British MPs join campaign against anti-Muslim right-wing extremists
Submitted by admin2 on 20 March 2010 - 9:10pm
London, March 19, IRNA – MPs, including former ministers, have joined trade unions and numerous organisations in condemning the latest anti-Muslim protest being held by the right-wing English Defence League (EDL) on Saturday.
Stop the War Coalition, Britain’s main peace group network, is also leading a counter-demonstration against the provocative march planned in Bolton, north-west England.
“The EDL is a group of racists and football hooligans with close links to the fascist British National Party,” the MPs said in a joint statement obtained by IRNA.
“Islamophobia – bigotry against Muslims – is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s,” the statement warned.
“Today they threaten mosques, tomorrow it could be a synagogue, temple or church. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, black, Asian or Eastern European people, travellers or lesbian, gay and transgender people,” it said.
The anti-Muslim protest is the latest organised by fascist groups in the UK, who use loopholes in the country’s law to incite religious hatred against Muslims. Unlike Jews and Sikhs, Muslims are not protected under race relations legislation.
Several of the protest marches have erupted in violence and led to clashes with counter-demonstrations, often organised by Unite Against Fascism, as well as with the police.
The MPs include former Education Secretary Ruth Kelly, former Children’s Minister Margaret Hodge, former Immigration Minister Beverley Hughes and former Foreign Office Minister Tony Lloyd. The statement was also signed by former London mayor Ken Livingstone.
“Let's gather in such large numbers that we make it clear to these fascist and racist thugs that they are not welcome here. Let's protest against the racists and fascists, oppose their politics of hatred and defend Bolton’s diverse and united community,” they said.
Earlier this month, several MPs also backed calls for the setting up of a parliamentary committee to hold an inquiry into the rise of Islamophobia in the UK.
Sponsored the call, Britain’s first Muslim MP Mohammed Sarwar warned that the growing spate of Islamophobic attacks in all its forms was a “big challenge”.
The Conservative’s Shadow Minister for Justice, David Burrows urged people to contact their local MPs to motivate them to become more involved, saying: “The community must show the extent of the problem and make politicians act”.
The initiative is also being supported by chair of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee Phyllis Starkey, who has emphasised on the importance of focusing on 'respect' as opposed to 'tolerance'.
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So Eve, tell me about Chris
So Eve, tell me about Chris Renton and explain his BNP/EDL links.
Time for an end to this blatant racism and sectarianism
The EDL is just a front name for the BNP's boot boys. If they want to oppose Islamic militancy or extremism then let them come into the mosques and meet everyday muslims going about their moderate business and watch them pray. But we all know their real agenda. They despise the everyday muslim like myself as much as they despise any other muslim, militant or not. Time these Nazi thugs were banned from holding these violence-inciting "protests" and kept off the streets. It's nothing but naked racism on par with the antisemitism seen in the 1930's and 1940's in Europe and is a stain on today's British society. Time to end it, insha Allah.
Racial Attacks
Another incorrect statement is concerning attacks against Muslims or ethnics. I think you will find that the vast majority of racial attacks are against the white British from ethnic minorities. God, where are you people getting your INCORRECT information from. Surely not from the traitorous and war criminal government of our bankrupt third-world multicultural slum of a country, for which very soon they will pay dearly if the opinion of the British public is correct!
EDL
Your article needs numerous corrections! First of all the EDL are exercising their democratic right to peaceful protest, and their protests are against radical Islamists which, as everyone knows, is alive and well in the UK! Also the EDL campaigners include numerous ethnic-minorities - hardly makes them racist!
The violence only occurs when Cameron's claw-hammer gang of street thugs, laughingly known as the UAF, Unite Against Fasciscism, otherwise known as Unite Against Freedom - arrive with the sole intention of causing violence. In the recent past the police have taken claw-hammers from them amongst other weapons. Why would you need the weapons if you are just intending on peaceful protest in opposition to the EDL?
Although why anyone would want to protest against a group protesting against Islamic terrorism flourishing in OUR country just beggers belief!
Lastly, it does not matter how many times you print it, The British National Party have NOTHING whatsoever to do with the EDL! Any member of The British National Party found to be involved with them are OUT of the party with immediate effect. They believe in the ballot box, not marching in the street.
Anyone that says they're from the BNP is a liar and a troublemaker. May be ex-BNP, but certainly not current!!
it"s so easy to keep
it"s so easy to keep throwing names at the EDL, but the reality is 95 percent of the supporters are fed up of the nulification of the british way of life, if theres any racism its against the white english?. funny how UAF got 55 arrested and only 12 EDL
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