New South Wales: Muslim mum says racial abuse now worse than after September 11 and Bali bombings

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A mother who wears Islamic head coverings says local Muslims are now suffering more racist abuse than after the September 11 and Bali terrorist attacks.

Nahid Mohamed and her mother are Muslims and both wear a Niqab, where the body and face are covered except for the eyes. Both have lived at Killarney Vale for many decades. Ms Mohamed was born on the Central Coast and went to preschool, primary school and high school in the Killarney Vale district.

But still, it came as a shock when she and her mother were abused for speaking Arabic and wearing a Niqab in a doctor’s surgery last week. Ms Mohamed took the insults for as long as she could before defending herself and her mother.

“As soon as we walked into the surgery you could tell this guy was not happy,” Ms Mohamed said. “Mum started telling me about her trip away in Arabic and he started swearing at us, this went on for 10 or 15 minutes before I said, hello, is there a problem?

“He continued going on about how we should not be in the country and that we should speak English. The receptionist asked us both to be quiet, which was extremely insulting. We sat in silence and Mum whispered what’s happened in the last three weeks?”

ISIS has happened and just like after the September 11 attacks and the Bali bombings, Muslims like Ms Mohamed and her mother are targets again.

“It’s way worse, every media report affects us. I was horrified at the images I was seeing on television and I knew it had implications for every Muslim in Australia. I thought oh my God this is going to be disastrous and it was.”

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Students and faculty from Oklahoma University show support for the Muslim community

Posted on by Bob Pitt

OCU support for Muslim communityOKLAHOMA CITY – Hundreds of local Muslims were in for a surprise when they left their congregational prayer service Friday afternoon at their mosque in Oklahoma City.

A large group of Christians and those of the Jewish faith from as far away as Guthrie and Shawnee gathered and greeted those Muslims as they walked out of the mosque. Students and faculty at Oklahoma City University (OCU) organized the event.

Janet Boone works in the OCU Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office. “We were getting so tired of all the negative and all the hateful things that were being said to and about our Muslim friends,” she said.

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Cardiff: Anti-fascists confront far‑right anti‑Islam protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Cardiff anti-fascist protest

Police officers have lined the streets of Cardiff city centre, where a demonstration by a group called the Welsh Alliance is taking place. Anti-fascist protesters have gathered in the city centre in protest of the march, which is set to end at City Hall this afternoon.

Beforehand, members of the Welsh Alliance gathered at pubs near the city’s Mill Lane and bottom of St Mary Street, where they were advised by on their Facebook group: “no banners, flags or chanting inside please”.

Members were told to gather in front of Cardiff Central Station before marching to City Hall for speeches. The Facebook group advised “please leave any racist banners at home”. The group claim on Facebook they are “Welsh patriots” who are “fighting mass immigration”.

Anti-fascism protesters gathered at the bottom of St Mary Street with their own banners to counter the demonstration in “a united front” to show “racism in any guise in not accepted in Cardiff”.

One campaigner opposing the Welsh Alliance was Mia Hollsing, 26, from Mountain Ash. She said: “I think there’s a lot of police here, a bit too many in my view.

“We need a diverse society where everyone is welcome regardless of where they are from and what they believe in. It the rich people that are causing the problems in this country, not ordinary workers, wherever they come from. We are here peacefully – none of us are violent.

“We are chanting and making our voices heard, but that is our right. We don’t want to see any violence here today, that’s not what we are here for, but that doesn’t mean we are willing to let racism go unchallenged.”

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Islamophobia: the ugly side of Toronto’s municipal election

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Mohammed Uddin campaign sign defacedFor three Muslim candidates, Toronto’s municipal election took a very nasty turn this week.

On Thursday night, a Purolator truck driver allegedly hurled garbage and shouted “terrorist” at a team of volunteers planting signs for Ward 2 council candidate Munira Abukar.

On Friday, a Purolator spokesperson issued a prepared statement that said the company is “deeply troubled about this report” and is “taking this matter seriously.” The spokesperson said Purolator President and CEO Patrick Nangle contacted Abukar on Friday morning “to apologize and express concern.”

This was not the first time Abukar has faced xenophobia on the campaign trail. Earlier this month, the Star reported that a campaign sign featuring Abukar wearing a hijab was defaced with the words “B—-” and “Go Back Home.”

“You can’t let a few election trolls ruin your city and ruin your home,” Abukar says. “There’s no room for hate of any kind in Canada”

TDSB Ward 10 trustee candidate Ausma Malik appears to be the target of an anonymous co-ordinated attack. In addition to being heckled at a candidates’ debate, her campaign office says that thousands of flyers were distributed throughout the ward this week which, among other things, accuse Malik of being a supporter of the Toronto 18 terrorist cell and a proponent of Sharia law. One flyer even has a photo of Malik superimposed over a yellow and green Hezbollah flag.

“The accusations are incredibly mean-spirited and they’re lies,” Malik says. “I’m doing this because I believe in public education, I believe in our community, and I believe that an inclusive, equitable and progressive public education system is possible – and especially in light of this, absolutely necessary.”

In Ward 18, council candidate Mohammad Uddin claims he has been the target of a steady stream of Islamophobic insults. On Thursday, he tweeted a photo of one of his campaign signs defaced with the words “F— Islam.” Uddin claims racist graffiti has been discovered outside his campaign office as recently as Friday, and earlier this month, he says his car windows were smashed and his campaign signs were stolen as the vehicle sat in his driveway.

“Canada is a country of peace, love and brotherhood,” Uddin says. “In 20 years, I’ve never had problems like this.”

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Molotov cocktail thrown at Albuquerque mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Albuquerque mosque firebomb attackFBI agents and Albuquerque police investigated a Molotov cocktail thrown at a mosque in southeast Albuquerque Friday morning.

The device hit the exterior wall of the Islamic Center of New Mexico around 3:55 a.m. Friday, scorching a wall and leaving broken glass on the ground.

Several agencies responded to the Islamic Center to conduct an investigation, including the FBI and APD bomb squad personnel.

“I’m very disappointed something like this would happen here in Albuquerque,” said Jameela Abdul Halim, the assistant administrator at the Islamic Center.

The center’s janitor, Shakir Farid Abdullah, said he found the burnt bottle about five hours later, around 9 a.m. Abdullah said he feared the perpetrator assumes the mosque is affiliated with terrorist groups overseas.

“We believe in peace, nonviolence…we don’t support terrorism,” said Abdullah. “We don’t support any acts of violence against any religious group…so someone, obviously, is ignorant to that.”

The Molotov cocktail was apparently thrown at the section of the building dedicated to women and children. Friday is also the day hundreds of Muslims from across the area come to the mosque to pray. No one was injured, but the incident is still disturbing to those who attend the mosque.

“[We're] very grateful it didn’t go through the window. There was nobody around at the time; we didn’t have a lot of people,” said mosque member Abdul Halim.

This is not the first incident at the Islamic Center. According to mosque member Andy Brooks, people threw flaming Qurans into the mosque’s yard a couple years ago, and last year, someone walked into the Iman’s office and threatened him with a gun.

Also, this past February, a man approached two children on the mosque’s playground and allegedly threatened to stab them because he hated Muslims.

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Alberta mosque vandalised

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Cold Lake Mosque vandalised

The Cold Lake Mosque was vandalized overnight in what local business owners and residents are calling a “disgusting” crime.

RCMP Sgt. Troy Hadland said police responded to a call of mischief at 6:30 a.m. Both front windows were broken and the words “go home” and “Canada” were spray painted with red paint on the outside of the building. Hadland said evidence at the scene was seized and sent to St. Paul RCMP for analysis. “This type of behaviour won’t be tolerated,” he stressed.

A steady stream of business leaders came in through the front door of the mosque offering their support. They described the crime as “disgusting” and assured mosque members that this crime does not reflect the view of the community of Cold Lake.

The mosque has been gathering posters, flowers and gifts from the community and displaying them by the windows that were smashed. One of the posters reads “you are home.” A pen has been left by the poster and people have been signing their names.

One of the members of the mosque came in at 6 a.m. to pray, and found his place of worship vandalized. He said the writing upset him more than the damaged windows, which can be fixed. “This is my home. Cold Lake is my home. My kids were born here. They go to school here.”

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Muslim Brotherhood: ‘Cleared of UK terrorism link’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

David Cameron with Mohammed MorsiA review of the Muslim Brotherhood’s UK activity has cleared it of links to terrorism, its lawyers have said.

The Brotherhood is an Islamist movement which has been declared a terrorist group by Egypt’s military rulers.

Reports suggested members of the group moved to London to escape a crackdown in Cairo and plotted a response to the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi, a Brotherhood leader.

There has been no reaction yet from No 10 regarding the lawyers’ announcement.

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Ellesmere Port man arrested after pig’s head found outside Islamic centre

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Ban Ellesmere Port mosque Facebook page backs arson attacks on MuslimsA man has been arrested after a pig’s head was placed outside an Islamic cultural centre in Ellesmere Port.

Police were called to King Street after a member of the public reported suspicious activity outside the Islamic Cultural Centre shortly before midnight on Wednesday (October 23). A pig’s head was found at the building, police have confirmed.

A 41-year-old man from Ellesmere Port was arrested in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) on suspicion of committing a racially aggravated public order offence. He remains in police custody and enquiries are ongoing.

Officers remain at the scene of the cultural centre, which is currently under construction after being granted planning permission by Cheshire West and Chester Council earlier this month amidst angry scenes.

Police have vowed to put an end to all racist incidents and hate crimes in Ellesmere Port following the latest attack on the centre, which will be used as a place of worship and to hold religious festivals.

Chief Inspector Giles Orton said: “Local residents can be reassured that the police have a high visibility presence in the area. Through firm policing we will put an end to racially aggravated incidents in Ellesmere Port. Hate crimes are not tolerated within this community.”

The vow comes as a Facebook group containing racist content, including images of pigs and anti-Islamic messages, reached almost 600 likes. The ‘community’ page, named ‘Ban Ellesmere Port Mosque’, was set up on September 12 by an unnamed individual, and says it aims to “stop Muslims taking over Ellesmere Port” and “keeping Britain British”.

When asked about the social media page today (Wednesday) police and community leaders would not comment due to ongoing enquiries, and would not confirm whether it was connected with the incident.

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More anti-Muslim bigotry from Sun columnist Katie Hopkins

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Nurun AhmedNot ever having watched a single episode of the TV show The Apprentice I admit I missed this, but on yesterday’s programme two contestants were “fired” by Alan Sugar for reportedly failing in their task of selling luxury candles.

One of them was Nurun Ahmed, who wears hijab. In response to her departure Katie Hopkins tweeted: “Nurun has left the building. Thank crap for that. The token headscarf wearer is no more.”

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

Posted on by Bob Pitt

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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