Police probe anti-Muslim website attacking Wrexham Mosque plan

Police are investigating a sick anti-Muslim website set up on Facebook to stir up tensions over fake claims a ‘super-mosque’ was being built in Wrexham.

The site “No to the super mosque in Wrexham” on the social network site wrongly claims permission has been given for a mosque at the Miners Institute in North Wales’s largest town. And the website, which bears the Welsh Defence League logo, is also filled with hateful messages against Muslims, which North Wales Police are now investigating.

The web group has more than 2,800 members and this follows a march by the Welsh Defence League designed to stir up tensions in the town. A counter group “Yes to the Super Mosque in Wrexham” has also been set up on Facebook.

The Wrexham Muslim Association (WMA) has denied there are any plans to convert the town’s Miners Institute building into a mosque but said there were plans to lease a small building in the town for worship. A spokesman for the WMA said: “There is nothing in this rumour we are setting up a mosque at the Miners Institute. We simply do not have enough money to do anything like that. But we are hopeful of leasing a place from the council next to St James’ Church in Wrexham.”

Commenting on the anti-Muslim remarks on the webpage on Facebook the spokesman added: “They are upsetting and annoying and I don’t want to pay any attention to such remarks.”

Ian Tetherington, secretary for anti-fascist group Searchlight Cymru, said: “A mosque is not something to be scared of, it would be something to be proud of. Wrexham has a history of tolerance and should be proud of that. These people are Welsh, they just happen to be Muslims, instead of Christians or Hindus, but they are still Welsh and just want somewhere to worship like other faiths.

“I don’t see why anyone would have a problem with them worshipping in a safe, dry place. The idea this is a ‘super-mosque’ is a complete fabrication made up to stir things up and create tension. There are a few hundred Muslims in Wrexham so why would they want a huge place of worship, this is simply not the case. Like other faiths in the town they just want somewhere to meet rather than the temporary building where they are currently having to meet. I live close to a mosque myself in Cardiff and do not understand why people would have an issue with it.”

A North Wales Police spokesman said: “We are aware of the site and are investigating. We are also liaising with members of the local community.”

Daily Post

500 celebrate fascist no-show

The Secretary of the leading anti-fascist organisation Searchlight Cymru has congratulated the people of Newport for the support they gave to yesterday’s anti-fascist rally in the City’s John Frost Square.

The English Defence League (EDL) intended to hold a rally in the city protesting at Islamic fundamentalism but in doing so targeting the whole city Muslim community. They cancelled after their disastrous visit to Swansea last week, but hundreds of people still turned out in support of a multicultural Newport.

Ian Titherington stated, “The fantastic turnout in Newport today has clarified, if it was needed, what local people think about fascism visiting the streets of their city. It was the intention of the EDL to recruit for the Welsh Defence League in both Swansea and Newport, but their efforts have been a dismal failure.”

Today’s event had live music, as well as many supportive speeches from politicians and other organisations.

He added, “Newport Communities Against Racism deserves huge credit for today’s event. Such grass roots organisations are the most potent ways of facing up to and defeating organised fascism.”

He concluded, “The last two Saturdays have been disastrous for the EDL. Not only did they fail to build the Welsh Defence League as a consequence, but they created dozens of new anti-fascists across South Wales. It shows what passionate and peaceful protest can win, in the battle against the rise of fascism.”

Hope not hate

Welsh Defence League show true colours

They denied being fascists ahead of their first Welsh march – but at yesterday’s Welsh Defence League protest against Islamic extremism onlookers were confronted with scenes of jeering men giving Nazi salutes.

It was the first time the newly-formed group have been out on the streets in Wales. At a similar event in Birmingham a few weeks ago trouble flared when the English Defence League, which describes itself as “peacefully protesting against militant Islam”, and anti-fascism groups fought on the street. At the gathering in Swansea, a 25-year-old man was arrested for a racially-aggravated public order offence.

The controversial march had sparked a counter-demonstration, with about 200 protesters occupying the city centre. A heavy police cordon on either side of Castle Street in Swansea city centre kept the two groups apart.

Speaking before its demonstration, the Welsh Defence League (WDL) said the event would be peaceful, and consistently denied allegations of fascist tendencies. But the ugly scenes, in which grown men among the group of around 60 were seen making Nazi salutes in front of small children, seemed to prove otherwise.

Keith Ross, one of the organisers of the counter demonstration by groups including Swansea City of Sanctuary and Searchlight Cymru, said: “My first reaction to the WDL is who are they defending us against? I don’t need to be defended against Muslims and I’m sad that the WDL has made a public call for no more mosques, which is a breach of human rights. Yet they have been given the right of freedom of speech.”

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Leanne Woods was among those who had turned out to oppose the Welsh Defence League. She said: “This is the first time they have come to Wales and a lot of people from different organisations have come out to say far-right extremism isn’t acceptable on the streets of Swansea. We are happy to live together with the Muslim community and we are not prepared to accept divisive and hate-based politics on our streets.”

Dr Mohammed Rahman, who attends Swansea Mosque, said Muslims in Swansea were very much an accepted part of the community. He said: “In any society in the world there will be some elements who will be against Islam or Christianity or some other religion, so this is a normal thing to happen. But it is a very, very minor percentage of people. I feel very secure in the community here because most of the people support us.”

Speaking after the demonstrations, chief superintendent Mark Mathias, of South Wales Police, said he had hoped the two sides would be separated but was pleased with a relatively peaceful outcome.

“When you bring two groups together there’s going to be passion, and that’s what we have had today,” he said. “I am pleased with the success of the police operation, which allowed the protests to pass off peacefully, whilst taking into account the rights of the people of Swansea to go about their normal business.”

Wales Online

Anger as BNP have stall at Vale show

Angry opponents of the British National Party have protested after the political group was allowed to run a stall at Vale of Glamorgan Show.

The show took place at Fonmon Castle on Wednesday and was attended by an estimated 25,000 people.

A spokeswoman for Plaid Cymru said: “We were very unhappy that the BNP was given official status at the show and permitted to distribute their material. When we protested, we were told by the show organisers that the BNP had as much right to be there as us. The concern is that the BNP is seeking to make itself appear respectable, and in future will try to get admission to the Royal Welsh and the National Eisteddfod.”

Bethan Roberts, who is campaigning to be Labour’s next parliamentary candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan, said: “The BNP’s presence at the Vale Show is deeply disturbing.”

Darron Dupre, from the anti-fascist group Searchlight Cymru, said: “The BNP has taken a small stall at the Vale of Glamorgan show for a few years now. We have asked the event organisers more than once in that time whether it is appropriate to take money from them. Their response has always been the same – the BNP is a legal political party. Searchlight Cymru has absolutely no interest in helping the BNP to gain sympathy or be portrayed as victims by causing a scene at a family fun event, not least when the electorate in Vale of Glamorgan consistently rejects the message of the BNP.”

Nicola Gibson, the show secretary, said: “So far as we are concerned, the BNP is a registered political party. It is not for us to deny them the right to a stall.”

The BNP’s deputy leader and press officer Simon Darby did not return our call.

Wales Online

Dirwasgiad a’r bygythiad Ffasgaidd

Plaid Cymru, the progressive Nationalist Party of Wales hosted a Searchlight Cymru fringe meeting at their spring conference, addressed by Matthew Collins [yesterday].

Searchlight Cymru (previously Wales Friends of Searchlight) enjoys cross-party support in Wales and, the day before, the main parties of Wales agreed once more to back an all-party anti-BNP campaign in the European election. The meeting began with the delegates wishing Matthew a happy birthday in Welsh though he was not willing to divulge his age to the fifty-strong audience!

The meeting was titled “Dirwasgiad a’r bygythiad Ffasgaidd” or for our non-Welsh speaking readers, “Recession and the Fascist Threat”. Plaid Cymru AM Nerys Evans chaired the meeting and called upon all parties of Wales to back the Searchlight Hope not Hate campaign. “We must recognise [the BNP] as a threat that is ever present, and we must remain eternally vigilante, whatever party we support in Wales.”

Martin Shipton of the NUJ, a man who has more than once exposed the BNP in Wales, spoke warmly of his own connections to Searchlight and our publisher Gerry Gable and called upon other journalists working in Wales not to be fooled into filling copy verbatim from BNP press releases.

“As journalists, we must investigate and expose the fascist nature of the BNP when and wherever possible,” he said.

Rob Griffiths, chair of Searchlight Cymru, called upon all those present to make 17 May a Wales against the BNP day. “We may have a good tradition of fighting fascism, but we are not inoculated at birth against it. It is an ever present threat here and they must be driven out.”

Days of action will now take place in Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport, as Wales commits itself to remaining Nazi-free.

Hope not hate

Searchlight calls for BNP candidate to back up ‘extraordinary’ claims, or resign

A campaigning organisation, dedicated to challenging racist and fascist bodies in Wales, has called on a Carmarthenshire candidate for county council elections to back up claims he has made in his election campaign, or resign.

Searchlight Cymru is asking Kevin Edwards, BNP candidate for the ward of Penygroes in Carmarthenshire, to justify two extraordinary claims he has made in his leaflet. In Mr Edwards' election leaflet, he states that soldiers at Birmingham hospitals have to remove their uniforms so as not to offend Muslim staff and visitors. The leaflet also states that homosexuality is now being taught in our schools to children as young as four years of age.

Darron Dupre, Secretary of Searchlight Cymru is amazed at the claims.

"We were a bit bemused by such claims, but were happy to give Mr Edwards the benefit of the doubt, so checked" he says.

"We can find no evidence of his claims anywhere. We know of an unsubstantiated newspaper report of Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, but that has been disproved some time ago. We also asked the NUT about the subjects taught to four year olds. To be honest, they were most bemused about Mr Edwards' claims.

"As Mr Edwards obviously knows something that no one else knows, then we ask that he, like any candidate, can back up claims with some facts. If he cannot substantiate such inflammatory claims, then we would expect him to do the honourable thing and resign his candidacy," says Mr Dupre.

Mr Dupre is asking the voters of Carmarthenshire to look into claims by candidates before accepting them as fact.

"On his glossy election leaflet, Mr Edwards states that British people should always get priority on the housing queue over asylum seekers, but as most people know, asylum seekers are not entitled to council housing. He further states that asylum seekers get free cars and TVs. Again, everyone at Searchlight Cymru is intrigued to learn exactly where this is happening."

"If Mr Edwards cannot justify these claims, then he is treating all voters in Carmarthenshire with utter contempt. Voters will have to consider whether they really want to elect someone who is wrong about the healthcare of British soldiers, doesn't understand schools or education and has no idea about council house waiting lists. Our only advice to Carmarthenshire voters is to use your vote and use it wisely".

Searchlight Cymru

Answers to common lies and myths published by the BNP in their leaflets

A BNP leaflet comes through the door. It makes wonderful promises to improve everyone's life in your neighbourhood, and wants only one thing in return. For you, like them, to use race and blame when you decide which cross to put on the ballot paper.

Here we give you the simple truth and facts behind the BNP statements on their campaign literature. If you have anymore questions you would like a factual answer to in relation BNP claims, just e-mail us at info@searchlightcymru.org.uk and we will update the list as we go along.

Blame: ‘The BNP would put an end to the flow of cheap migrant workers which is flooding this country and costing us jobs. We would fine companies employing them'.
Fact: Migrant workers are people who move to another country to work. Generally people can move within the EU and that is why so many British people retire to live in countries such as Spain, France, Bulgaria and Portugal.

Migrant workers should not be confused with illegal immigrants who are people who do not have permission to live here.

Where do they come from?

Migrant workers come from many countries across the world, but mainly from within Europe. Recently more countries have joined the European Union (EU) including Poland.

Why have migrant workers come to Wales?

Migrant workers move to areas where there are jobs, cheap rented housing and good transport links between home and work. The UK has an ageing population and so migrant workers are needed to ensure there are enough people to fill all jobs. Migrant labour is making a positive contribution to Wales, filling vacancies in farming and manufacturing as well as taking up higher skilled jobs such as engineering and healthcare.

Why do employers recruit people from abroad?

For some employers, the problem is finding people with the right skills, such as doctors and dentists. For those recruiting to low skilled and low paid jobs, such as in factories and on farms, the problem has been finding enough people, to do the work. So when some employers cannot fill vacancies with local people they take on migrant workers.

What rights do migrant workers have when they are here? Do they just come for benefits?

Migrant workers pay taxes when they work in the UK and so are entitled to the same services as others in the community. They are also entitled to the same employment rights such as minimum wage and holidays as other workers.

Some European migrant workers can apply for social security benefits; although most have to be in continuous employment for at least 12 months before they are entitled to apply for any benefits or housing assistance. Migrant workers from outside Europe, who are here on work permits, are generally not entitled to such benefits. According to the very latest national statistics, less than 3% of migrant workers claim any out of work benefit.

It is estimated that many millions of pounds are contributed to the UK economy by European migrant workers alone, above what they claim in public services.

How can I welcome and support migrant workers?

Welcome new neighbours when they move in, offer support and provide information such as which day the bins are emptied, where the library and the council offices are and find out if there is any other information they need to know.

What are the challenges for public services?

Many public services rely on migrant workers to fill jobs which could not otherwise be filled, for instance the health service rely on doctors and nurses from overseas. For many workers their time spent in Britain and in Wales can be very positive and enjoyable. However, for others the experience can be less positive, as they are sometimes treated badly by employers, landlords or members of the public.

Blame: Trade Unions turn a blind eye to workers losing their jobs to lower paid migrant workers in Wales.
Fact: Where trade unions have seen this (very) rare practice, they have acted decisively. The Irish Ferries Dispute in December 2006 which resulted in mass protests across Welsh was led by trade unionists. They were protesting an employer who wanted to undercut British and Irish workers and replace them with Baltic migrant workers on less than the Irish Minimum Wage. The Baltic trade unions were fully supportive of the Irish and UK trade unions, 50,000 workers marched in Dublin and mass protests in Holyhead and Pembroke Dock were led by the Wales TUC. You see the difference between us and the BNP is whilst we support Welsh Workers, we don't play the blame game on migrant workers who are being exploited. Big, big difference. And no the BNP, nor their invisible trade union front, Solidarity, did not offer any support (much less solidarity) to workers in the Irish Ferries dispute.

Blame: Islam is responsible for the supply of drugs in the UK.
Fact: The BNP has produced no evidence at any time that any religion is responsible for the importation of drugs into the UK. In fact there is no evidence other than that hardened criminals are solely responsible. Drugs come into the UK from all over the world and from every continent.

Blame: Asylum Seekers get to the top of the housing ladder.
Fact: Asylum seekers are housed according to a completely different government system of support to British residents and are not entitled to council housing tenancy or housing benefit.

Previously, when asylum seekers were dispersed by the British Government, Councils housed them with private landlords. They were not given council housing. The money to accommodate them was given by Central government. It did not come from local taxes.

Those given refugee status do have the right to live and work in the UK. They can also apply for social or council housing. However their application is treated exactly the same as everyone else and is assessed under a range of criteria to do with their family and personal circumstances.

Blame: Almost all Asylum seekers are bogus. "The most cautious estimate is 50,000 bogus asylum seekers and illegals a year slipping into Britain" (The Sun 29-9-2003)
Fact: There were 84,130 asylum applications made in 2002 in the UK, one of the highest on record, yet 48% or nearly half of all asylum claimants in 2002 were recognised as having the legitimate right to remain in this country.

According to Home Office statistics (published May 22 2003) 84,130 asylum applications were made in 2002. Some 10% of applicants were granted refugee status with a further 24 percent of individuals being granted Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR). A further 14% were later granted the right to remain after appeals were made against an initial negative decision.

An application for protection can be genuinely made and still not succeed in law - and the law is quite narrow. This is not to overlook or ignore the reality of false claims for asylum. However, the asylum system is far from the easiest route of entry for those that are not in need of protection. Britain's need for labour migrants has lead to other legal avenues for immigrants under the managed migration policy; as a result the incentive to abuse the system is waning.

Blame: ‘Asylum Seekers come here and get everything handed to them on a plate. From free TV's to cheques for cars they get it all. The BNP says enough is enough. Its time to British people first'.
Fact: No migrants, asylum-seekers or refugees are given free phones, TVs, cars, cookers, washing machines or any household items. This is one of the biggest and most common myths and lies. If an asylum seeker has a mobile phone, he or she has probably saved for it (they are now cheap) as an essential means of communicating with friends, family or others. An Asylum Seeker over 25 gets just £39.34 a week. Any support costs are paid in full by Central Government not the Council. Asylum Seekers are banned from working so are forced to live on this benefit. There are fewer than 2,500 people seeking asylum in Wales - that's less than 0.1% of the total population and around 10,000 refugees. Most asylum seekers and refugees live in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, with a small number living in Wrexham and a handful of people outside these areas. If all the refugees and asylum seekers in Wales sat in the Millennium Stadium, they would only fill the first 16 rows. If anyone from the BNP claims that migrant workers, asylum seekers or refugees get free phones, cars or washing machines, ask for proof. You won't get it.

Blame: Why are asylum seekers and refugees coming to Wales?
Fact: Refugees and asylum seekers arrive in Wales in search of a place of safety from persecution. This is reflected in the countries of origin of the highest numbers of asylum seekers in Wales - Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Turkey - all countries with poor human rights records or places where war and conflict is on-going. The 1951 Refugee Convention guarantees everybody the right to apply for asylum and has saved millions of lives. Most asylum seekers do not come to Britain - they stay in the first safe country they reach or are internally displaced within their own country. The vast majority of refugees can be found in the developing world, accounting for 72% of the world's estimated 12 million refugees between 1992 and 2001. Research shows that most asylum seekers who do come to the UK have little choice in the matter - they are dependent on whoever arranges their escape. For those who do have a choice, the main reasons are: some knowledge of English, having relatives or friends living in the country and a belief that the UK is a safe, tolerant and democratic society. The UK, one of the richest countries in the world is home to just 3% of the world's refugees.

Blame: Gypsies and Travellers are scroungers and criminals.
Fact: Gypsies and Travellers pay tax and rent and the Police in Wales say they are no more likely to commit crime than anyone else. That fact is that Gypsies and Travellers are a race of people with their own unique history and culture. However, as a group and as individuals they often face extreme discrimination and racism. Alongside Jews, the Nazi's targeted Gypsies and Travellers and shipped hundreds of thousands to their deaths in concentration camps. Unfortunately, some mainstream political parties, including in Wales, have been guilty of appalling double standards when it has come to supporting the needs of travellers and gypsies in the UK which the BNP has been only too happy to feed into.

Blame: The BNP says no to anymore mosques. We will oppose any planning applications for mosques. These buildings are unsightly and the noise and parking problems they create make life a misery for residents.
Fact: A mosque is no more unsightly, noisy and difficult to park in than a church. However, the BNP won't ban churches because they presume that Christianity is a white, British religion. It is not about planning or noise, just old fashioned racism.

Blame: Searchlight Cymru and others turn a blind eye when migrant workers, Muslims and asylum seekers commit crimes.
Fact: No we don't. Everyone is equal before the law. If you murder someone, whoever you are then you should be locked up. But why does the BNP and others pre-suppose that most criminals are from overseas? There is absolutely never evidence behind it other than to create fear in your community. Is it also because if you commit a crime the mass media only label you by your religion, sexuality or colour if you are in a minority such as a Muslim or being black? You will never hear talk of ‘convicted British, white, heterosexual, Christian extremist terrorist bombers' such as the BNP's Tony Lecomber, Robert Cottage or David Copeland. That's partially because some parts of the media and BNP are utterly racist to the core, but also because the BNP houses convicted British, white, heterosexual, Christian extremist terrorist bombers and in the case of Robert Cottage refused to help the police investigation.

References: With grateful thanks to the following organisations for using some of their online expertise in this question and answer guide;

• Humber Improvement Partnership (migrant workers. Your questions answered)
• Croeso project (CEHR)
• Northamptonshire County Council (myths and facts on housing)
• Southampton County Council (key myths on asylum seekers)
• Sheffield City of Welcome
• Wales TUC Cymru (facts about migrant workers)
• BNP Wrexham election leaflet

Searchlight Cymru

Hope not Hate holds successful march and rally in Wrexham

Over two hundred anti-fascists supported the Wales TUC and Wrexham Trades Council march and rally through Wrexham on Saturday.

Searchlight Cymru, as well as a number of organisations, politicians and supporters joined local citizens to give a loud message that the racist politics of the BNP was not welcome in Wrexham.

Led by the famous Cambria Drum Band, the march and rally wound through Wrexham city centre, where it was met by taunting and laughter from a BNP stand staffed by a strange mixture of skinheads, older ladies and sharp suited organisers. The Cambria Drum Band led off the March into Wrexham town centre. Following the march, a very successful rally was held at the Miners Institute.

Searchlight Cymru gave away over 1,000 leaflets explaining why Wales is a tolerant and great place to live, but whose problems need to be dealt with in a non-racist and threatening environment.

The BNP gave out a couple of hundred Voices of Freedom newspapers whose unhelpful solutions for employment, economic inactivity, housing and community cohesion include attacking Islam, bringing back the death penalty, withdrawal from the EU and abusing the Archbishop of Canterbury. Their accompanying Welsh leaflet further excited the people of Wrexham by calling for motorway speed limits to be raised, linking foreign aid with repatriation and ending the conflict in Ireland by putting Eire into the UK.

Searchlight Cymru also sent out a team of litter pickers to ensure Wrexham was free from the discarded extremist newspapers that littered the streets and put them in bins where they belonged.

The BNP reports that just 10 locals bothered to take part with a coach load of bedraggled leftists arriving from outside Wales managing to bolster the Communist numbers to about 50 in total !! The 'bedraggled leftists' were in fact all from Wales on the Searchlight Cymru coach. Admittedly the coach company had a Welsh name, which probably confused the BNP no end. Amongst the ‘leftists’ were a number of very well behaved children who were a credit to their parents.

On a lighter note, one member of the Searchlight Cymru party was very interested in the St David flag on the BNP stall. A little bit cheekily he asked 'what's that flag ?'. A very helpful woman replied that it was the flag of Cornwall. In fairness it is very easy to get confused between the two. One is black with a yellow cross and is displayed at every Welsh rugby and football match, at many churches and is on the Cardiff City football kit. The other one is a black flag with a white cross on it quite often seen in the south West of England.

Searchlight Cymru