclair's main target, but presumably he hopes to win a wider audience by wrapping his message in rabid Islamophobia.

See Hopkins Patch, 2 November 2011

See also Gary Boisclair press release, 2 November 2011

Stephen Lennon gets 12-week suspended prison sentence for assault at EDL rally

A 28 year old man has today been given a 12 week suspended prison sentence after he was convicted of common assault following an English Defence League rally in Blackburn.

Stephen Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, of Layham Drive, Luton was found guilty following a one day trial at Preston Magistrates Court on Thursday 29th September. He was sentenced at Preston Magistrates Court today (Thursday, November 3^rd) where in addition to the prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, he was given an 150 hour community order and told to pay £200 costs.

Lennon was charged with assault in June after an altercation with a member of the crowd at the EDL demonstration in Blackburn town centre in April.

Superintendent Jon Puttock, from Blackburn Police, said: "I am satisfied with today's sentence. At the time of the demonstration we said we would facilitate any protest which was peaceful and deal firmly with those committing crime and disorder and this conviction and sentence today demonstrates that."

Lancashire Police news report, 3 November 2011

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Aylesbury judge rejects appeal by EDL yob

A right-wing extremist who was arrested on his way to the EDL march in Aylesbury last year for abusing police officers has had his appeal turned down. Daryl Hobson appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday in a bid to get his sentence overturned.

Hobson, 44, was stopped by police last year on May 1, as he was holding a large union flag out the car window. When stopped, Hobson insulted police officers, calling them "f***ing jobsworths" and labelled one of them "Robocop" and "a clown". Officers eventually lost their patience when he began chanting support for a man who killed three police officers.

When describing the incident, PC Ahmed Chaudry said: "The gentleman got out of the car and came up to me and said: 'What do you want?' in an aggressive manner." He said coachloads of EDL supporters began driving past, prompting Hobson to put his arms in the air and shout EDL slogans.

Police sergeants Luke Pillinger and Spencer Kervin were passing when they saw what was happening and stopped to help. Sgt Kervin said: "He got within arm's length and shouted behind me: 'Harry Roberts is my friend. He kills coppers', very loud."

Roberts was a career criminal planning an armed robbery when his gang was approached by plain-clothes police officers in London, in 1966. Roberts shot dead two officers and an accomplice killed a third. Paul Fox, whose father Geoffrey was one of the three murdered police officers, lives in Aylesbury.

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Naperville Islamic Center's mosque plan clears first hurdle

The Islamic Center of Naperville cleared the first of several hurdles Wednesday in its quest to build a mosque on the city's far southwest side. Members of the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously agreed to recommend to the city council that the 14 acre lot at 9931 S. 248th Avenue in Will County be rezoned residential and that its plot of subdivision be approved.

There is a four-bedroom home on the property which the current owners, HOPE United Church of Christ, has used for office space. The rest of the site is farmland. Church officials have stressed that the Islamic Center wants to utilize the property in the same manner as HOPE United.

Those recommendations clear the way for the city council to consider annexation of the site as soon as Dec. 20. The Islamic Center, which has a contract on the property, is seeking annexation to gain access to the city's water and sewer services in preparation for a mosque members hope to build within five to 10 years.

Several neighbors and residents attempted to speak both in favor and against the proposed annexation but acting Chairwoman Patty Gustin cut them off, in an attempt to keep the meeting focused, and told them they need to direct their concerns to the city council when the issue is on the council agenda.

Daily Herald, 3 November 2011

EDL members charged with racist attack on Plymouth kebab shop sent to Crown Court

Two women charged with a racist attack on a Kurdish woman at a city centre takeaway have been sent to Plymouth Crown Court.

Hayley Wells, aged 27, and Kelly Watterson, aged 29, appeared before Plymouth magistrates jointly accused of racially aggravated common assault against a woman in the kebab shop. Wells, of Shell Close, Leigham, and Watterson, of St Peter's Road, Manadon, both deny the attack on Sawda Kurdo at the Istanbul Kebab shop in Exeter Street on August 31. Watterson has also denied a further charge of affray in connection with the same incident.

Magistrates have now formally committed their case for trial at Plymouth Crown Court. Wells and Watterson were released on conditional bail to appear before a judge on January 3.

Plymouth Herald, 3 November 2011