BNP 'is to blame' for web racism

Campaigners against racism have accused the British National Party of using the internet to create racial tension over the bid to establish an Islamic cultural centre in Solihull.

During the past fortnight, comments on Solihull Muslim Community Association's plan - some of them obscene - have been posted on the Facebook social networking website. The Solihull Unite Against Fascism group claimed the postings were part of a hate campaign orchestrated by the BNP and said they were "arguably an incitement to racial hatred under the Public Order Act".

It added the BNP was "responsible for publishing these comments if not directly speaking them".

A spokesman for the group said: "The BNP's campaign against the so called Islamification of Solihull is clearly racist and is intended to direct hate against a particular section of the community. It is in clear breach of the Facebook terms of use and the site owners should take urgent action to close it down."

SMCA applied for planning permission to build a cultural centre containing a prayer hall in Dog Kennel Lane, Shirley, but withdrew the application earlier this month for "technical reasons".

The association has been searching for a home for more than 20 years and several previous planning applications have been turned down by Solihull council.

Commenting on the website postings, Ken Meeson, leader of the council, said he would condemn any attempt by a political organisation to stir up controversy over a religious group.

"We have good community relations in Solihull and we don't want them to go sour," he said. "It looks as if the BNP is reverting to type but I would warn there are laws in this country concerning incitement to hatred."

Councillor Meeson (Con, Dorridge & Hockley Heath) also criticised Solihull's Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt for suggesting that he and other political leaders on the council should help SMCA find a suitable site for a cultural centre.

"She is wrong to expect the council to do this," he said. "We wouldn't do it for a Christian church, the Hindus, Sikhs or anybody else, so why a Muslim group? If we did we could be accused of discrimination."

Simon Darby, deputy leader of the BNP, denied the claims the party was inciting racial hatred on the Facebook website.

"The law stipulates there is a difference between religion and race. If we are accused of incitement by a named person we will sue for libel."

icSolihull