Wigan Mike - tank-top nazi queen 2009Michael Heaton, 43, who is a former leader of the British Freedom Fighters, was jailed last year for posting more than 3,000 hate-filled comments on far-right websites. But the Aryan Strike Force member has complained to prison chiefs at HMP Wymott, Lancs., after he was banned from wearing a Thor’s Hammer pendant.
He claims his rights are being infringed but prison bosses have ruled that the necklace has a ”fascist meaning” and ”Neo-Nazi overtones”.
In a letter sent to inmates’ magazine Inside Time, the ex-English Defence League activist complained he was being singled out for religious discrimination. He said: ”Moslems (sic) can wear hats in prison when nobody else can, Christians are allowed their crosses, so imagine my shock when I enquired about wearing my religious pendant and was refused. I am what is called an Odinist. So that I can feel nearer my god I requested to be allowed to wear my pendant.
”The reply I got was that my application had been refused on the grounds that the pendant ‘looks a little like a Maltese cross, which has a fascist meaning and neo-Nazi overtones’. To say I was shocked at this would be an understatement! Other religious groups are afforded the respect for their religious symbols in prison, so why not me? His (the governor) response was that Thor’s hammer is on the prison ‘banned list’. Surely this cannot be right? Is there anything I can do about it?”
Heaton, serving 30 months in jail for using threatening and abusive language likely to stir up racial hatred, claims that his pendant is an Odinist rather than a Nazi symbol. However, prison staff refused his request to wear it after learning that far-right groups have adopted the symbol as a depiction of aryan supremacy.
A trial at Liverpool Crown Court in June last year heard food packer Heaton, who has a scorpion tattoo on his neck, wanted to ”clear the country of all ethnic minorities”. He posted a series of racist comments on the Aryan Strike Force website including: ”Jews will always be scum and must be destroyed.”
He added: ”I would encourage any religion or race which wants to destroy the Jews, I hate them with a passion.”
Mike's Mummy keeps the nazi's room clean for when he returns from the clinkJudge Stephen Irwin said: ”You wanted to start a race war. You were clearly filled with racial hatred.”
A Prison Service spokesperson said it would not discuss complaints made by individual inmates. He said: ”The provision of religious artefacts in prison is at the discretion of the governor following a thorough risk assessment.”
Norse gods Thor and Odin are worshipped by Odinists and Pagans but their symbols have been hijacked by many white supremacist and Neo-Nazi groups.
Heaton’s co-defendant Trevor Hannington, 58, of Cardiff, was sentenced to two years for six offences.
Small World News Service
29 comments:
Weak article, really. Not one mention about the fact he was a regular at EDL marches and claims to have been invited by the EDL leadership.
Seems ironic that the EDL have been ringing him up asking him and Penis88 to attend, when both are extreme anti-Semetic unconstituted nazis.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/Anti+Islamic+group+from+hold+rally/4066857/story.html
This is a bit of an own goal, in fairness. The man is clearly a racist arsehole, and a terrorist, but his claim about religious discrimination is fair enough. I know he's probably chosen "Odinism" as his faith due to his political and racial beliefs, but revoking his Mjollnir pendant on such a tenuous premise is an attack on religious freedom.
It should also be noted that there are many practitioners of Asatru (faith in the Norse pantheon) who could be treated in much the same way if incarcerated, regardless of their political leaning.
It's a slippery slope, and this issue will, no-doubt, feed the victim complex of the extreme right fringe.
So that I can feel nearer my god I requested to be allowed to wear my pendant.
Grow up !
"Imprisoned Neo-Nazi claims he’s the victim of religious discrimination"
Nazis really don't understand irony, do they.
It's easy to criticise people like Heaton and others of his ilk - they are indeed racist and potentially dangerous, even if the extent of his activism was posting comments on the internet! (How very aryan warrior-like!)
But Heaton has a right to rehabilitation just like the really sick and odious people in our society such as rapists and child murderers. We should be as active in encouraging the rehabilitation of, as we are in political opposition to, the far-right. After all, if Heaton is 'persecuted' inside for his beliefs and left to fester in his own cell, he will return to society possibly even more embittered. A good programme of rehabilitation might just convert him from his poisonous views.
A semi automatic bb gun lmao
Rehabilitation? That appears the last thing on his mind? Unless anyone is thinking: Being a really good Nazi from now on is rehabilitation?
Odinism isn't a real religion, but a dangerous racist cult. Looney lee Barnes, Green Arrow and Red Squirrel are fellow Odinists of the Wodinist camp. Not just mad but religious extremists, the Norse equivalent of Al Quaida.
Me thinks the posts defending Odinism are fascist trolls!!!
NO MORE TROLLS! ODIN SUCKS!
Jack Straw bis grasping at racist straws by bullshitting racist populist rubbish for the sake of helping Labour win over the BNP voters in Oldham.
"I am what is called an Odinist. So that I can feel nearer my god I requested to be allowed to wear my pendant."
Did he mean Onanist? And if he wants to be nearer to his god then I'm sure a lot of anti-fascists will help him along the way.
Some of the above comments about rehabilitation are missing the point. If he's allowed to wear his Nazi insignia how is that weaning him off fascist politics? I can't see how a loon like this pillock could leave prison more embittered than when he went in. Would he want to kill all Jews plus a few more?
The silly little nazzer seems to have got Odinist and odious mixed-up.
The silly little nazzer seems to have got Odinist and odious mixed-up.
Yes, there is a "mod" on a fash forum who used to call herself odinsgal but she was widely known behind her back as odiousslag. Sexist but true.
I've just noticed that the Green Sparrow has launched a "Nationalist Business Directory".
Should make interesting reading.
Danny Lake has published his letter of resignation as the Wiltshire Chairman of British Freedom claiming, among other things, that the BFP was trying to give "political direction" to the EDL.
The Green Sparrow's "Nationalist business directory" has been up these for a good few weeks now. it makes good reading only if you like blank spaces. the very few businesses that are in it are probably run by his mates. The good news is that the "directory" gives people a one-stop shop of racist businesses to avoid.
Being in it must be akin to business suicide.
That nazzer biz directory is very useful :)
Odin Sucks said -
"Odinism isn't a real religion, but a dangerous racist cult. Looney lee Barnes, Green Arrow and Red Squirrel are fellow Odinists of the Wodinist camp. Not just mad but religious extremists, the Norse equivalent of Al Quaida.
Me thinks the posts defending Odinism are fascist trolls!!!
NO MORE TROLLS! ODIN SUCKS!"
What stunning ignorance. If you had any knowledge of paganism or of the (mostly lost) traditions of Scandinavia and Teutonic Germany, you wouldn't be so quick to tar everyone with the same brush. Granted, a lot of idiotic racists cling to Asatru due to it's association with the Nordic peoples. And I find it funny that I'm having to defend their rights, as I'm an atheist and a socialist. I just believe in freedom of religious expression, and it applies as much to them as it does to Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, or [insert wacky fringe religion here].
If we're to condone the denial of people's rights due to their political affiliation, does that not make us no better than the EDL, BNP or the other hateful scum we're meant to be actively opposing?
Anyway, your paranoia is worryingly like that of those BNP chappies, and if you're going to accuse me of being a fascist, please at least try and use some creative language to do so, as opposed to sounding like Keanu Reeves a la 'Bill & Ted'. Suuucks duuuuude.
[Apologies to the moderator for this lengthy reply, but I think it's a point worth making.]
Jack Straw bis grasping at racist straws by bullshitting racist populist rubbish for the sake of helping Labour win over the BNP voters in Oldham.
Couldn't quite following your comment but the Jack Straw comments would have been a political godsend to the Griffin had they happened a few years ago before a big byelection.
Thankfully, today, the BNP are in such a weakened state that hopefully they won't capitalise upon them.
Tarik, do Odinists talk about 'destroying all Jews' and yell sieg heil a lot? This idiot has no religious beliefs, if he had he wouldn't declare that he wanted to destroy the followers of other religions, now would he? His aim is to stir-up as much hatred against Muslims and Jews in particular. He's also an idiot. I also think Tarik is a troll, because unlike Heaton most on here are not idiots.
[Note to moderator: I posted no attacks on other commenters and simply clarified my position, but the comment was not allowed. Why? Just because I had a difference of opinion with a regular commenter? Alfie asked me a question and I answered it. Shame on you for acting just like the nazzers do on their blogs and fora! I can understand moderating offensive material, racial hatred, etc, but you're clearly acting in a fashion becoming of a fascist, disallowing commentary from fellow anti-Racists merely because they don't correlate with the (surprisingly bigoted and paranoid) consensus.
I will continue to read your blog as it does act as a decent aggregator of relevant stories about the right wing and the danger it represents, but I cannot pretend I'm enthused by the conduct you, as a moderator, have exhibited. I hope this message gives you pause for thought. - Tarik]
@Tarik
There are a number of moderators on the blog who have the ability to delete posts and who delete them for a number of reasons. I've no idea why your post was deleted but if you care to re-post, I'll be happy to take a look at it and either allow the post or at least explain why it isn't allowed through.
[Thank you Antifascist for having the integrity that another trigger-happy moderator sorely lacks. :) ]
Alfie North said...
"Tarik, do Odinists talk about 'destroying all Jews' and yell sieg heil a lot? This idiot has no religious beliefs, if he had he wouldn't declare that he wanted to destroy the followers of other religions, now would he? His aim is to stir-up as much hatred against Muslims and Jews in particular. He's also an idiot. I also think Tarik is a troll, because unlike Heaton most on here are not idiots."
Some Odinists do, a hell of a lot don't. Much like the political makeup of other religions, and those without, political leaning is influenced by myriad factors and no religion demands that a certain political viewpoint be adhered to, as far as I'm aware. All religions have people who hold diverse viewpoints on the political spectrum.
On your point about Heaton's motives - who can say? He's clearly an odious racist, but who is to say an odious racist must be denied their claim to a religious belief? Why is it acceptable to deny a person their right to religious freedom on the premise that they hold views you don't find palatable? What actual threat does a Mjollnir pendant pose? Why fuel the paranoid victim complex that people of Heaton's ilk invariably suffer from?
My point is, you are either for religious tolerance and understanding, or you're not, but it's pretty bad form to cherrypick based on political leaning, and makes accusations of hypocrisy all the more easy.
As for being a troll, aside from the humourous ironic connotations given the subject matter (trolls being a prominent feature of Norse mythology), you and the other poster are suggesting I'm an assumed identity, here to sow discord and get kicks from pissing folk off or falsely representing a viewpoint to that end (which is what Internet trolls do, by definition). That is patently absurd, given the fact I've merely made a point based on principles of tolerance. Smearing others like this doesn't add to debate or understanding, and is a tactic often used by the fash to discredit opposition, or each other (in factional terms).
Rant over, and thanks again to Antifascist for being reasonable.
GIVE THE MAN BACK HIS NECKLACE!!
Honestly! What next?
Am I the only one to spot that there is a Samurai Sword (cased) hanging on the wall above the bed?
Smarty Pants, no, the police noticed too. Hence that sword being mentioned in the seized items. *sigh*
I repeat Heaton has declared an aim of 'destroying all Jews'. I'm no bleedin' heart liberal, or some libertarian, so as far as I'm concerned any claim to his religious rights (which he would deny to everyone else) go out of the window, when some Nazi like Mr Heaton, or anyone else for that matter, makes such odious remarks such as these. The sooner he moves onto Valhalla the better for all humankind, including, I might add, any followers of paganism.
Alfie North said...
"I repeat Heaton has declared an aim of 'destroying all Jews'. I'm no bleedin' heart liberal, or some libertarian, so as far as I'm concerned any claim to his religious rights (which he would deny to everyone else) go out of the window, when some Nazi like Mr Heaton, or anyone else for that matter, makes such odious remarks such as these. The sooner he moves onto Valhalla the better for all humankind, including, I might add, any followers of paganism."
You're entirely missing the point that moves such as these merely galvanise the nutters with affirmation of their paranoid victim complexes. By all means, lock them up when they're out of line, and resist their actions, but don't score points by acting or condoning actions in the same spirit as theirs.
If Heaton would deny others their rights then how exactly does acting like him solve anything and not make those who support that stance all the more like him?
I'm not denying him any rights, it's the prison authorities who are doing that. They have ruled that the necklace has a ”fascist meaning” and ”Neo-Nazi overtones”. They also deem "the symbol as a depiction of aryan supremacy." You explicitly express this is a denial of his rights and should be defended. You appear to be referencing François-Marie Arouet, pen name Voltaire and his famous quote: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." So, you would appear to "defend to the death" his right to wear some dodgy necklace? One would also assume that you therefore "defend to the death" Heaton's right to say:”Jews will always be scum and must be destroyed.” and ”I would encourage any religion or race which wants to destroy the Jews, I hate them with a passion”? We will have to agree to disagree on your Voltarian libertarianism.
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