Edmonton mosque among targets of 'hate mail campaign'

An Edmonton mosque was the target of hate mail and a package of suspect powder sent through the post.

The Edmonton Islamic Centre was among a host of mosques across the UK targeted in a suspected hate mail campaign over the last few weeks.

Tariq Chaudhri, secretary of the trust which runs the centre, called in police after opening a package on Tuesday, June 14. He told the Enfield Independent: “The envelope seemed a bit heavier than usual, and when I opened it some powder came out. I washed my hands and put the letter to one side, and called police.”

Officers evacuated the centre, in Raynham Road, as a precaution, just after 1pm, until specialist officers had determined the powder was harmless.

An accompanying letter included, according to Mr Chaudhri, insults to the Prophet Mohammed and offensive drawings. He added: “We haven't had any problems here before, we've got a good relationship with the community and don't have problems with extremist views. It seems someone is going round [the] whole of London, it has happened in quite a few places.”

The Met confirmed it is investigating a series of suspicious packages being sent to mosques around London, Dorset, Merseyside, Sussex, and Gloucestershire. The North London Central Mosque in Finsbury Park was among those targeted, and police have sent a letter to all mosques in the capital warning them to be cautious when opening mail.

No one has been arrested, and detectives are looking at whether the incidents are linked.

This is Local London

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

Blackburn: councillors, mosques and activists unite against EDL

Local councillors, the Lancashire Council of Mosques, the Bishop of Blackburn and a host of trade union activists are all urging local residents to come out and show unity against the racist English Defence League on Saturday 2 April.

Racist

The racist EDL – which has links to the British National Party and other fascist groups – wants to bring its poisonous message to the Lancashire town on that day.

But Blackburn & Darwen United Against Racism supported by UAF, Blackburn Trades Council, Blackburn College Students Union and the Youth On A Mission organisation have called a celebration of multicultural Blackburn on 2 April, to show that the racist EDL is not welcome in Blackburn.

The organisers say:

'On that day people from all sections of our community will be uniting in a public & peaceful celebration of our intent to live our lives, free from hatred, racism, intolerance and bigotry.

We do not wish to see our town become the venue for the latest display of EDL intimidation and violence, which is the hallmark of all of their public activity. Please come along and join in our celebration. There is far more that unites us than divides us.'

Mosques

Lancashire Council of Mosques this week urged Muslims and non-Muslims alike to join the multicultural celebration event and show their opposition to the EDL. They said:

'We encourage all people of all backgrounds to come out and attend the celebration of multicultural Blackburn being held in Sudell Cross on 2 April. We particularly call on the mosques to encourage their congregations to actively come out and support this event.

It is important that we demonstrate to the country at large that the vast majority of hard working and decent people in Lancashire abhor the poisonous and divisive messages of the EDL and that there is no place for the views they propagate in our communities.'

Backing

The list of local politicians, faith leaders, trade union activists and others backing the event includes: Lancashire Council of Mosques, Bishop of Blackburn Mr Nicholas Blackburn, Sir Bill Taylor, Michael Hindley leader of Hyndburn Council, Lancashire County councillor and former MEP Lancashire East, Kate Hollern leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, David Foster leader of Blackburn and Darwen Liberal Democrats, Councillor Mohammed Khan, Councillor Tony Humphrys, Councillor Pat McFall, Councillor Dave Harling, Councillor Jim Shorrock, Councillor Salim Sidat, Councillor Andy Kay, Councillor Faryad Hussain, Councillor Abdul Samad Patel, Councillor Maureen Bateson, Councillor Eileen Entwistle, Councillor Naushad Surve, Councillor Mike Johnson, Peter Billington Lancashire TUC, Shaukat Hussain chair Labour Party local government committee, Karen Narramore secretary Unison East Lancs branch, Peter Dales chair Unison East Lancashire Health branch, Simon Jones secretary Blackburn with Darwen National Union of Teachers, Paul Hogan assistant secretary Blackburn with Darwen National Union of Teachers, Anjum Anwar director of Womens Voice, Phil Riley secretary Blackburn Labour Party, Craig Hammond chair University & College Union Blackburn branch, Ashley Whalley secretary University & College Union Blackburn branch, Ian Gallagher Blackburn & District TUC, Gareth Roscoe secretary Unison BwDBC Local Government branch, Hansa Canon Unison black members officer, Pat Maudsley Blackburn Labour Party, Frances Bradley senior Unison steward, Dave Bradley Unison steward, Frank Davis Unite senior union rep Crown Paints, Bob Wellham Unite senior union rep Crown Paints.

UAF

Muslim community unites with anti-fascists to call for vote against the BNP

Today the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) will call for a vote against the fascist British National Party (BNP) during Friday prayers and distribute leaflets, produced jointly with the Unite Against Fascism campaign, to highlight the danger of the BNP to the Muslim community.

The BNP has vilified the Muslim community, calling its local election campaign last year a "referendum on Islam". It has spread racist myths about Muslim men 'grooming' white girls for sex and asserts that Islam has expanded by rape and violence. BNP leader Nick Griffin has labelled Islam a "wicked vicious faith". In the run up to this May's elections the BNP has whipped up Islamophobia to oppose plans to build mosques in Dudley in the West Midlands and in Stratford in London.

In 2006 the BNP gained a record 238,000 votes, which brought its councillors up to an unprecedented 49 seats.

A strong alliance between the Muslim and the anti-fascist majority including the trade union movement has been crucial to defeating the BNP previously in Tower Hamlets and Oldham.

Dr. Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the MCB said:
"The Muslim community is an integral part of British society - fascism is not. We believe that it is both a civic and Islamic duty for Muslims to use their votes, to defend democracy and to oppose hatred. We are proud to join the diverse coalition of Unite Against Fascism to stand against fascism - we call on all Muslims, and fellow Britons everywhere, to use their vote on May 3rd."

Denis Fernando Joint Secretary of Unite Against Fascism said:
"The fascist BNP are utilising the same tactics as the Nazis did before them - attempting to make electoral gains by whipping up hatred against minority and vulnerable communities. A recent Gallup poll showed that almost three quarters of Muslims had a loyalty to Britain, whilst less than half of non-Muslims shared the same view. UAF is proud to work with the Muslim community to oppose the extremist policies of the BNP which pose a threat to Muslims, and all those who value democracy."

Muslim News

BNP plans poll push

Far-right party the BNP launched its biggest election assault on Merseyside yesterday, fielding 20 candidates for the May vote. In Liverpool, they have submitted nine nominations – eight more than last year – including one in Norris Green, where they came in second in 2006.

In Sefton, five BNP candidates are standing, while Knowsley has two and St Helens four. None is being put up in Wirral.

Anti-racism campaigners last night branded the party “modern- day fascists” and urged people to vote against them on May 3. Alec McFadden said: “Even in Mosley’s era, there weren’t as many candidates as this. The views they are peddling are sickening and we are doing everything we can to stop them. In the run-up to Capital of Culture, it is a real slap in the face to the city that so many candidates have been put forward for this party.”

The BNP yesterday set out its pledges for the region if it was elected, which included stopping schools serving Halal meat and preventing mosques from being built. Its spokesman also explained the party believed Chinese people were “OK because they are hard-working” and “were not in the nefarious activities some ethnic groups are”.

Mr McFadden said “What is frightening is that they must have had 108 people backing them to get to this stage, as each nomination needs 12 signatures. The BNP has been targeting areas of deprivation and poverty across the city, picking places with problems and a lack of resources. We are urging candidates for parties that know they have got no hope of winning a seat to withdraw to ensure that they don’t split the vote in wards where the BNP is standing.

“We have also got 35,000 leaflets to send out to across the city informing people about the BNP. I would urge everyone to make sure they are registered to vote and to get out there on polling day.”

Cllr Steve Radford, Liberal group leader, said: “The BNP would have me gassed on three counts – I’m gay, I’m a Liberal and I’m a Methodist. But I would defend to the hilt their right to stand for election in a democracy and I look forward to beating them at the ballot boxes.”

icLiverpool