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
Showing posts with label Solihull Muslim Community Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Solihull Muslim Community Association. Show all posts
March 26, 2008
March 11, 2008
BNP campaign raises race-hate fears
Fears are rife that racial tension could erupt in Solihull following a campaign by the BNP against plans for a Muslim community centre.
For 25 years Solihull Muslim Community Association (SMCA) has been searching for a home in the borough to no avail. Now the group has applied for planning permission to establish a cultural centre, which includes a prayer hall, in Dog Kennel Lane, Shirley, with 50 parking spaces.
However, the plans, which also include a wudu room for washing before prayer, have resulted in the Far Right BNP posting leaflets in the area claiming there is an "Islamification" of Solihull. The leaflet states that if the plan is given the go-ahead by Solihull Council it will lead to "conflict" and "discontentment".
A mother-of-three, who lives near the proposed centre, contacted the Birmingham Mail saying she feared the leaflet could provoke racism.
"I felt sickened when that leaflet came through my door," said the woman, who did not wish to be named. "I don't want the centre to be built in Dog Kennel Lane because I'm concerned about overspill parking into surrounding roads and I know other people are worried about the same thing. But for the BNP to seize on these objections and attack the plan on the grounds of race and religion is disgusting. Since that leaflet appeared I've heard people saying property prices will go down, which is ridiculous and dangerous. We all get on really well around here but I'm worried this might stir things up."
Dr Issam Ghannam, of SMCA, dismissed the BNP saying it had "lost its way".
"They don't take into account that there are a lot of British Muslims. In our group we have 23 different nationalities including Australian, British, Welsh, Scottish, Bangladesh and Indian. We welcome everyone," he said. "We need a base to run activities and the cultural centre will include a praying hall and a lecture hall."
Dr Ghannam added that they had been searching for a base since 1983 and although they had submitted the application, they would be fine tuning it.
BNP deputy leader Simon Darby, denied the group was stirring up hatred.
"We have a lot of support in Solihull and there will be a record number of candidates standing at this year's local election," he said.
A police spokesman said they were looking into the matter and investigating what impact the leaflet has had on the community.
Birmingham Mail
For 25 years Solihull Muslim Community Association (SMCA) has been searching for a home in the borough to no avail. Now the group has applied for planning permission to establish a cultural centre, which includes a prayer hall, in Dog Kennel Lane, Shirley, with 50 parking spaces.
However, the plans, which also include a wudu room for washing before prayer, have resulted in the Far Right BNP posting leaflets in the area claiming there is an "Islamification" of Solihull. The leaflet states that if the plan is given the go-ahead by Solihull Council it will lead to "conflict" and "discontentment".
A mother-of-three, who lives near the proposed centre, contacted the Birmingham Mail saying she feared the leaflet could provoke racism.
"I felt sickened when that leaflet came through my door," said the woman, who did not wish to be named. "I don't want the centre to be built in Dog Kennel Lane because I'm concerned about overspill parking into surrounding roads and I know other people are worried about the same thing. But for the BNP to seize on these objections and attack the plan on the grounds of race and religion is disgusting. Since that leaflet appeared I've heard people saying property prices will go down, which is ridiculous and dangerous. We all get on really well around here but I'm worried this might stir things up."
Dr Issam Ghannam, of SMCA, dismissed the BNP saying it had "lost its way".
"They don't take into account that there are a lot of British Muslims. In our group we have 23 different nationalities including Australian, British, Welsh, Scottish, Bangladesh and Indian. We welcome everyone," he said. "We need a base to run activities and the cultural centre will include a praying hall and a lecture hall."
Dr Ghannam added that they had been searching for a base since 1983 and although they had submitted the application, they would be fine tuning it.
BNP deputy leader Simon Darby, denied the group was stirring up hatred.
"We have a lot of support in Solihull and there will be a record number of candidates standing at this year's local election," he said.
A police spokesman said they were looking into the matter and investigating what impact the leaflet has had on the community.
Birmingham Mail
Labels:
BNP,
far-right,
racism,
Solihull Muslim Community Association
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