Ashley Oliver,  35, from the village of Bulford in Wiltshire and 35-year-old Alan Galloway, of East Reach in Taunton, were found guilty following the completion of the hate crime trial at Taunton Deane Magistrates’ Court last Friday (September 25).

Avon and Somerset Police launched a hate crime investigation in September last year following the smashing of several windows at Taunton Central Mosque and Islamic Centre, with one of the men surrendering to police days later.

At a previous hearing in February, both were remanded into custody, as Oliver, a month earlier, was deemed too drunk to enter a plea.

Both received fines of £180 and must cover related costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and pay a victim surcharge, alongside restraining orders that prevent them from going near the mosque for one year.

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21-year-old Gabriel Levy, of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, admitted making threats to kill during withheld calls to two mosques in the Manchester area days after the antisemitic terror attack targeting worshippers at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on 2 October 2025.

Police had arrested Levy within hours of his menacing call to the Al-Sunnah Mosque in Cheetham Hill, Manchester on 4 October 2025 and, via a withheld number, had told those who answered: “I’m going to come to your mosque and kill you.”

The police investigation unearthed that Levy had made similar death threats to worshippers at the Iqra Mosque in Manchester, having called the mosque the same day and told a staff member who answered his call: “I am going to kill you, Muslim”.

Searches of Levy’s mobile phone revealed “Islamophobic and racist language, as well as hate speech,” according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

A successful request for a Hate Crime uplift from the CPS increased Levy’s prison sentence by ten months.

Responding to Levy’s jailing today, the CPS’s Aamir Sajad made clear: “No one has the right to make other people feel like their life is at risk just for doing their job.

“Gabriel Levy gave no thought to who was at the other end of the phone when he recklessly called two mosques to make these terrifying threats. He claimed that he had no real intention of causing any harm – but this means nothing to those on the receiving end of these types of illegal and intimidating communications.

“Death threats in any form have a severe impact on those who receive them, and we are grateful to the victims in this case for coming forward.

“Today’s sentencing shows that threats to kill and Islamophobic hate crime will always be treated extremely seriously by the CPS and we will take swift and decisive action when seeking these convictions.”

Read More: How anti-Muslim Rhetoric and Conspiracies Still Permeate Social Media

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The model was visible on top of the pyre in Moygashel on Thursday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said one man has been arrested.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has described the bonfire display a “sickening and cowardly act of intimidation”.

In a social media post, Mr Benn said: “The placement of a replica mosque on the Moygashel bonfire is a sickening and cowardly act of intimidation.

“This is not about tradition, and in no way does it represent the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland.

“We must stand united and completely reject such hatred.”

The Moygashel Bonfire Association has described the bonfire as an act of “political protest” against “uncontrolled illegal mass immigration”.

Signs saying “Secure our borders” and “End the threat of radical Islam” have also been placed on the pyre, which is made up of pallets and is due to be set alight on Friday night.

Amnesty International described it as a “vile display” and a “blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families”.

The same bonfire site has attracted controversy in previous years.

Last year there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on the Moygashel fire.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director, said: “This vile display is a blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families.

“It must be met with a decisive response by the police.

“The placing of an effigy of a mosque on top of a bonfire amounts to incitement to hatred directed at real people who live, work and raise families in Northern Ireland.

“It is a crime under Northern Ireland law to distribute materials that are intended or likely to stir up racial or religious hatred or arouse fear.

“The police must investigate this as a potential crime, identify and hold to account those responsible, and ensure this material is swiftly removed before it can be used to incite further hatred and violence.”

The Director of Tell MAMA, Iman Atta OBE said: “The placing of a replica mosque on top of a bonfire intended for destruction is a vile and calculated act of intimidation. This crosses the line from legitimate political expression into outright anti-Muslim hatred. Mosques are places of peace, worship, and community. Using their likeness as objects of public burning sends a chilling and dangerous message to Muslim communities in Northern Ireland and beyond that they are not safe.

“We have tracked an alarming rise in incidents targeting Islamic institutions across the United Kingdom. When far-right or anti-immigrant rhetoric is allowed to manifest through the public targeting of faith symbols, it severely damages social cohesion and stokes community fear. We welcome the swift intervention by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the arrest of a suspect under Article 9 of the Public Order (NI) Order . However, community leaders and local authorities must go further. This offensive material must be permanently removed before it can be used to incite real-world violence. We stand in solidarity with Muslim communities of Northern Ireland who deserve to live free from fear, harassment, and intimidation.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: “Police are aware of the item placed on top of the bonfire in Moygashel.

“A 56-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of contravention of Article 9 of the Public Order (NI) Order 1987.

“He remains in custody at this time.”

Mr Benn said: “The placement of a replica mosque on the Moygashel bonfire is a sickening and cowardly act of intimidation.

“This is not about tradition, and in no way does it represent the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland.

“We must stand united and completely reject such hatred.”

In a statement on social media, the Moygashel Bonfire Association said it had “noted the predicable fury in respect of the act of political protest at our bonfire site this year”.

The statement said: “This year we have focused on an issue of significant public interest.

“Our display may well shock, offend or outrage others, but nonetheless it is an exercise in our rights under Article 10 of the ECHR and we note with some irony that it is the ECHR which has so often paved the way for mass illegal immigration and a failure to deport foreign criminals who have come here unlawfully, that also now protects our right to protest in robust terms against that.

“If there was no uncontrolled illegal mass immigration, we would have no need to protest on this issue.”

It added: “Our display expressly does NOT target any individual. We make that very clear.

“Our opposition is not to people, but rather to ideology and Government policy.

“Once this is appreciated, then it is very clear this is no more and no less than an act of protest, which is lawful protected expression.”

Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew described the display on the bonfire as “deplorable”.

He said: “The signage and effigy on the Moygashel bonfire is a clear hate crime.

“This is fuelled by hate and those that seek to bring division to our communities.

“There is no place in our society for racism, and it is the responsibility of all political representatives and community leaders to stand against it.

“The PSNI must investigate this as a matter of urgency to remove this disgraceful display.”

Alliance Party councillor Eddie Roofe described the bonfire as “hateful and deeply offensive”.

He said: “The placing of this model on top of the bonfire is utterly abhorrent.

“Those responsible seek only to instil fear and spread hatred towards a specific group of people who call Northern Ireland their home, and it must be removed immediately.

“There is no place for this behaviour in our society.

“People should be free to live without fear of themselves or their families being targeted or subjected to discrimination.

“It is unacceptable that year after year, we continue to witness these hateful and deeply offensive displays.”

SDLP councillor Carl Whyte described the display on the bonfire as “absolutely disgusting”.

He told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme: “The singling out of an entire religion, an entire faith, is just shameful.”

Eleventh night bonfires will be lit across Northern Ireland on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings ahead of the Orange Order’s July 12 parades on Monday.

While most of the bonfires pass off without incident, several have become the focus of contention due to the placing of flags, effigies and election posters on the structures before they are ignited.

Last month in Moygashel, police removed a banner from a children’s playpark, saying it was being treated as a hate crime.

Read More: Belfast Attack and unrest is having an impact on anti-Muslim hate in England.

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Officers attended the mosque at around 7 pm on 22 April, and a 58-year-old man was arrested nearby on three counts of racially aggravated public order offences and two counts of using threatening words to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

In a statement, the force noted that those targeted understandably felt distressed.

Reassurance patrols will increase locally in response, the force confirmed.

Tell MAMA is liaising further with Merseyside Police.

Liverpool Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Andy Fielding made clear in a statement that: “This would have been extremely distressing for those who witnessed the incident and heard his appalling abuse.

“A suspect was arrested a matter of minutes after the incident was reported and I hope this shows our communities how seriously we take all reports of hate crimes.

“There will be high visibility patrols in the area this morning and the coming days to offer reassurance to the community. If you have any concerns, please speak to one of our officers.

“Threatening or racially abusing someone simply because of their ethnicity or religion is truly abhorrent and has absolutely no place in Merseyside.”

To repeat: the security of mosques and the safety of worshippers, like at any place of worship, is paramount. We remain very concerned about the shocking racist abuse and death threats against worshippers yesterday evening. There has also been condemnation locally following news of a mosque in Newham vandalised with paint. Tell MAMA is also liaising with the Metropolitan Police further on this matter.

Got information?  Call 101 quoting log number 855 of 22 April. Tell MAMA can do this for you, or do it anonymously.

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A member of Tell MAMA’s outreach team attended the mosque to provide our ongoing support and photographed the graffiti, which included statements like “Islamic w*nkers”, “scum” and “terrorist scum bags” which happened on 31 March.

Credit: Tell MAMA

We continue to liaise with West Midlands Police and will endeavour to provide further updates where possible, as we provide support and assistance to those impacted.

To repeat calls we made in recent months: the security of mosques and the safety of worshippers, like at any place of worship, is paramount. Despite a governmental pledge to increase funding for faith institutions, we need a more cohesive strategy from the government, as in recent months, mosques have faced racist graffiti and other forms of targeting.

The post Police investigating anti-Muslim graffiti on Birmingham mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Two people escaped uninjured from inside the mosque in Peacehaven on October 4 last year, when it was reported a fire was started outside the place of worship in Phyllis Avenue.

On Tuesday, counter-terror police arrested a 36-year-old man from Eastbourne on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson and a 38-year-old man from Brighton on suspicion of malicious communication and criminal damage.

A third man, a 42-year-old from Saltdean was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications and encouraging or assisting a crime.

The trio have been released on bail until June 23.

Sussex Police superintendent Rachel Swinney said: “We are continuing to work closely with our colleagues in Counter Terrorism Policing South East as they use specialist resources to investigate the arson at the mosque in Peacehaven.

“The incident caused understandable concern within the local community since it took place in October.

“These recent arrests form part of a pre-planned operation and there is no threat to those in the community however people may notice search activity taking place at residential properties while enquiries continue.”

A fundraiser on GoFundMe to help repair the mosque and replace what was damaged has raised more than £55,000.

It comes as two men, Ricky Ryder, 38, and Jack Slowey, 34, have already appeared in court in November last year over the incident, charged with arson with intent to endanger life and two further charges of arson relating to the vehicles.

They are next due to appear at the Old Bailey in London for a plea hearing on Friday.

Meanwhile a 70-year-old man from Newhaven arrested on October 31 on suspicion of encouraging an offence is also released on bail until April 30.

Read more: Arrest made after arson attack on Islamic Centre in Maida Vale

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Hammad Khan spoke after the arrest of a white man in his 50s, who had gone into Manchester Central Mosque wearing hi-vis and had with him an axe, knife and hammer.

Greater Manchester Police say they have not declared it a terrorist incident but are working with Counter Terrorism Police to investigate.

The suspect is being held on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and class B drugs.

A second man, a black male, who is believed to have been with the suspect but left before officers arrived, is now being hunted by police.

Mr Khan said volunteers kept the suspect talking until police arrived and arrested him, where he shouted, “I’m not a terrorist!” according to one man who was present as he was taken away.

Mr Khan said the suspect was “very calm” and had been spotted visiting the mosque, in the Victoria Park area of south Manchester, before last night.

However, after entering the mosque around 8.30pm on Tuesday, where around 1,500 people were saying Ramadan prayers, an axe was spotted in his bag and he was ushered into an office by volunteers and police called.

He had a knife and a hammer on him, along with “other materials” relating to the Second World War and some newspaper cuttings.

Mr Khan added: “His demeanour was very calm.

“He wasn’t under the influence of anything at all. I also understand he was also carrying some other materials with him relating to World War Two, also some newspaper cuttings, which the police have.

“The volunteers obviously kept the conversation going in very amenable way to ensure the situation did not escalate in any way.”

Mr Khan said he had asked police for an increased police presence around all the local mosques after an increase in hate mail and threats.

He added: “I was disappointed that we didn’t have visible presence.

“I stressed prior to the month of Ramadan we needed police presence because prayers go on to late at night.”

Sir Keir Starmer said: “I am concerned to hear of the incident at Manchester Central Mosque last night.

“I know this will be worrying for Muslim communities, especially during Ramadan, a time of peace and reflection.

“My thanks go to the volunteers and emergency services for their quick response.

“We have provided up to £40 million funding for additional security at mosques, Muslim schools and community centres, and will continue to act to ensure communities are able to live without fear.”

In a statement, the mosque said a “serious security incident” had occurred during prayers and the Muslim community more generally had experienced a rise in threats and hostility in recent years.

Assistant Chief Constable John Webster, from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: “We were called at around 8.40pm to concern from security staff at the mosque about a white man in a high-vis jacket carrying a bag with an axe inside.

“The man had reportedly claimed to be in the mosque to do work on the building, but staff had no knowledge of this.

“They rightly acted on their suspicions and called police.

“There was no suggestion that he made any threats or confronted members of the congregation.

“However, we understand the concern that this suspicious and concerning behaviour caused.

“We quickly responded to the scene where we searched the suspect, arrested him and seized weapons, including an axe, a knife and class B drugs.

“The suspect, a white man in his 50s, is under arrest on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and class B drugs.

“At this time, it is not clear what the circumstances or intent, if any, was around this incident.

“I know this uncertainty can cause concern, but it is key that we have the time to question the suspect and speak to as many witnesses as possible to understand the nature of this incident.

“To ensure we are appropriately exploring every line of inquiry, we are working with detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing North West, but it has not been declared a terrorist incident.

“We are taking this very seriously and have increased patrols around mosques at what we know is a really important time for Muslim communities as they come together during Ramadan.

“We’re reviewing all available CCTV and body-worn video to identify a second man, a black man, who was reported as acting suspiciously in the mosque at the same time as the suspect.

“He is described as approximately in his late 40s, with an athletic build and short stubbled facial hair.

“He was wearing a grey hoody with the hood up, a navy blue jacket with that hood also up (double hood), blue tracksuit bottoms, and white trainers.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact GMP on 101 or through the LiveChat function on the force’s website. They can also contact Tell MAMA on 0800 456 1226.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read More: Leeds Crossbow Attacker Praised Christchurch Terrorist Online, Planned Massacre.

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The Prime Minister said he understood the incident would be worrying for Muslim communities.

The suspect, a white man in his 40s, was with another man, a black male, who entered Manchester Central Mosque in the Victoria Park area of south Manchester at around 8.40pm on Tuesday.

The first suspect was subsequently arrested by police on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs.

He remains in custody for questioning.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said they are not treating the incident as terror-related.

Sir Keir said: “I am concerned to hear of the incident at Manchester Central Mosque last night. I know this will be worrying for Muslim communities, especially during Ramadan, a time of peace and reflection.

“My thanks go to the volunteers and emergency services for their quick response.

“We have provided up to £40 million funding for additional security at mosques, Muslim schools and community centres, and will continue to act to ensure communities are able to live without fear.”

In a statement, the mosque said a “serious security incident” had occurred during prayers.

The statement added: “A white male entered the mosque wearing a hi-vis jacket carrying a large bag.

“He was accompanied by a black male, both entering the mosque at the same time.

“The mosque volunteers spotted the suspicious bag containing an axe, which was placed into the main hall of the mosque by the assailant.

“The white male was escorted to a separate room by volunteers and was found to have been carrying multiple weapons including a hammer and a knife. He was eventually arrested by the police.

“The black male left the mosque shortly before police arrived, after it became apparent that the situation had been contained. To our knowledge, he has not yet been arrested by Greater Manchester Police.

“All relevant information and CCTV footage has been passed on to the police who are continuing their investigation.

“The Muslim community in the UK has experienced a notable rise in threats and hostility over recent years. The increase in Islamophobic incidents is a serious concern, and greater resources are urgently needed to address this growing and real risk.

“We will continue to co-operate fully with the police and urge all mosque attendees to remain vigilant.

“Congregants are advised to travel in groups where possible and to ensure that children are not left unattended.

“The swift and responsible actions of our volunteers played a crucial role in containing the situation. Without their intervention, the consequences could have been far more serious.”

Superintendent Simon Nasim of GMP said: “Yesterday evening officers attended a local mosque after it was reported that two men were acting suspiciously and carrying an offensive weapon while people were worshipping during the holy month of Ramadan.

“We have swiftly arrested one individual and officers are working to locate the second man. No threats were made and thankfully, no-one was injured.

“You may notice an increased presence of patrols in the area while our inquiries continue. Please feel free to chat with our officers and let them know your concerns.

“There’s no place for weapons on our streets and we are committed to ensure all our communities feel safe to worship in peace and go about their daily lives without fear.

“Anyone committing such offences will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

Officers are appealing for witnesses to help with inquiries.

Anyone with information is urged to contact GMP on 101 or through the LiveChat function on the force’s website. Alternatively, contact Tell MAMA on 0800 456 1226 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read More: Racist Graffiti Outside the Greenwich Islamic Centre

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A post on a local Facebook group detailed the deeply upsetting attack, whilst thanking locals who assisted with removing the graffiti, which included the racist P-word slur and Christian crosses.

The post described an “outpouring of immediate kindness and solidarity” across Pinhoe and Exeter, from the local church to those who cried with them, stood with them and helped paint over the graffiti, alongside their dedicated volunteers from the mosque and local community.

The mosque also thanked police for their reassuring presence and assistance.

“The strong support we witnessed clearly shows that standing against goodness and kindness will never find a place or acceptance in British society,” the statement added.

Devon and Cornwall Police described how the racist graffiti appeared overnight between 30 and 31 January at the mosque on Main Road in Pinhoe.

“We want to be clear that there is no place for racism in Exeter and we will continue to work to identify the person responsible,” the force made clear in its statement.

Tell MAMA will further liaise with officers, and we hope to provide further updates where possible. We remain deeply concerned about the targeting of mosques in recent months. The security of mosques, like any place of worship, is paramount.

Mosques can find tailored safety advice on our website.

Got information? Call 101, and quote the reference 50260025852. Tell MAMA can do this on your behalf or anonymously.

The post Police launch appeal after mosque in Exeter daubed with racist graffiti appeared first on TELL MAMA.

A previous map had revealed 22 reports of incidents towards mosques and Islamic centres across the UK from June to 5 October.

From June until September, Tell MAMA documented 17 such reports against mosques and Islamic centres.

The examples include reports of attacks, vandalism or threatening behaviour towards mosques and Islamic centres.

As with the previous map, this excludes any online reports, as they are disaggregated from offline reports.

Like all Tell MAMA cases, the figures are subject to further revision and analysis.

We continue to liaise with various police forces to ensure reports are followed up promptly, that Muslim communities feel supported, and what areas that would benefit from reassurance patrols and community engagement.

Tell MAMA encourages mosques and Islamic centres to keep reporting cases, no matter how small, and in confidence, via info@tellmamauk.org or by messaging us on WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

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The Inverclyde Muslim Centre in Greenock, Scotland, spoke to Sky News about the terror plot and the sense of betrayal that the teenage perpetrator, who pleaded guilty under the Terrorism Act, sought to gain their trust by pretending to convert to Islam.

Hamid Akhtar told Sky News of the “frightening” feeling that someone could prove “so nice and so conning” about wanting to convert and gaining their help and support.

The mosque has since added more security cameras.

Adeel Naeen expressed his support for the police for stopping the plot, and that the community remains strong, nor has the plot stopped them from attending the mosque.

Staff at the mosque also described the overwhelming amount of support they received from the wider community, and that the imam wants to show mercy towards the perpetrator and his family, according to the Greenock Telegraph, in an article about the visit of local MP Martin McCluskey and his message of unity.

News of the guilty verdict made headlines last month, as it emerged that the 17-year-old idolised neo-Nazi terrorists like Anders Breivik and embraced the fascism of Hitler, Mussolini and that of Eion O’Duffy.

The teen, who was sixteen at the time of his arrest (and cannot be named for legal reasons due to their age), had sought to bomb his school before deciding to target the mosque. According to Telegram chat logs, he also considered an antisemitic terror attack on a synagogue via ‘infiltration’ to begin with.

He also wrote a vile screed and sought to target the mosque at its fullest capacity.

When officers searched their address, they found a copy of the banned text The Anarchist’s Cookbook, Mein Kampf, knives, airsoft weapons and ingredients related to explosive substances.

The threats to mosques across Britain in recent weeks ranged from hate crimes to terrorism-related cases in 2025, including a man accused of throwing a pipe bomb inside an Islamic centre in Belfast as worshippers prayed inside in June. In May, three neo-Nazis who stockpiled an arsenal of over 200 weapons were found guilty of a terror plot against a Leeds mosque.

66-year-old Edmund Fowler pleaded guilty last month to four charges of racially aggravated harassment after releasing rats on separate occasions into the grounds of the Grand Mosque in Sheffield, and shouting racist abuse at worshippers entering the mosque.

Fowler received an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, which included a ban on going near mosques for the same length of time. Responding to the verdict, Tell MAMA’s director, Iman Atta, spoke of its dehumanising nature to ITV News, stressing that, “It’s highly stressful and distressing for communities. It’s not just a targeting of an institution – it’s the impact it has on the congregation” adding that “this is intentional harassment that they’re going through on an ongoing basis.”

Meanwhile, in Aberdeen, the courts jailed an 18-year-old  who vandalised a mosque with paint and smashed a window, receiving a six-month prison sentence. The chairman of the mosque, Naveed Mohammed, expressed his gratitude to the local community for joining in the clean-up and for their messages of support and solidarity.

More broadly, ITV News added that Tell MAMA had received 20 incidents towards mosques and Islamic centres in the previous six months.

A joint survey between ITV News and Tell MAMA about mosque safety in 2023 revealed that of the 117 mosques surveyed, almost 90 per cent experienced anti-Muslim hate crimes in the previous 12 months.

We continue to work nationally with various police forces and mosques, providing security advice and liaising between both parties.

Tell MAMA also continues to assist faith institutions with advice when submitting applications for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, and we encourage those interested to ask any questions via our info@tellmamauk.org

Mosques and Islamic centres are encouraged to familiarise themselves with our tailored safety tips, which are freely available from our website.

The post How police stopped a far-right terror attack on a Scottish mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre has condemned incidents which happened on Saturday evening.

In the first incident, paint was allegedly thrown at the door and pavement area on Spital and a few hours later a rock came through a window of the mosque.

Police are treating the incident as a hate crime and said a 17-year-old boy has been charged.

Nobody was hurt but those in the building were left shaken.

A mosque spokesperson told the PA news agency: “The rock went through the window and (it) shattered. Everybody was fine but people are a bit shaken.

“It happened at around 9pm while prayers were going on.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Following an investigation into reports of vandalism at a mosque in Spital, Aberdeen, officers have arrested and charged a 17-year-old male. The incident occurred on Saturday 15 March.

“Police are treating the incident as a hate crime.

“The male has been released on an undertaking and will appear at court at a later date.”

In a joint statement on social media, the Mosque and Islamic Centre thanked those who offered support in the aftermath and praised “kind neighbours and worshippers” who united to help clean up the mess.

They said: “We are very grateful to our neighbours and well-wishers in these difficult times.”

They added: “The mosques in Aberdeen would like to assure all members of the community that, in light of these incidents, all the mosques are taking additional security measures as well as being assured of support from the police.

“The police will be performing additional patrols around the mosques during prayer and other busy times.

“We would ask all attendees and worshippers to please be alert and remain vigilant, however, do not be alarmed and continue with your efforts and prayers to gain maximum benefits from this blessed month of Ramadan.”

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Lee Harper, 47, made four calls from his own phone number to the north London mosque’s office between 3.30pm and 5pm on January 21.

During the calls, he said “I’m a butcher, I will come around with the boys”, “go back to your Middle East country” and referenced the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday.

The calls left the man who answered the phone, named as Mr Hussein, “extremely frightened and fearful”, according to his impact statement summarised by the prosecution.

District Crown Prosecutor Varinder Hayre OBE said Mr Hussein was “fearful of the mosque being attacked as he was the caretaker” and that this was heightened because worshippers including women and children were around the site at the time.

Harper, of Highgate High Street, Hornsey, was sentenced to 10 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

District Judge Hina Rai said the calls, three of which were recorded, were “vile, abusive and extremely threatening” and raised the suspended sentence from eight weeks because of Harper’s “racial language”.

Prior to the ruling, Harper’s defence barrister told the court “he’s packed his bags, he’s made arrangements, because he knows full well” a custodial sentence “is a very realistic outcome”.

Judge Rai said Harper, who wore a pale-blue shirt in the dock, embarked on the “clearly targeted” campaign after watching a programme on the Southport killings.

The day after watching it, he drank alcohol at work and left the butcher’s to call the mosque, his defence barrister Daniel Cavaglieri said.

Each call was picked up by Mr Hussein and expletive-filled transcripts were read to the court.

Harper referred to the Mayor of London in one call, saying: “I’m going to come there tonight, arm yourselves because you’ve got no idea what’s coming, because I’ve got nothing to lose, and tell Mr Sadiq Khan f****** hell, he was coming a mile off.”

The butcher said his “mate” was unable to “claim even a little bit” of benefits “because all your brothers have got it”.

“But I will make an example of you, and you will read about me in the paper”, he said.

Harper repeatedly asked the victim for his name before questioning if he was called “Mohammed” or “Hamza”, referring to radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza who Harper claimed he used to see by the mosque.

Hamza led the Finsbury Park Mosque in the 1990s and is serving a life sentence in the US for terrorism offences.

Mr Hussein responded that he had no name and Harper told him he should kill his parents for that.

Police officers attended the butcher’s shop on January 24 and Harper nodded as the allegations were read to him, the court heard.

He was arrested and admitted making the calls but said he “doesn’t adhere to any racist ideologies”, it was told.

His defence barrister said Harper had intermittently struggled with alcohol for several years.

This manifested as “binge drinking when moments get a bit too much for him”, Mr Cavaglieri said.

The lawyer said Harper had shown “genuine remorse” and accepted his calls were “entirely vile”.

District Crown Prosecutor Varinder Hayre OBE read out a Tell MAMA community impact statement in the court about how anti-Muslim hate aimed at people in institutions can exacerbate wider fears for those who use the mosque in question. The judge also referenced Tell MAMA data on the numbers of anti-Muslim hate cases on an annual basis and Tell MAMA’s work was highlighted by the judge in the sentencing remarks.

Harper, of previous good character, pleaded guilty to one count of sending a message via telephone call that conveyed a threat of serious harm, namely “coming down to a mosque with references to butchering”.

He also admitted two counts of making menacing telephone calls to the Finsbury Park Mosque’s office.

Sentencing him, Judge Rai said the comments “consisted of racist language, derogatory comments and threatened harm”.

She warned of the online “misinformation” after the Southport killings.

False information about the identity of the attacker sparked riots in the UK this summer.

She added: “Finsbury Park Mosque has previously been attacked and this is well known, which will have added to (Mr Hussein’s) fear of reprisals.”

Darren Osborne ploughed a hired van into worshippers gathered near the place of worship in an Islamophobic terror attack on June 19 2017.

Harper was ordered to attend an alcohol treatment programme for three months and told he must carry out five days of rehabilitative activity, as well as 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also handed a five-year restraining order barring him from contacting or attempting to contact Mr Hussein directly or indirectly, from contacting the mosque, or going within 200 metres of it.

The court was told that anti-Islamophobia reporting service Tell Mama recorded the highest number of “anti-Muslim hate cases” per year in 2024, since their records started in 2011 to 2012.

It heard that a total of 6,313 such cases were reported that year, a 165% rise on 2022.

The post Tell MAMA Makes Intervention to Support Finsbury Park Mosque Staff appeared first on TELL MAMA.

A jury at Sheffield Crown Court was told that Christopher Ringrose, 34, Marco Pitzettu, 25, and Brogan Stewart, 25, were “right-wing extremists” who were preparing to use firearms, explosives and a range of bladed weapons in their attacks.

They were arrested when security services believed an attack could be imminent after undercover officers infiltrated their group, the court heard on Wednesday.

Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, said the defendants had acquired or were trying to acquire a “wide variety of weapons” including swords, knives, axes, spears and crossbows as well as gathering information on explosives and firearms.

He said the preparations they were making included “taking steps to complete the manufacture” of a 3D printed semi-automatic firearm.

Mr Sandiford said: “The prosecution say that these three defendants were right-wing extremists who regarded themselves as National Socialists, or Nazis, and they supported the National Socialist movement in the UK, such as it is or indeed was.”

He said the defendants followed a cause which embraced an admiration for Adolf Hitler, white supremacy, a “hatred towards black and other non-white races”, and glorification and admiration for mass killers who have targeted the black and Muslim community.

He told a jury of seven men and five women that the trio all held a “belief that there must soon be a race war between the white and other races”.

Mr Sandiford said that, at the time of their arrest in February 2024, “all three were involved in making preparations for acts of terrorism in furtherance of their political, racial or ideological causes”.

He said the three were also gathering equipment such as riot shields, body armour and gas masks in readiness for a race war.

The prosecutor told the jury that the defendants formed a group called Einsatz 14 in January 2024, with “like-minded extremists” who wanted to “go to war for their chosen cause”.

Mr Sandiford explained that Einsatz 14 included three undercover officers and the police intervened in February 2024 when it became clear the defendants had identified potential targets and there was a threat of an “imminent attack”.

The prosecutor told the jury that Ringrose had 3D printed most of the components of an FGC9 firearm at the time of his arrest in early 2024 and was trying to get the remaining parts.

He took the jury through a range of material on social media he said was evidence of the “political, racial or ideological causes” followed by the defendants.

He showed jurors a post by Stewart on a Telegram chat group called The National Socialist Movement of the United Kingdom which said: “Nazis wanted what’s best for the white people.

“They cared. They loved us so much they did everything in their power to save us from Jewish scum and for what? The world to be handed over to the hooked nosed creatures.”

Stewart went on: “Hitler did more for his people then any politician. And for Britain to have a paki and zionist in charge of the country is absolutely outrageous”.

Mr Sandiford said this last comment was a reference to the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The jury was also shown a short video Stewart posted of himself wearing a German army helmet, a Nazi armband and a skull face covering, which the prosecutor said was associated with right-wing extremism.

Ringrose, of Cannock, Staffordshire; Pitzettu, of Mickleover, Derbyshire; and Stewart, of Tingley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, deny a charge of preparing acts of terrorism and charges of collecting information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

Ringrose also denies manufacturing a prohibited weapon.

Mr Sandiford is expected to continue opening the prosecution case on Thursday at 10am.

The post Three ‘Nazis’ planned terror attacks against mosques and synagogues appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The findings of a Tell MAMA and Survation poll with British Muslims carried out 8 weeks after the start of far-right demonstrations after the murder of 3 young girls in Southport, have demonstrated the following:

• 1 in 4 British Muslims interviewed online and via the telephone experienced anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia post July 30th 2024. (This accounted for Islamophobic hate incidents that took place online or at a street level).
• 2 in 3 British Muslims surveyed said that the potential of risk and harm to Muslim communities had increased post the 30th of July.
• 1 in 3 British Muslims surveyed said that the far-right demonstrations made them consider leaving the U.K. to settle into another country.
• 7 in 10 British Muslims surveyed felt that anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia has become more widespread post the 30th of July.
• Nearly 4 in 10 surveyed said that there is a risk to their local mosque from far-right groups and extremists.

The Tell MAMA/Survation survey also found some positive and more optimistic findings after the 30th of July far right demonstrations that took part in various parts of the United Kingdom.

These included:

• 1 in 2 British Muslims surveyed said that the recent far right demonstrations (post the 30th of July), made them feel more open about their Muslim identity. This was usually through conversations that they had with friends and colleagues.
• 6 in 10 Muslims said that they felt safe in Britain.
  

These findings highlight growing fears within British Muslim communities and these findings should also be read in conjunction with the Tell MAMA/Survation poll conducted with British Muslims from the 15th of July to the 29th of July 2024. (In this poll, 550 British Muslims were surveyed and the polling took place just before the far right riots that have formed a benchmark for the latest Tell MAMA/Survation No2H8 November campaign poll.)

The recent poll also demonstrates that a substantive number of British Muslims polled feel that their local mosques are at risk from far-right extremist groups. Tell MAMA also understands that the ‘Places of Worship Protective Security Fund’continues to try and meet the security needs of local places of worship such as mosques. (This scheme is administered by the Home Office).

The Tell MAMA/Survation poll also worryingly points to 1 in 3 British Muslims seeking to leave the U.K. and to move to other countries. These findings do demonstrate that local police forces, local authorities, local political leaders, national government and statutory authorities all have a role in re-assuring local faith communities such as Muslim communities, particularly around their safety and security.

Of particular concern is that 7 in 10 British Muslims who were polled say that anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia has become more widespread post the 30th of July demonstrations.

Finally, it is also clear that the recent far right demonstrations have added to a sense in about half of the British Muslim polled, that they are willing to assert their Muslim identity in a more open and transparent manner, rather than shying away from asserting this part of their identity. This is an interesting and heartening finding and also points somewhat as a reaction to anti-Muslim commentary and actions by far-right groups.

Speaking on the findings of the Tell MAMA/Survation poll, the Director of Tell MAMA said:

“The poll findings demonstrate that anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia is having significant impacts on Britain’s Muslim communities. The findings show that much more work needs to be undertaken in re-assuring Britain’s Muslim communities and in supporting the social cohesion in our local areas. The findings should be a wake-up call for Central Government.

In the weeks since the riots at the end of July, Tell Mama has been inundated with calls from members of the public who have been shouted at aggressively and threatened to be killed, some have been spat at and assaulted. There has also been an increase in online reports including calls to burn down mosques, calls for mass migration and calls for Muslims and migrants to be killed.

Tell MAMA continues to support the victims of anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia in a number of ways since 2011. We help them report incidents to Police or work with employers when incidents occur in the workplace.  We are an ‘always-on’ service for those who need us both in terms of practical, legal and emotional support.

But there must now be a laser like focus from the government on preventing the causes of anti-Muslim and Islamophobia. We must see Central Government acknowledge that much more work needs to be done in re-assuring British Muslim communities and in making real long-term commitments to challenging such hate”.

NOTES 

Survation (on behalf of Tell MAMA), contacted 750 members of the Muslim communities in the UK – online or by telephone between 30 September 2024 and 14 October 2024.

The post Tell MAMA’s Survey Finds that 1 in 3 British Muslims are considering leaving the U.K appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Blake Hindry, of Rosebery Road in Kent, called from a withheld number and threatened to murder worshippers and burn the mosques down.

After a London mosque dialled 999 on 5 August to report the death threats, officers carried out reassurance patrols locally before connecting the threatening calls originated from the same source.

Within three days, officers who worked long hours had located Hindry and arrested him.

Hindry pleaded guilty after appearing before Maidstone Magistrates Court on 10 August. At Maidstone Crown Court yesterday (15 August), Hindry was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.

KentOnline reported that Hindry targeted mosques in Gillingham, east London and southeast London and chillingly told one mosque volunteer: “We are English patriots and we are coming after you. We are going to burn down the mosques, we are going to kill you guys. We are coming for you, we are going to wipe you out. We are going to take back our country.”

The KentOnline report also mentioned how Hindry responded to online disinformation following the horrific stabbings in Southport, which Tell MAMA wrote in length about.

He also called Muslims “paedophiles and killers” – across multiple research reports and news articles, our work has evidenced the criminalising and stigmatising impacts of these anti-Muslim and Islamophobic tropes target Muslims more broadly.

Blake Hindry also has a history of violence and of making violent threats to others.

Tell MAMA recently published an infographic of the targeting mosques following the Southport stabbings.

We provide tailored safety advice for mosques on our website.

Following Hindry’s jailing, Commander Louise Puddefoot, from the Metropolitan Police, said in a statement: “We understand that Muslim communities have felt particularly concerned for their safety following the violent disorder and criminality the country has seen in recent weeks.

“This sentencing demonstrates our determination to bring offenders to justice for racist and criminal behaviour.

“Our teams continue to investigate all offences committed during this period of disorder as we work hard to build trust and confidence in communities.”

The post Man jailed after threats to burn down mosques and murder worshippers appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Writing on Facebook, the community policing team for Luton confirmed that the comment occurred on Wednesday (19 June), adding that “Officers have attended the Mosque and engaged with representatives to offer assurances that the matter will be investigated thoroughly.”

Local community officers provided high-visibility patrols locally.

Luton Town Council stated their strong condemnation online, posting on Facebook: “Luton is no place for hate.  We strongly condemn any form of hate crime in our town and stand united with all our communities to combat and stamp out prejudice and hatred.”

Tell MAMA will liaise with the police further and aims to provide further updates where possible.

The force concluded their statement by making clear that: “There is no place for hate or discrimination of any kind in our county. We would always encourage people to report instances of hate crime or speech and want to assure our communities that reports of this nature are taken seriously.”

Anyone with information can speak to the police via 101 or online, quoting the reference 40/33695/24. Tell MAMA can forward information anonymously or on your behalf if requested.

The post Police investigating social media comment to Luton Central Mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Officers were called to Mosley Street in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, at 2.10pm on Sunday to a report of a racially aggravated public order offence outside the former Methodist church building.

A probe is under way with a dedicated team of officers carrying out house-to-house inquiries and checking surrounding CCTV footage, as well as visiting local butchers and abattoirs.

Patrols have also been stepped up to give reassurance, police said.

Inspector Claire Pearson, from the Pendle and Ribble Valley neighbourhood policing team, said: “I want to make it clear that we do not tolerate hate of any form and we are taking this incident extremely seriously.

“We have a dedicated team of officers assigned to this case and they are working around the clock to identify those responsible.

“I am sure the residents of Barnoldswick will be equally as appalled by this behaviour and I want to appeal directly to them to contact the police if they have any information or footage which would assist us in our enquiries.”

Ibrar Ahmed, from the Barnoldswick Islamic Centre, said: “This incident is not aligned with the spirit of Barnoldswick, where Muslims have been an integral part of the community since the 1960s.

“The Barnoldswick Islamic Centre remains committed to fostering peace and harmony, working alongside everyone in our town to promote understanding. The Barnoldswick we know and call home is a place of friendship and respect, and together, we’ll ensure it stays that way.”

Anyone with information should email forcecontrolroom@lancashire.police.uk or call 101, quoting log 845 of October 8 2023.

Read more: Racist couple with ‘extreme racist attitudes’ avoid prison over racist attacks

The post Pig’s head left outside planned mosque site treated as ‘potential hate crime’ appeared first on TELL MAMA.

U105 broke the story yesterday, stating that the hate crime occurred between the hours of 10:30 pm on Tuesday evening and the early hours of Wednesday morning in Dunmurry.

A number of these flags have been placed close to the building used as a mosque in Dunmurry. More at 9am @U105radio pic.twitter.com/9c2CTBJjJK

— Frank Mitchell (@frank_broadcast) August 23, 2023

Jamal Iweida, imam and chairperson of Iqraa Mosque, told the BBC of the fear it generated. He stressed their concerns about “if this will lead to further actions” and the safety of children as parents bringing their children to the summer school noticed the flags on Wednesday morning.

Iweida told the Belfast Telegraph, “Everyone knows what they mean and what they represent. It is the absolute embodiment of racism, and in this case, Islamophobia,” and stressed the community support that followed.

He added a message of defiance in the face of such intimidation, “They are not going to win. We must all say no to these people.”

Other worshippers described how the intimidation and Nazi imagery reminded them of the white supremacist terror attacks in Christchurch that resulted in the murder of 51 Muslims in March 2019.

The hate crime drew political condemnation, according to the News Letter.

In response to the anti-Muslim and Islamophobic hate crime, locals planned a solidarity rally for Saturday afternoon in Dunmurry Park.

In a press release, Chief Inspector Brannigan made clear that, at the early investigation stage they are “treating this report as a racially motivated hate crime”.

Our officers are appealing for information following a report of a number of flags being erected in Dunmurry. pic.twitter.com/6SrCv4lAfx

— Police West Belfast (@PSNIBelfastW) August 23, 2023

Weeks earlier, a joint survey between ITV News and Tell MAMA revealed that of the 117 mosques surveyed, almost 90 per cent experienced anti-Muslim hate crimes in the previous 12 months, with some mosques describing far-right intimidation and agitations.

The important ITV News report highlighted examples of “threatening letters, acts of violence, and in one case, having faeces smeared across their walls.”

Faith institutions that have experienced a hate crime (religious and racial) or feel vulnerable to hate crime can apply online for government-funded protective security schemes. Applicants can include evidence like police crime references and community impact statements from worshippers, including how they feel (think anecdotes or surveys).

Anyone with information is urged to call 101, quoting reference number 360 of 23/08/23. Tell MAMA can do this on your behalf or pass information to officers anonymously, as we endeavour to further liaise with the police following this despicable anti-Muslim and Islamophobic hate crime.

The post PSNI begin hate crime investigation after Nazi flags hung outside Belfast mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

In a statement published on 9 August, the force confirmed that two teenage boys were arrested and held for questioning.

The statement added that the fire service’s quick actions contained any damage, with no injuries reported, after reports of a fire at the Northbrooks Mosque around 9:30 pm.

Harlow CID is, at present, treating it as racially aggravated arson.

Tell MAMA will continue to liaise with officers and offer support, providing further updates where possible.

Statement from Tell MAMA's Director Iman Atta following an arson attack on a mosque in Harlow last night.

Two arrests followed. We are liaising with Essex Police further and endeavour to provide further updates.

Witnesses can call 101, quoting 1253 of 8 August. pic.twitter.com/H7DREEbcvy

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) August 9, 2023

In a statement, our Director Iman Atta made clear: “We strongly condemn the arson attack at a mosque in Harlow last night (8 August), and we thank the emergency services for their swift response and for containing any damage. Thankfully, no reports of injuries followed.

Essex Police are investigating the arson as a racially aggravated hate crime and arrested two teenage boys who continue to face questioning.

Officers have also stepped up reassurance patrols, and Tell MAMA is liaising further to assist as we endeavour to provide more updates where possible. As protocol, we will also re-issue our safety tips for mosques.”

Safety advice for mosques is available to download from our Resources section.

Chief Inspector Paul Austin, Harlow district commander, responding to the arson and arrests, made clear: “I have personally been in consistent contact with faith and community leaders to ensure our communities feel they are safe and are being supported.

“There will continue to be a policing presence in the area throughout today and the coming days and I would encourage anyone who has any concerns to please speak with those officers; they are there to help and reassure you.”

Reassurance patrols from local officers will continue throughout today.

Anyone with information can contact Essex Police on 101, quoting incident 1253 of 8 August. Tell MAMA is happy to pass information to the police on your behalf or anonymously if requested.

The post Arrests made after arson attack on mosque in Harlow appeared first on TELL MAMA.

In a statement, officers attended calls on the evening of July 27 at the Jamia Mosque on Broad Street at around 8:30 pm.

After members of the public identified the suspect, the officers arrested a male on suspicion of a racially aggravated Section 4A Public Order offence, outraging public decency and an alleged indecent exposure offence.

Wiltshire Police are keen to hear from other witnesses and urging the public to come forward by calling 101 and quoting the reference 54230079138. Tell MAMA can pass information to officers on your behalf or anonymously.

The suspect remains in custody for questioning per the press release on July 28.

The post Man allegedly shouted racist abuse and exposed himself outside Swindon mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The goal of the survey derived from the necessity of highlighting anti-Muslim hate crimes against mosques and worshippers is a trend that has not gone away. We decided to work with ITV News to showcase what mosques need to ensure their ongoing safety – anonymous or otherwise.

The important ITV News report highlighted that forms of abuse ranged from “threatening letters, acts of violence, and in one case, having faeces smeared across their walls.”

Speaking to ITV News, Tayyab Mohiuddin described the long-term impacts the dumping of a pig’s head on the roof of their mosque, had on congregants, adding, “Someone going to that extent, to pick up a pig’s head which is forbidden for Muslims. It’s the lowest you can go.”

The survey data publication follows the publishing our new report into a decade of anti-Muslim hate in the UK, and a doubling of cases reported to our service.

A closer look at survey responses from mosques targeted included cases of bacon thrown at their buildings, or in one example, at their entrance.

Graffiti and vandalism appeared in responses, including within prayer rooms or stones thrown at windows or broken windows. In one example, someone set fire to a bin outside the mosque.

The targeted abuse towards congregants appeared in some responses from mosques as others described one case of racist chanting to slurs of ‘paedo’ or ‘terrorist’.

Hate mail, including, as one mosque described, included an “Islamophobic, anti-refugee leaflet”, as other respondents spoke of an online component – with some receiving violent threats over email. Nor has the far-right threat diminished, with a few mosques describing agitations.

The threat increased around the holy month of Ramadan, with 29 mosques agreeing that they experienced more hate crime and abuse, as a vast majority of the examples cited included increased verbal abuse, harassment, and anti-social behaviour.

Of the 117 responses, thirty mosques reported hate crimes to the police, and of that figure, thirteen mosques received satisfactory outcomes or found those responsible, with similar numbers reporting that police had not found those responsible.

Almost one in 5 mosques surveyed hold sessions around hate crime and security throughout the year.

Just over a fifth of survey respondents had not applied for the government-funded protective security schemes for places of worship, as a small number of respondents (n=6) declared that they were ‘unsure’ how to apply, as four mosques had confirmed funding applications.

UPDATE: The Home Office continues to provide protective security measures under 2 schemes to protect your place of worship against hate in England & Wales

Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme

Protective Security for Mosques Schemehttps://t.co/iREl0U0uNB

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) June 22, 2023

Faith institutions that have experienced a hate crime (religious and racial) or feel vulnerable to hate crime can apply online. Applicants can include evidence like police crime references and community impact statements from worshippers, including how they feel (think anecdotes or surveys).

Tell MAMA continues to provide support to applicants across all faiths and encourages those interested in applying but in need of further assistance to email info@tellmamauk.org

The post ITV News & Tell MAMA mosque hate crime survey reveals scale of problem appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported that 60-year-old Terry Chester received a one-year prison sentence, suspended for 24 months at Blackburn Magistrates Court last week (April 6).

Ms Chester put a handwritten note through her neighbour’s door that read “Bomb. Mosque. Sackville Street. Also man has gun on Guildford Street. Police.”

Terry Chester did not seek to alert the police, having her version of events roundly dismissed by the courts last month.

Neighbour, Saiqa Bibi, alerted the authorities after discovering the note, which referred to the Jamia Mosque Sultania, the Lancashire Telegraph added.

LancsLive reported that Chester had historical convictions for arson and other public order offences and was guilty of a malicious communications offence by putting a person in fear of their safety, as the magistrates showed CCTV footage of Chester bending down to put the note through Ms Bibi’s door.

The perpetrator’s intent (whether indecent or grossly offensive, contains threats or false information) is to cause distress or anxiety. The offence occurs upon sending the communication.

Guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service makes clear that bomb hoaxes often fall under Wasting Police Time – a section 5(2) offence under the Criminal Law Act 1967, improper use of Public Electronic Communications Networks – a section 127 offence under the Communications Act 2003, or finally, a section 51 offence that contravenes the Criminal Law Act 1977.

The remorseless Chester must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work, £513.80 for compensating police costs, a further £500 to the prosecution, and £187 fee to the courts, the Lancashire Telegraph added.

The post Woman avoids prison for mosque bomb hoax in Lancashire appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The attack occurred on the evening of February 27, as the elderly victim, 82, and the suspect left the West London Islamic Centre at around 20:00hrs.

Both men spoke for around five minutes before the suspect doused the victim in what the police believe was petrol before setting him alight and walking away.

The elderly victim required hospitalisation for the severe burns to their face and arms.

Tell MAMA continues to liaise with officers following the attack and will provide more updates where possible.

𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗟

After the shocking attack on a pensioner outside of the West London Islamic Centre that left them with severe burns, the Met need your help

Tell MAMA is liaising with the police further and urge anyone with info to come forward, quoting 6422/27FEB pic.twitter.com/a5aCiodDaC

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) March 10, 2023

In a statement, Detective Sergeant Steven Constable, said: “I know this will be an incredibly shocking incident for the community and we are carrying out a full investigation into what happened. Understandably, there is a great deal of local concern in the wake of this incident and local officers have been carrying out reassurance patrols daily at the mosque.”

The Islamic centre continues to assist the police with the investigation.

Anyone who can help identify the man pictured or provide further information can call 101, quoting the incident reference 6422/27FEB. Tell MAMA, as a confidential third-party service, can pass the information on anonymously or on your behalf, with informed consent.

The post CCTV appeal after pensioner set on fire outside of mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The ChronicleLive reported how an individual allegedly banged on doors of the mosques, chased one worshipper and shouted abuse and threats before officers from Northumbria Police attended the scene and made an arrest.

The arrest renewed calls for Muslims locally to report anti-Muslim and Islamophobic hate crimes.

In a statement given to the newspaper, police did confirm that the 34-year-old male, named locally as Alexander Bolam, was arrested and later charged with racially aggravated criminal damage, threats to kill, and common assault.

Bolam appeared at Newcastle Magistrates Court and will appear at Newcastle Crown Court next month.

Our Resources section provides free advice for mosques and individuals when going to and from daily prayers, available to download in high-resolution PDF files.

The post Man to appear in court over alleged threats to kill outside Newcastle mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The arrests came after officers simultaneously executed three search warrants in the Stockport area.

Two men, aged 22 and 47, remain in custody for questioning.

The shocking anti-Muslim and Islamophobic hate crime caused great distress and fear to worshippers in interviews with the press.

Detective Inspector Gareth Beasley of GMP’s Stockport division said: “Hate crimes are abhorrent and have no place in civil society.

“Today’s action sends a clear message that GMP will leave no stone unturned in order to hold those responsible for such offences to account and demonstrates to our communities that hate crime will never be tolerated.”

Days earlier, Greater Manchester Police did confirm that the hate crime investigation was ongoing and encouraged communities impacted to contact their @gmvictim line for support.

Tell MAMA continues to liaise with Greater Manchester Police following the dumping of a pig's head at a mosque in Stockport.

The hate crime investigation is ongoing and we will provide more updates where possible.#No2h8#WeStandTogether#Islamophobia pic.twitter.com/VMjlkPnPsW

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) December 14, 2022

Tell MAMA’s free counselling service is available to those impacted – we provide six free sessions over three months.

As protocol, we also encourage mosques and Islamic centres to keep our safety and security advice in mind.

We will continue to provide further updates where we can.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact GMP quoting 3246 09/12/22. Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Tell MAMA can also pass on information on your behalf.

The post Arrests made after pig’s head dumped on mosque’s roof in Stockport appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Officers attended the scene with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service on the evening of March 28, at around 5:28 pm.

The fire damaged the building, as worshippers extinguished the fire, as police confirmed no injuries to those in attendance.

A 43-year-old local man remains in police custody on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

Tom Harding, Chief Superintendent at Gwent Police said: “At this time, we’re treating this as a hate crime. It’s never acceptable to target anyone because of who they are and what they believe. We will take action against those who commit this type of crime, putting the victim at the heart of everything that we do.”

Given the anti-Muslim and Islamophobic nature of the incident, police have confirmed an increased presence in the local area and are urging anyone with information to come forward – either directly or anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers.

We encourage the public to contact our Casework Team with information that we can forward to the police directly or anonymously – via our contact form online.

We also urge all mosques to remain vigilant and keep our security and safety advice in mind – copies of which are free to download from our Resources section.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁

We are sickened by and strongly condemn the attempted arson of a mosque in Newport on March 28.

As protocol, we strongly urge all mosques and Islamic institutions to keep our security and safety advice in mind in the coming days.#No2h8 pic.twitter.com/4JO8Vmrwxh

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) March 31, 2022

Tell MAMA has long documented various types of attacks on mosques – including arson and other forms of vandalism over the several years.

Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage, can contact Gwent Police on social media (@GwentPolice), or by calling 101 quoting log reference 2200102416.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The post Arrest made following arson attack at a Newport mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Sam Imrie has been charged with posting statements on social media platform Telegram indicating that he planned to stream live footage of “an incident” at the Fife Islamic Centre in Glenrothes.

The 24-year-old is accused of possessing weapons, and allegedly acquired knives, nunchucks, a hammer, a baseball bat, a rifle scope and petrol, which he referred to as his “arsenal”, between June 20 and July 4 2019.

A hearing at Edinburgh High Court on Friday heard that he has also been charged with being in possession of neo-Nazi, anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim material and extreme pornography, including indecent images of children and an image involving a human corpse.

Imrie denies all of the nine charges against him – three of which come under the Terrorism Act.

The trial, before Lord Mulholland, continues.

The post Man facing trial over mosque terror attack plot appeared first on TELL MAMA.

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁

We've been alerted about malicious anti-Muslim and Islamophobic content sent to mosques on USB sticks.

Mosques in South Yorkshire can call 101 quoting ref 420 of 28/7/21.

Please follow the guidance in the security alert below pic.twitter.com/UUfiT3GrGd

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) June 29, 2021

As-Salamu A’leikom,

We’ve been alerted by South Yorkshire Police that anti-Muslim and Islamophobic material being put on USB sticks and posted to mosques nationwide.

Should you receive a USB stick from an unknown source, we advise that you do not touch the USB stick or view its content.

Place the material and the envelope in a clean and sealable plastic bag to stop further contamination and help preserve the evidence and call 101.

For mosques in the South Yorkshire area, follow the above guidelines and call 101 quoting 420 of 28/06/21.

Tell MAMA can liaise further with the police if requested and can report matters on your behalf or anonymously.

We are attaching versions of the security bulletin which you can download and distribute freely.

To download our general security tips for mosques click here.

For general individual safety tips please find the general Tell MAMA security bulletin here.

UPDATE (July 1): The package contains a hand-written note sent via 2nd class post. The USB stick is individually wrapped in bubble wrap – DO NOT unwrap to preserve evidence.

UPDATE: We continue to receive reports concerning the materials distributed.

NOTE: the package contains a hand-written note sent via 2nd class post. The USB stick is individually wrapped in bubble wrap – DO NOT unwrap to preserve evidence.

Follow the guidance below: pic.twitter.com/SWLZdPZA9r

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) July 1, 2021

UPDATE (06/07/21): We thank the mosques in London, West and South Yorkshire, Northern Ireland, and the Greater Manchester area for reporting the materials to us. Tell MAMA continues to urge mosques to follow our security advice, call 101, and speak with us in confidence.

We will continue to provide further updates where possible.

You can get advice from our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

The post Malicious USB sticks posted to mosques nationwide appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Police have launched an investigation after worshippers at a mosque in east London were attacked with eggs.

Local politicians have condemned the incident at the Ilford Islamic Centre as a “disgraceful act of hatred and violence” that has “no place” in the community.

The Metropolitan Police said it received a report of racially aggravated criminal damage at around 11pm on Tuesday evening at a mosque in Albert Road, Ilford.

Met Police have launched a hate crime investigation after Muslims were targeted with eggs and stones at Ilford Islamic Centre yesterday evening after finishing evening prayershttps://t.co/6UM7JHl5XE

— Tell MAMA UK (@TellMamaUK) May 5, 2021

The Federation of Redbridge Muslim Organisations (FORMO) tweeted that eggs and other items had been thrown at worshippers and that five people were hit, but none seriously injured.

The Met said that so far there have been no arrests.

The Muslim community is observing the holy month of Ramadan, which ends next week.

Ahmed Nahwaz, director and secretary of the centre, said the incident was “a shame” but the community remained strong.

“I was caught by surprise because leading up to this we had a very quiet and peaceful 20-odd nights, and then this happened,” he told the PA news agency.

“We weren’t expecting it this kind of time in the period of reflection for everyone, having gone through Covid.”

“It’s a shame (but) we’re used to it,” said Mr Nawaz.

“We’re a strong community and we take it on the chin. It makes us weary rather than fearful.”

Mr Nawaz said police and local authorities had been “very supportive” following the incident but that attacks against the Muslim community were often “glossed over” in the media.

“We just want to be treated like humans, just like everyone else,” he said.

Sam Tarry, Labour MP for Ilford South, said: “I am shocked and saddened to hear of this Islamophobic attack against Ilford Mosque.

“These disgraceful acts of violence and hatred have no place in Ilford, and I hope that the perpetrators face justice as soon as possible.”

Jas Athwal, Labour leader of Redbridge Council, said the council would continue to work closely with police and that security in areas surrounding the mosque would be increased.

“Racist incidents like this have no place in our borough and we will work with our friends and neighbours at Albert Road Mosque, and the police to ensure the safety of all worshippers.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Stephen Clayman, in charge of policing for the Redbridge area, said: “We take all reports of hate crime very seriously and have launched an investigation.

“Incidents like this will not be tolerated and my officers will be undertaking enhanced patrols in the area to provide reassurance to the local community and visitors to the mosque.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police on 101. They can also report to Tell MAMA on 0800 456 1226, or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Credit: PA News

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Police named the suspect as John T Earnest and said he entered the synagogue in northern California during Passover celebrations and opened fire with an assault rifle, killing one person and injuring three others, including the rabbi.

An antisemitic and racist manifesto attributed to Mr Earnest was uploaded to 8Chan, a website popular with neo-Nazis and white supremacists before the shootings took place, came a bold claim: that John T Earnest had attempted to burn down a local mosque days after the terroristic mass shootings which left 50 Muslims dead in New Zealand.

Police have confirmed that John T Earnest is a suspect in the attempted arson of a mosque in Escondido, California, on March 25.

CCTV footage from the mosque captured the moment when an individual had poured petrol against a side door and started a fire, which was soon extinguished by worshippers, who were inside the mosque for Fajr (morning) prayers.

Details from the alleged manifesto of John T Earnest reference the mosque arson and take ownership of it – including the praise of Brenton Tarrant, which appeared in the car park. The manifesto states, however, that the message was spray-painted.

The manifesto used the racist epithet “Sandn******” to describe Muslims praying inside of the  Escondido mosque, which furthers how any understanding of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred must factor how racialisation impacts on Muslims. This understanding departs from traditional understandings transcends the “black-white divide” and welds Muslim with a singular racial category, often Asian or Arab, despite the racial diversity of Muslims in the United States (with notable numbers of Muslims identifying as black or Latinx).

Such “othering” works to further the dehumanising idea that Muslims are a cultural menace or securitised threat, which, in turn, helps to pre-empt empathy.

The synagogue shooting came six months after a white supremacist murdered 11 people inside of a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Robert Bowers, the main suspect, faces the prospect of the death penalty if convicted. Bowers’s name appeared in the manifesto attributed to John T Earnest.

Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch terror suspect, is ‘credited’ with inspiring this latest act of antisemitic violence, which, if true, demonstrates how emboldened white supremacists and white nationalist feel to act upon the violence which underpins their ideologies.

White supremacist attacks on other faith groups remain in the headlines in the United States, as weeks earlier, a 21-year-old man, who once ‘joked’ about white power online, was charged with hate crime offences, following several arson attacks on black churches in Louisiana.

The post Poway synagogue shooting: suspect John T Earnest linked to mosque arson last month appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at 10:31 pm GMT on Sunday evening.

The fire took several hours to contain and caused thousands of pounds of damage.

Iman Maaz Waheed told the Manchester Evening News that the mosque was largely empty when the fire broke out, and nobody was injured.

Mr Waheed also raised concerns about the security of the building but added that it should not be an issue for congregants to cover the cost of repairs.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed this afternoon (December 11) that the fire is hate crime related.

Detective Inspector Muz Kernain of GMP’s City of Manchester Division said: “Fortunately, no-one was injured in the fire but had it been earlier in the day, this could have been a very different story.

“Attacking a place of worship is truly disgusting and I can assure you we will not be taking this lightly.

“It’s so important we find who has done this – the pain and upset they have caused is deplorable.”

Tell MAMA continues to document incidents and attacks against masjids and other Islamic institutions in the public domain, with over one hundred incidents recorded since May 2013.

We are reissuing our safety tips, having raised concerns yesterday on social that the fire was indeed arson-related.

https://twitter.com/TellMamaUK/status/1072147349659676672

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting reference number 2220 of 09/12/18 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

The post Fire at mosque ruled as an Islamophobic hate crime, police launch appeal appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The Masjid Qamarul Islam, on Fosbrooke Road, came under attack at 22:00 GMT yesterday evening (August 15), and 20 minutes later, the Al-Hijrah mosque also came under attack during Isha prayers (evening prayers).

Both mosques are situated half-a-mile away from one another.

Witnesses described the ‘marble-shaped’ size of the ball bearings.

Firearms officers from West Midlands Police attended both mosques as a precaution.

West Midlands Police are working to establish the motive of the attack, and Tell MAMA is continuing to liaise with the force, as our staff support the affected mosques.

We strongly condemn the catapult attacks on the Masjid Qamarul Islam and the Al-Hijrah Masjid in Birmingham last night.

If you have any information:

101
0800 456 1226 (Tell MAMA)
0734 184 6086 (Our WhatsApp)

See our updated incident map https://t.co/8WrWP5IMCz pic.twitter.com/hVwXbcmYZk

— TellMAMAUK (@TellMamaUK) August 16, 2018

Imam Usman Hussain, from Masjid Qamarul Islam, told the BBC: “Worshippers thought they were under attack by someone with a gun.”

Wajid Hussain, who works for the Al-Hijra Trust and Masjid, told the Birmingham Mail: “The damage was on the side – to the hostel part of the building, but it is all one charity. We are very concerned about the attack.”

The attacks come days after 29-year-old Salih Khater, from Birmingham, was arrested on suspicion of terror offences after a car crashed outside the Houses of Parliament.

A trustee of Birmingham Central Mosque, Nassar Mahmood, told the press that Muslims are facing ‘unprecedented levels of Islamophobia’.

In 2017, Tell MAMA verified 54 incidents against Islamic institutions.

Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 101.

You can get advice from our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

The post Two Birmingham mosques attacked with heavy-duty catapult appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Some letters have contained non-toxic white powder.

Rest assured that we are working closely with the relevant police forces on this matter which is being treated with the utmost seriousness.

With Jumu’ah prayers tomorrow we urge all masjids to avoid handling mail which may appear suspicious or from envelopes which only list the address of the building.

We urge anyone who has received this letter to report to Tell MAMA in confidence or to ring the non-emergency 101 number.

In an emergency always dial 999.

It is essential that all letters and envelopes are kept and handled minimally to preserve evidence for the police to investigate.

Incidents like this are rare but we urge vigilance and calm as we remind Muslim communities that our confidential support service is available to assist in this matter.

Our safety tips offer advice for individuals and mosques.

If you receive hate mail, it is essential that all letters and envelopes are kept and handled minimally to preserve evidence for the police to investigate.

Tell MAMA is a confidential service. We are here to assist. pic.twitter.com/WgU4yuTBAB

— TellMAMAUK (@TellMamaUK) May 2, 2018

MOSQUES: Please report in anything that may be anti-Muslim in nature. We are also happy to visit you in person. Please be vigilant and ensure that you take some simple basic measures like this.
0800 456 1226
info@tellmamauk.org
Report in here: https://t.co/oqZD1xhcUf pic.twitter.com/EWHg50wK7e

— TellMAMAUK (@TellMamaUK) May 2, 2018

Our safety tips are free to download and share from our resources section.

We will continue to update the public on this matter when we are able to do so.

UPDATE: We have received several reports of threatening letters sent to mosques in the South West, South East, and Greater Manchester areas.

UPDATE II: Lancashire Police are investigating a letter and powder sent to Blackpool’s Central Mosque and Islamic Community Centre, per the Blackpool Gazette.

UPDATE III: We have received reports of letters sent to mosques in Sussex and the Merseyside area.

UPDATE IV: Threatening letter sent to Southend Mosque

The same threatening letter was sent to Southend Mosque but did not contain any suspicious powder, according to the local Echo newspaper.

Sussex Police are treating the incident as a hate crime. The Counter Terrorism Unit North East (CTU) is leading the investigation.

A CTU spokesperson said: “Police are investigating a number of reports of malicious communications sent to individuals across the UK.

“Officers are currently investigating the full circumstances surrounding these reports.

“Counter Terrorism Policing North East are coordinating the investigation at this time and will consider any potential links to existing enquiries.

“Enquiries are at an early stage and we’d encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of such an offence to contact their local police force.

“We’d also appeal to anyone with any information about the individual, or individuals, responsible to call police in confidence on 0800 789 321.”

You can get advice through our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

The post Threatening letters sent to mosques in Kent, London, and Colchester appeared first on TELL MAMA.

CCTV footage of the incident on April 28 has been passed to Police Scotland to investigate.

In a statement, the mosque said it was a “deliberate symbol of hatred chosen as Muslims and Jews do not eat Pork”, in a statement published on social media yesterday evening.

MOSQUE ATTACK STATEMENT

We are disappointed to report that the Mosque was attacked over the weekend and bacon left on one of the doors. This act was a deliberate symbol of hatred chosen as Muslims and Jews do… https://t.co/yzbwJfhYln

— Dunfermline Central Mosque (@dunfermlinemosq) April 30, 2018

The mosque said it will not be ‘intimidated’ by the attack and intends to continue its engagement with all communities in Dunfermline which has included various open events, including a ‘race against racism’ day on April 28.

Such events, according to the statement, have shown the mosque that “the vast majority of people of Dunfermline have shown us nothing but love and support”.

On Facebook, one man wrote: “As a Scottish Muslim I am feeling very proud to see so much love and support from the people of Dunfermline.”

Local police will be increasing patrols around the mosque during the month of Ramadan.

Tell MAMA has published safety tips for individuals and masjids.

Some basic safety tips for #mosques this Ramadan. We can send volunteers to your mosques to risk assess if need be. We are here. pic.twitter.com/3FTZmbBNUo

— TellMAMAUK (@TellMamaUK) June 19, 2017

We have catalogued more than one hundred incidents against Islamic institutions since May 2013 in an interactive map (where the information is in the public domain).

Other have documented how bacon has been ‘weaponised’ against Muslims.

You can get advice through our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

The post Bacon strips left on door handle of Dunfermline Central Mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Sadly, last week, the mosque was again subjected to more anti-Shia graffiti which is evident in the attached picture.

This year, Tell MAMA has picked up a number of anti-Shia and anti-Ahmadi hate incidents and language like ‘Shia Kafir’ shows an intolerance towards other Muslims and possibly may be influenced by extremist rhetoric. The latter makes these cases even more important to solve and for the people involved to be fully investigated.

At this time, we would suggest that any mosques in the vicinity of the KSIMC centre in Birmingham offer their support to this mosque that has been repeatedly targeted.

The post Mehfil E Abbas-KSIMC Birmingham Mosque Targeted Again for Anti-Shia Hatred appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Yet, the objections raised may well be legitimate concerns, however, one statement in the leaflet raises eyebrows and should make us all uncomfortable in the way that it frames mosques. The final point in the leaflet states:

“The centre will be open every day through the year, from very early in the morning to late at night. Apart from a security hazard, there is a propensity for both light and noise pollution.”

The use of the term ‘security hazard’ is bizarre and attempts to play on fears about Muslims and mosques and should be challenged. There seems to be a Facebook page entitled ‘Atrincham Today’ and we would urge members of the public to make clear that such language and dog-whistle language is unacceptable. We would also urge local councillors on the relevant planning committee to raise questions with campaigners as to the choice of their words.

The post Campaign in Altrincham Regards Proposed Mosque as a ‘Security Hazard’ appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Russell Thomas Langford of Fayetteville was arrested late on Thursday, the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office said. He is a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, WTVD-TV in Raleigh said, quoting officials at Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina.

Maj. Russell Thomas Langford, 36, made death threats against members of the Masjid Al Madina mosque in Raeford about 20 miles southwest of Fayetteville, US. (Picture Courtesy of New York Daily News).

On Thursday afternoon, members of the Masjid Al Madina in Raeford found two packages of bacon at the mosque entrance, the sheriff’s office said.

Observant Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork products. Ramadan is Islam’s holy month, during which believers abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.

Langford is charged with ethnic intimidation, assault with a deadly weapon, going armed to the terror of the public, communicating threats, stalking and disorderly conduct, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Officials with the sheriff’s office and Fort Bragg military base could not be reached for comment on Friday.

“We have called for stepped-up police presence not only for that mosque but others in that state,” said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim advocacy group.

“Every mosque all over the country has nightly Ramadan activities, so they’re vulnerable,” he said.

A Chevy Tahoe was in the parking lot when the bacon was found, and the driver of the Tahoe, later identified as Langford, followed one of the members home, the sheriff’s statement said.

The suspect returned in the evening, showed a gun to one of the members, a retired Army captain and Muslim chaplain at Fort Bragg, and threatened to kill him, according to a report by WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C.

The chaplain invited him inside to talk, but the man left, the report said. Later, the man returned in his SUV and tried to run over a group of people who were going inside the mosque for evening Ramadan prayers, the report said.

Investigators found firearms, ammunition and other weapons inside Langford’s vehicle, according to the sheriff’s statement.

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We have said before that we are not going to get into a theological discussion and this is not the role of Tell MAMA. Our role is to tackle anti-Muslim hatred, bigotry, prejudice and intolerance. Yet, when we hear such terms used against the Ahmaddiya community, who are simply looking to develop a mosque, we have to state what is patently obvious; that differences can be resolved without resorting to terms that have implications which are bigoted and prejudiced such as ‘banana republic’.

This video sadly shows a handful of individuals stating that the Ahmaddiya mosque is not a ‘mosque’ but a ‘temple.’ It also shows one individual suggesting that individuals from the Ahmaddiya community may have come from ‘a banana republic.’

Our call is that differences can be resolved through dialogue and discussion. We hear from Muslims that Islam promotes dialogue, education and learning. We ask that local members of Muslim communities in Scunthorpe meet with one another to find a resolution to this issue. As long as there divisions, they will be manipulated and used by extremist far right groups to drive a wedge between communities. This is the last thing that residents of Scunthorpe need and things can only be resolved through dialogue.

We would like to stress that there will always be differences in life. The key thing is to ensure the safety of all local communities in Scunthorpe and to resolve issues through discourse and with language that does not inflame tensions between communities.

Lastly, the text on this video below shows how some may frame this issue. They will use it to malign Muslims and to seek division. May we ask for calm and cool heads at this time and we are here to mediate and assist if required.

We all deserve to live our lives in dignity and free from fear. Let us keep this in mind when working with each other and when interacting with each other in this tiny island of ours.

[This post contains video, click to play]

The post Divisions in Scunthorpe Need Cool & Level Heads on Ahmaddiya Mosque Application appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Newspapers must moderate their comments and especially given the fact that far right groups mobilise and direct sympathisers to make anti-Muslim posts on mainstream platforms, so as to legitimise their views. Sadly, this is the environment we are in today and we cannot allow everyday platforms to be hijacked by any extreme group.

Furthermore Facebook’s response to this is to tell us to report in each comment. This is simply ludicrous when the vast majority of Muslims will not report in and for Facebook to suggest that we spend our limited resources to sit every day and report in tens of thousands of anti-Muslim comments is simply ludicrous. We have said before and we will say it again, these platforms, which are profit-making, give little if nothing back to civil society groups and their platforms are being used to promote open hatred and threats. Much of the former is not removed meaning that the volume sits and builds up for eternity. Also, given the loads on the Crown Prosecution Service, Police forces, civil society groups and police forces, it is time pressure was put on these social media platforms to get them to set up a significant civil society fund for counter-speech.

The post Thousands of Anti-Muslim Posts Today Could Fuel Reverse Extremism appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Just last night, we were included into a range of discussions that pointed to a page on the Muslim Council of Britain’s web-site. The feelings of some individuals were inflamed by a post on the Muslim Council of Britain’s web-site which we have listed below. Coincidently the post on the MCB web-site listed the Morden mosque, (then being built), as not being a mosque on the basis of theological differences.

However, today, through what looks like an accident, the Morden mosque caught fire and what ensued on social media was intra-Muslim hatred and bigotry which is socially unacceptable. If you are targeted with what you believe are anti-Muslim comments in nature, you can and should report them into us. Hateful and spiteful language because of your faith identity should not be taking place and we urge communities to report it in.

Lastly, whilst we know that there are many good people working in the Muslim Council of Britain trying to make a difference, we would ask them to reflect on the following page which has attracted so much attention. Whilst the page is opinion based on theological decisions, we request that the Muslim Council be more vocal in its stance when Ahmaddiya communities are targeted with hateful messages that seek to demonise them and which threaten and promote hate. We also acknowledge that the Muslim Council of Britain has a role to play, which it does, in interfaith and cohesion activities. Now is the time for us to come together to tackle hate, intolerance and bigotry.

Islamophobia rampant in UK but @MuslimCouncil is long focused on pushing anti-Ahmadi bigotry http://t.co/Ek50MAjlJm @mehdirhasan @TellMamaUK

— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) September 25, 2015

@MuslimIQ What bigotry by @MuslimCouncil Shameful! @TellMamaUK @AdamWalkerGB @AJUpFront @HuffPostLive @CatrinNye @BashaNazir

— Kashif N Chaudhry (@KashifMD) September 25, 2015

The post As Baitul Futuh Burns, the Bigotry of Some Muslims Towards Ahmaddiyas Comes Out appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Today, we had a report of mosque worshippers in Reading being targeted for anti-Muslim hatred. The report, from one of the mosque worshippers, highlighted how two white males, (one described as having a thick ‘Eastern European accent’ of sorts), screamed at worshippers who were filing out of the Reading based mosque after prayers. The two white males shouted a tirade of anti-Muslim hate at worshippers who simply looked at the males, who were acting in a highly aggressive manner.

One of the males then went on to accuse the mosque of ‘hiding refugees’ and of bringing refugees into the mosque. The sentiments expressed, made a connection with the refugee crisis and mosques and Muslim communities, which shows how people are using the refugee crisis to vent their anti-Muslim bigotry.

Details of the incident have been passed to the police in the hope that CCTV can identify the vehicle and the faces of the perpetrators. All of the material passed onto us will be sent to Thames Valley Police.

The post Refugee Crisis Used in Anti-Muslim Rhetoric as Mosque Worshippers Abused appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Yes, these ‘Templar Knights’, these defenders of Jerusalem, (which we will come to later), have managed to find a problem with Haribo sweets and have picked a fight. In a desire to challenge the ‘Halal’ element of Haribo sweets, Britain First have mounted a campaign to put the ‘G’ back into Haribo Funny Mix sweets, since the removal of gelatine means that practising Muslims can be sure that there is no pork gelatine in the sweets.

So these battalions of righteousness have taken the fight ‘against the evils of Halal’ to the Haribo Funny Mix sweet packets and we will no doubt be trailing their campaign with some interest. You never know, after the Haribo Funny Mix, they might just start on the Refreshers!

However, not to be outdone, the Templar Knights of Peckham have been advertising a Britain First march in Burton that is to take place in October against what they have termed a ‘mega mosque.’ To advertise the mega mosque, the Templar Knights have thought that Burton is in fact, Jerusalem, and have managed to place a picture of the Dome of the Rock mosque on the Al-Haram Al Sharif, as though it were in Burton. Yes, they simply have lost their way again.

Our simple advice to anyone looking to follow or support the work of Britain First would be this. If their idea of social change is attempting to wave a packet of Haribo sweets around or place mosques in Jerusalem in the location of Burton, some 3,000 miles away, do you actually feel confident in their abilities to do anything to ‘Take Britain Back?’ Ladies and gentlemen, we rest our case.

The post Britain First – Fighting Over a Packet of Sweets appeared first on TELL MAMA.

A new mosque and community centre was recently approved by the local authority and local newspaper reports have suggested that a proposal to turn two shops into a mosque and cultural centre has ‘divided opinion‘. 

The Woodford Muslim Cultural Centre (WMCC) is looking to convert the former hairdressers and sweet shop into a mosque and having been denied permission before, the local authority finally agreed to the decision.

The response it seems has been violent and criminal. Last week ‘bacon‘ was written on the door of the proposed mosque and a brick was thrown through the front of the building last night.

We regularly come across such incidents where opposition to mosques involves not just some local residents, but individuals who are in no way connected to the area. Local authority officers who have received such objections before have told us that there have been ’round-robin’ campaigns of pro-forma letters that have been circulated with individuals reacting without any knowledge as to the proposed application and these campaigns have added to a sense of fracture in relations in local communities. Sadly, it seems that those looking to affect local community relations have used mosque planning applications as a tool to try and garner support for their targeted campaigns against mosques.

The post Mosque Attacked in Woodford Green, Redbridge appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The CCTV footage has been passed onto the police and the criminal damage is being looked into. The Baitul Atta mosque was opened in 2012 and was refurbished by the British Muslim Ahmaddiya community as a place of learning and worship. The motto for the community is, ‘Love for All, Hatred for None.’

The Ahmaddiya community has come in for abuse and attacks before and suffer anti-Muslim hate and intra-Muslim hate. It is not just groups like ISIS that promote and target this peaceful community, small sections of Muslim communities in the UK have previously openly espoused hatred to this group and regard them as ‘heretics.’ In Pakistan, there is systemic prejudice against this community which is enshrined within laws brought in by General Zia Ul Haq. Zia was in many instances, was free to bring in laws that he wanted since he was seen as a useful ally to the Americans in the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan at that time.

We within TELL MAMA will be willing to support a prosecution attempt and provide any community impact statements for the relevant police force. Sectarian and intra-Muslim violence has no part to play in our country or our societies and the wilful targeting of this peaceful and law abiding community is unacceptable. There are simply no ‘ifs’ and ‘buts.’ Where we have anti-Muslim or intra-Muslim hate reported to us, we will act.

The post Ahmaddiya Mosque Attacked in Wolverhampton appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The graffiti suggests that the Shia are unbelievers and such rhetoric is worrying, given that it forms the bedrock of thinking that drives extreme groups. For this statement to have been painted on the walls of a City like Bradford, is even more worrying, given that the City is one that generally is cohesive and where such incidents do not take place.

The targeting of this Shia Centre is also classed as an anti-Muslim hate incident and we have logged and recorded it as such. We will be keeping an eye on the developing situation, though we call on all individuals to reject and publicly speak out against the targeting of the Shia community. Furthermore, we hope that when this perpetrator is caught, that he will be charged with a religiously aggravated offence and we within TELL MAMA will be happy to speak to the court and support such a charge.

Shia centre in Bradford targeted earlier today in broad daylight @TellMamaUK @MustafaNajafi @Nadim_Nassar @aligokal pic.twitter.com/VsbvaEAxSj

— Mustafa Field (@mustafafield) June 21, 2015

The post Shia Centre Targeted in Bradford in anti-Muslim Hate Incident appeared first on TELL MAMA.

One of the threats involved the following comment, “I hope you like the smell of petrol.”

The imam of the mosque who has served the mosque for over 3 years said that he had received over 6 letters this year and that this was a consistent campaign to target the institution, with similar letters being sent over the last few years.

Bizarrely, one of the letters was a clone of the House of Commons letter headed paper and signed by the Prime Minister whose electronic signature had been placed on the letter. The letter said, “too many Muslims are taking benefits. If the Conservatives win this election, every mosque must make monthly payments of £500.”

Others letters made further threats and contained hate speech. This is an example of the kind of language that they contained.

“Islam is a c**t of a religion

The prophet is a queer gay boy

You scum Muslims are ar**holes and the same colour as one

Get out of our city you will never be British.

Your religion is the cancer on the world

You are a parasite on society

Fu**ing kiddy fiddlers grooming children fuck*** scum”

The post Mosque Receives Hate Filled Material, Threats, Porn and a Hoax Letter from the Prime Minister appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The Ahmaddiya community has itself suffered anti-Muslim incidents as well as intra-Muslim hate, where they have been targeted by a minority of Muslims as being heretical and not in the mainstream of Islam. Yet, all of this important information was lost on far right bigots who posted the following in the Sunderland Defence League’s closed Facebook page. Now, it also seems that Darrell Copeland is a sympathiser for the North East Infidels group.

Darrell Copeland misses the fact that the mosque in question is an Ahmaddiya one and the community counters extremism

Seems Darrell Copeland takes pictures of knives

North East Infidels and Pegida sympathisers tried to disrupt the event at the mosque in Hartlepool and they were all issued with Section 35 notices by the police under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, 2014. They were ordered to leave the area.

Note: we are grateful to TWAFA (Tyne and Wear Anti Fascist Association) for support and help in collating this material

The post North East Infidels/Pegida Try to Disrupt Activities in Hartlepool Ahmaddiya Mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Some parents relied a fear driven by news of foreign terrorism and a dislike of religion – there is nothing intrinsically wrong with a dislike of faith – but depriving a child of an enriching educational experience based on the former is not the way forward – especially when it seeks to challenge negative perceptions of Muslims

One parent told the Daily Mail she wanted her son to stay in school ‘learning Maths and English’ rather ‘than risk being shot’: “I did not want him to go because they are a violent religion and many of them have guns”.

But the odds of such a violent act occurring at any mosque in Britain is insignificant and does not warrant fear. The Lord Mayor of Exeter rejected any safety fears and praised his Muslim community.

Nor was the trip just to Exeter Central Mosque. The 91 students (from Years 3 to 6) will also visit a cathedral on May 7. Both visits offer the express intent of furthering their understanding of both Christianity and Islam. Students are presented with a chance to ask questions and observe congressional prayers. For many, it would be their first trip to a mosque (and possibly a cathedral). Staff will also ensure students wear long sleeves and trousers and remove their shoes before entering the mosque.

The school follows the Cornwall Agreed Syllabus for RE. It offers students a chance to learn about Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Islam through school trips, external speakers and classroom teaching.

One act of failed terrorism in 2008 should not stop individuals from visiting and interacting with Exeter’s Muslim community.

The last census revealed that Cornwall has pockets of self-identified religious minorities. Just 0.2 per cent of Cornwall’s population (532,273) is Muslim. Scope for positive and day-to-day interactions are limited. So the chance to visit individuals of other faiths and ethnic backgrounds takes on a greater necessity.

Other parents did embrace the news: “I did not even realise it was an issue. I was delighted my child had the opportunity to experience another culture in their ways of worship.”

Yet, one unnamed parent alleged that students were ‘singled’ out in assembly but staff maintain it was simply a wider discussion of the issues in a special assembly. The headmaster spoke directly to parents about their fears.

A majority of students will still make the trip on May 7. But a positive event is generating headlines for the wrong reasons.

The post Parents withdraw students from Exeter mosque visit over ‘terrorism fears’ appeared first on TELL MAMA.

This is the aftermath of what seems to be an anti-Muslim hate incident on the Millfield mosque in Sunderland.

The site has been the centre of Far Right activity and with counter-protests taking place.

When we contacted the Chair of the mosque, he confirmed that 2 windows had been broken over the weekend. The Islamic Education Centre, which doubles up as a mosque, is currently under construction and hopes to open for worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Chair of the mosque also mentioned that the English Defence League had been protesting against the construction of this mosque and had previously posted hate material on Facebook.

If you are aware of such incidents, please do get in touch with us on 0800 456 1226 or by e-mail via info@tellmamauk.org. You can also tweet us @tellmamauk.

The post Millfield Mosque in Sunderland Suffers Broken Windows appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Given the targeted nature of the graffiti, it was deemed to be anti-Muslim in nature, given that it was placed on Islamic institutions in the London Borough of Brent.

What is worrying is that institutions in our diverse capital are not exempt from such targeting and if you come across any such material, please do contact us at TELL MAMA on 0800 456 1226, e-mail us on info@tellmamauk.org or tweet us @tellmamauk.

The post Graffiti on London Muslim Centres Shows the Capital is Not Immune to Hate appeared first on TELL MAMA.

One of the worshippers who spoke to a member of the TELL MAMA team said:

“I am just trying to pray and want to come and do my Jumu’ah prayers and I feel frightened and just angry that such people want to play games outside the mosque. All we want is to be left alone to pray and get on with our lives, but this is just getting out of hand, where we have police and groups of people shouting at each other.”

The Regent’s Park mosque administration has on many occasions made clear that people should peacefully attend and worship at the mosque and the doors are always open to those who want peace, spiritual guidance and worship. They have taken a strong stance against any form of political gathering and this includes agitation by groups associated with Anjem Choudhary or Britain First. The mosque management has also made huge efforts to work with other communities to place the mosque in the heart of local communities in Westminster and Camden and such demonstrations, no doubt, affect worshippers and many who have worked hard to build community relations in the area.

We just hope that both of these extremist groups – Britain First and Anjem Choudhary’s brigade of followers realise that they are not wanted. They are remnants of a past which survived on agitating each other – and they represent all that the majority of people do not want. However, sadly we may see more of their inflammatory actions before we see calm heads prevail.

The post Britain First & Anjem Choudhary’s Motley Crew Play Off Each Other appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The Mail on Sunday story highlights how Amin suggested that the EDL should announce a march against the Dudley mosque just before the election, only to back down after a series of meetings (organised by Amin), with the local police and Muslim communities. The aim was to give the public the impression that he had lowered tensions in the local area by halting the EDL march and thereby to gain enough support the overturn the razor tight Labour majority in the area.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that he wanted to possibly pay EDL activists who could talk to voters at the doorstep and who may have been persuaded to vote for him due to his military service. Amin must have assumed that the EDL activists could target specific profiles of potential voters and advocate his military credentials and service to them.

There are times when individuals over-reach themselves and make mistakes. There are positions that individuals and elected officials take that make clear their red lines and their desire to speak out on issues that matter to them. We understand that in an information rich and fast moving media cycle, these things happen and positions are taken. This is the rich tapestry of what makes life so exciting and sometimes so infuriating.

Yet, the investigation by the Mail on Sunday opens up a whole array of issues in relation to this ex-candidate. To use the EDL, a far right extremist group, to promote tensions in an area that has been blighted by tensions due to objections to the Dudley mosque, is jaw dropping. No-one should under-estimate the local fractures and tensions that the Dudley mosque has caused and which has ramifications for communities to this day. This is not to side with people who object to the Dudley mosque, nor is to support the vile campaigning by anti-Muslim groups like Britain First who seek to agitate and increase divisions. However, it is to acknowledge that the Dudley mosque has become a focal political point in the area and that tensions need to be reduced by cool heads.

With this in mind, we hope that the future Member of Parliament for Dudley North strives to bring together communities in the area and to keep out those who seek to divide, spread fear, intolerance and hatred. That is the last thing that Dudley needs.

The post Asking for a Far Right March for Votes In Dudley, Goes Way Beyond Politics appeared first on TELL MAMA.

If you come across such material in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us and to send a url and snapshot of the material.

The post ‘Burn Down Your Local Mosque’ says Caption on Sunderland North East Infidels Division appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Bizarrely some parents also stated that they feared for the safety of their young children and one parent cited the fact that there ‘is no male supervision,’ citing the fact that because males and females sit separately in mosques, she did not want her son exposed to this. The same parent stated that her son may be vulnerable by entering a mosque and that the recent grooming scandals meant he was at risk by entering a mosque.

The article in the Rotherham Advertiser highlights parental comments which focus on gender segregation, grooming and change of clothing. The comments are naturally followed by denial of racism and bigotry with another parent stating:

“I would like to reiterate that we are not a racist school and neither myself nor my children are racist.”

The post Parents Refuse to Send Their Children to A Mosque Visit in Rotherham appeared first on TELL MAMA.

We agree that Britain is diminished without its Muslim communities but we would extend that sentiment to all faith groups. Indeed, many Muslims up and down the country demonstrate the positives of their faith – be it handing out flowers of peace in places like Trafalgar Square or assisting the needy at food banks – we know the positives are out there but more is needed to highlight these altruistic and Islamic-inspired values.

Some mosques will find the letter of use if they require legal assistance on this matter but we must also acknowledge that the online world (and social media) act as key recruitment tools.

Many British Muslims already demonstrate a sense of pride in this country. In recent years polls found 77% Muslims in Britain strongly identify with Britain (higher than the general population) and 86.4% of Muslims feel they belong in this country (slightly above 85.9% of Christians.)

Clearly, British and Islamic values are not dissimilar and many already share a pride of what Britain offers them. Positive stories will help reinforce this message and it is up to all of us to meet these challenges.

Following an alarming anti-Muslim backlash in France following the Paris atrocities, ensuring police chiefs take mosque security seriously in Britain is most helpful. Yet, we must not lose sight of the potential problems. The recent graffiti at the University of Birmingham hints at far-right involvement – multiple swastikas were spray painted alongside the statement ‘Islam must die’ – it is now subject to a police investigation and reminds us all of another challenge we face. But we make the same call for unity in the face of far-right anti-Muslim extremism.”

Statement from the former Director of TELL MAMA, Fiyaz Mughal OBE

The post Statement from TELL MAMA Director, Fiyaz Mughal, on Letter by Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP appeared first on TELL MAMA.

What is clear is that mosques are usually the institutions targeted by anti-Muslim bigots. Our data also shows that usual times for the targeting of mosques for anti-Muslim activity is between 10 pm to 3 am in the morning. We urge mosques to be vigilant and to ensure that lighting around the mosque is maintained and that visible volunteer patrols walk around the mosque when possible to ensure that all is well. Further support and advice can be obtained from your local Safer Neigbourhood Team.

The post Now Russia. Anti-Muslim Hate Touches Mosque in Moscow appeared first on TELL MAMA.

If you have information on further anti-Muslim incidents in France, please do not hesitate to contact us on info@tellmamauk.org.

The post Map of Anti-Muslim Incidents in France after the Charlie Hebdo Massacre appeared first on TELL MAMA.

One example is the openly hostile ‘No more mosques in Plymouth’ – a paged draped in the imagery and language of British nationalism. A page dedicated to protecting ‘the values of Plymouths British patriots and ensure we fight to stop more mosques coming to Plymouth.’

The original proposal offered local Kurds in Plymouth a cultural centre to learn about their collective histories and culture, to improve their English skills, offer educational classes at weekends and a space for prayer.

In September, the Plymouth Herald ran the headline ‘Mosque plan for former vet surgery in Plymouth’. But the opening paragraph states it could turn ‘into a mosque and cultural centre’. A closer reading of the original application hints at nothing more than an educational and cultural centre with a space to prayer.

But Plymouth City Council rejected the application due to inadequate parking.

The anti-mosque page did link to the controversial Law and Freedom Foundation. But their opposition is merely a proxy for anti-Muslim bigotry as the conspiracy theories pour out (even after the council’s rejection in November):

“To those fascist right wing soft spot for muslims lovers keep supporting them because the day will come when they’ll be the death of this future generation Europeans are being replaced with islamic immigration.” [January 2]

“Every European state will be crippled by islamic immigration in a matter of years. No to the EU no to islamic immigration.” [December 24]

“Britain is being crippled by immigration most of all Islamic immigration that’s right I said it Islamic. In a matter of decades Muslim will rise and civil wars will break making us a minority in our own country.” [December 24]

Rather oddly, the page confuses Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the former Libyan dictator, with the fictional wizard Gandalf:  “Gandalf once said muslims will take over Europe not with guns but by populating by 8 to our 2 but where is gandalf now you ask?? Killed by his own muslim … Their at war with each other what chance have they got against us none what so ever.”

For the avoidance of doubt, the group are unlikely to own a legitimate copy of Lord of the Rings.

One post called for various far-right groups (including the BNP and EDL) to join forces and fight against a ‘majority muslim multicultural terrorist group of infidels’.

The ‘We do not need another mosque in plymouth’ Facebook page mirrors this rhetoric and the pages sometimes share content.

In a broader and national sense, the Twitter account @MosqueBlocker encourages and helps individuals legally oppose mosque applications.

It explicitly states ‘this page is not for racism,or incitement of violence,peaceful objections only please !!!’ But often warns others about tagging them with anti-Muslim content for fear of suspension. Yet, that caution does not prevent them from retweeting anti-Muslim accounts.

On January 2, @MosqueBlocker tweeted: “This page is not about hating on Islam ,we just feel there are enough mosques and building more causes issues .Hope you understand.”

The individuals behind @MosqueBlocker also use the Facebook page ‘NomoreMosques Opposenow’. One noticeable ‘like’ is ‘No more mosques in Plymouth’.

On December 20 2014, one admin posted ‘can you all head over to my page too and give it a like , thanks’ on the anti-Muslim page ‘No More Mosques’. The request was repeated days later.

Some of the early photos posted on ‘NomoreMosques Opposenow’ page are openly nationalistic and raise questions about its objectivity, as if a page solely dedicated to legally opposing mosques exists objectively.

Other pages under the ‘NomoreMosques Opposenow’ includes ‘Sandwell planning Application’ and ‘Birmingham 2’. Rather noteworthy is that both pages use of a photograph of a man holding a sign that reads ‘No More Mosques’. That photograph is from an English Defence League rally in 2009.

Opposition to mosque applications (legitimate or otherwise) are becoming a way for the far-right (and sympathisers) to push an asinine anti-Muslim echo chamber online. Interested groups proclaiming objectivity in opposition are perhaps less objective than originally claimed.

The post Social Media Used to Galvanise Support Against Mosque Applications appeared first on TELL MAMA.

This is the third attack within the space of 2 weeks with mosque attacks taking place in Eskilstuna in the East of Stockholm. On the 29th of December a second mosque was hit in the Swedish town of Eslov.

A leading Swedish activist in the Muslim community spoke to TELL MAMA on the basis of anonymity. He stated:

“The Muslim Community is very scared at this moment in time and the Government have condemned the attacks though the problems with the Far Right Swedish Democrats destabilising the Government has meant that the focus has been on building a stable Government. Anti-Muslim hate has taken a back seat and we are now seeing the problems of a lack of Governmental action.”

TELL MAMA picked up the issue of a lurch to the political far right in Sweden in 2014 and has listed these issues before.

The post Third Mosque Attack in Sweden Sends Fear Into Local Muslim Communities appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The anti-Muslim hate was best described to the Anadolu Agency on Saturday by Fatih Karadas, the Head of the Turkish-Islamic Union in Vienna (ATIB). He stated that:

“This is not an attack against Muslims but the whole of humanity. We, as Muslims, will preserve our calm and collective attitude.”

There have been similar anti-Muslim hate crimes conducted against other mosques and Islamic schools in Austria with the Imam Hatip School desecrated with a pig’s head in the summer of 2014. Furthermore, in December 2014, an elderly Austrian Muslim woman suffered a serious assault after she was knocked to the ground.

The post Vienna Mosque Desecrated with Pig Parts Hung off the Entrance to the Mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The half-built Turkish run mosque was targeted by far right sympathisers who plastered the entrance to the mosque with swastikas, sending a chilling message to anyone coming to the mosque.

In the last 2 years, over 80 mosques in Germany have been targeted for anti-Muslim hate and this recent attack comes on the back of a rising sense of fear within Turkish Muslim communities in the country.

Police have stated that they are using local CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators and a reward of 1,500 Euros has also been offered.

The post Neo-Nazi Swastikas Left on Walls of the Suleymaniye Mosque in Dormagen City, Germany appeared first on TELL MAMA.

King, 60, pleaded guilty in late November to sending a grossly offensive image to Tipu Choudary, general secretary of Cornwall’s Islamic Cultural Centre, and sending two grossly offensive messages to the centre’s Facebook page.

Angry at the terrorism of ISIS, King printed two images from his mobile phone that depicted the prophet Mohammed engaged in sexual activity with a pig and a naked woman squatting over ISIS’ appropriated flag. Before posting the images to the Islamic Cultural Centre, King smeared both images with his dog’s faeces.

The Islamic Centre became a source of anger for King after its conversion from a Methodist chapel in 2009, a move he saw as “sacrilege against our God”.

King used his Facebook account to tell members of the Islamic Centre that their faith was “evil” and they must “get out of the country”.

Paul Gallagher, who acted as King’s solicitor, stated that Facebook gave his client a “voice” and he now intended to limit his opinions to his own account.  Gallagher also revealed that his client had previous convictions for harassment and assaulting a police officer.

Magistrates adjourned the case until December 16 pending a full probation report.

In an interview with the Cornish Guardian, Choudary revealed that the Islamic Centre rarely received hate mail but this example compelled them to alert police “We have a committee and we try to deal with things as quietly as possible, otherwise it puts people on edge,” he said. “But because Mr King lives nearby we didn’t know what he might do, so it was quite worrying.”

Nor had King apologised or expressed remorse for his actions. At the trial’s conclusion, we learnt from the prosecution that King was a self-proclaimed member of the British National Party (BNP) and supporter of the English Defence League (EDL).

King received an eight-week prison sentence suspended for a year, a 20-week curfew that lasts from 10am-10pm for most of the week (except Sunday when King is allowed to attend church), and pay £200 compensation to Tipu Choudary.

Unapologetic and unremorseful, King apparently refused to the pay the victim surcharge as his letter was directed at the Islamic Cultural Centre, not Choudary. Nor would the court experience deter King from his bigotry. According to the prosecution, King told the court ‘I was hoping that whoever saw the letter would kill themselves’.

So why did King avoid prison? One mitigating factor might be his poor health (chronic joint pains and heart condition).

King is entitled to his free speech but the contents of his personal Facebook go beyond valid religious critique to outright hatred of all Muslims. On December 17, he posted a link to an e-petition requesting a public vote on banning Islam in Britain.

King rallied against ‘hard and soft lefties that love stinking f*cking scummy Muslims’ on December 8. On the same day, King shared a right-wing meme about shooting paedophiles, King added his own thoughts: “I`d go as far to say also all muslims”. This extreme rhetoric goes far beyond the pale of acceptability.

Other bigoted remarks include comments posted above shared content from Britain First:

“I HATE ISLAM AND MUSLIMS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS THE UK GOVERNMENT PLUS THE UK POLICE” [December 8]

“We really need a war to take our country back FUCKING governments giving our country to FUCKING IMMIGRANTS SCUM and kill the fucking leftys that have done this to us I HATE FUCKING ISLAM” [December 8]

King ramped up the conspiracy rhetoric by posting: “Any body with British ancestory need to be on their guard all Muslims are sleepers” on November 28.  The tone and rhetoric often mirrors the likes of Britain First on Facebook.

During the trial, he speculated that one of the judge’s (who stood down) disliked him because ‘she was a Muslim or had friends at the Islamic centre’. That rant ended with the popular far-right conspiracy about a two-tier justice system favouring Muslims.

On June 4, King posted: “Lets start executing muslims in the UK” after posting a petition to save Meriam Yehya Ibrahim.

King is using his gained freedom to connect with other far-right individuals including Britain First’s deputy leader Jayda Fransen, and the dubious online collective Sikhs Against Sharia.

The post Is online and offline anti-Muslim hate being taken seriously? appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The right-wing political party MP then went onto focus on schools and the supposedly changing nature of schools, wildly claiming that “a majority of school pupils are Islamic……….Dutch unity, identity and culture are being wrecked by immigration and via wombs.”

Once again, Muslim women have been brought into a debate in immigration and with a focus on and the deligitimisation of their bodies. Yet, these very same groups purport to speak about women’s rights whilst demeaning Muslim women as if they are centres of ‘breeding,’ talk that is dangerous and which potentially feeds and fuels attacks on Muslim women. Yet, hypocritically, the PVV Party talks about fighting for women’s rights, except that those rights are selective for specific women and not for others.

The post Dutch Member of Parliament for Geert Wilder’s Party Calls for Mosque Ban appeared first on TELL MAMA.

King (and unidentified others) targeted Chelmsford Mosque on November 24 and December 16 – the latter resulted in the actual break-in. The cost to the mosque in damages was £125 and the copy of the stolen Qur’an totals £25. It might seem like trivial amounts but it adds to the senselessness of the crime.

A point the judge agreed on but the defence argued King was drunk on both occasions. We sympathise with the stress he suffered as a returning veteran and dealing with a family tragedy. Yet alcohol must not become an excuse for targeting a place of worship.

Hopefully Mr King will get the help he needs and uses the time to follow the example of Sohail Termezi, who helped found Chelmsford Mosque. Mr Termezi penned a two-page letter to the courts in support of Mr King, in a show of tolerance and forgiveness, two key messages the Islamic faith teaches.

We also welcome talk of him offering to apologise to worshippers directly. Only through dialogue can communities work together to hopefully avoid such unpleasant incidents in the future. But for the men still wanted in connection for the break-in we call on the public to assist Essex Police by dialling 101.

The post The Sentencing of Liam King and Restorative Justice appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Dear UKIP,

It comes to our attention that a member of your party confused Westminster Cathedral for a mosque. It’s easily done though. Especially when trying to disprove a non-existent BBC conspiracy against UKIP.

Did your party member assume that every mosque has a towering minaret with slick Jihadi HR departments waiting inside?

Believe it or not, some mosques look fairly mundane (on the outside) compared to others, but once inside (after you’ve removed your shoes), the sense of serenity is universal.

The only talk of Jihad for many is the greater and personal pursuit of Islamic knowledge and what it means to be a better Muslim.

Outside of prayers, some even use their time inside mosques to discuss more mundane topics like football and the weather.

Fear not though, in the spirit of education, we’ve come up with a fail-safe plot to avoid this mistake in the future. Below you will find the addresses of mosques you can visit in the Kent area. Thanks to technology, most smartphones contain GPS so there’s no excuse for ignorance:

Margate Mosque & Community Centre, Union Crescent (former church), Margate, Kent, CT9 1NR

Canterbury Mosque (Muslim Cultural Centre), The Markaz, 1 Giles Lane, Canterbury, CT2 7LT.

Folkestone Mosque, 8a Foord Road South, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 1H

But for those in your party longing to restore this country to an imagined era of history, we are happy to provide pencils, paper and Ordinance Survey maps instead.

Signed,

Tell MAMA

The post Dear Ukip, We Need to Talk About Mosques appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The statement says:

“Enough is enough. A mosque is not wanted in Woodford. The rivers of blood are close to overflowing.”

The threatening and menacing tone of the statement has shocked local residents who spoke on the basis of anonymity. One stated:

“This is not the kind of hate and bigotry that we expect in an area where there are many communities that get on together. To have someone with such hate posting material in the dead of night frightens us and is not reflective of the area.”

The post ‘The Rivers of Blood are Close to Overflowing’, says Notice on Proposed Site for Mosque in Redbridge appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The jailing of four men for throwing a severed pig’s head into the grounds of a mosque generated a manufactured outrage online.

Thomas Ashton, 21, Andrew Warner, 31, Travis Crabtree, 25, and Steven White, 28, all admitted a charge of religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress.

Ashton received a 10 month prison sentence, Warner seven months, White eight months and Crabtree 14 months.

In certain circles, the victims of this hate crime receive little empathy. For the perpetrators, the prison sentence was scoffed at, and falsely compared to the £50 fine an extremist member of the banned Muslims Against Crusades received for burning a poppy in 2011.

Others focus upon the ‘prank’ angle that was used by the defence during the trial at Preston Crown Court. An angle given prominence in the Daily Mail. But a closer reading of the news reports dismisses that argument.

So what are some of the factors that potentially influenced the outcome?

The incident took place two days after Lee Rigby’s murder (at a time when mosques in other parts of the UK were attacked). In all likelihood, Blackpool’s Muslim communities already felt on edge.

Judge Graham Knowles acknowledged this factor as he told the court: “All four defendants must have been perfectly aware, in broad terms, of that death and the motivation the murderers gave for that death and the heightened state of tension in the country in general.”

Police later found a taunting and mocking message on White’s Facebook that read: “They will be fuming.” When White was arrested, a video was found on his iPhone that showed a car being driven by Warner.

The recording captured comments about Muslims and the prosecution argued that the four were aware of the significance of the pig’s head.

Ashton and Crabtree drove to the butcher’s shop to purchase the pig’s head. The other men joined the group once they became aware of the plan.

Two of the group then entered the grounds of the mosque and dumped the pig’s head (wrapped in a plastic bag) with their hoods up.

Worshippers (including women and children) saw the pig’s head as they arrived for prayers and felt upset and offended. A volunteer was only made aware of the incident after receiving a Facebook message that something suspicious was left outside the mosque.

Ashfaq Patel, the Imam at Blackpool Central Mosque, requested clemency, but it did not sway Judge Knowles, who described it as a “poisonous” crime.

He later added: “People are and must be free to worship as they please and without this kind of foul attack on them and that which they hold sacred. What you four did must be denounced.”

The post Why Were 4 Men Jailed for Throwing a Pig’s Head into Blackpool Mosque? appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The years brought far-right protests, a series of high court battles that resulted in lost decisions for both Dudley Council and Dudley Muslim Association, and a rejection of a larger proposal in 2011.

Kurshid Ahmed, from Dudley Muslim Association, noted that the plans had divided parts of the community.

“One must remember the Muslim community in Dudley is an integral part of the wider Dudley community and have rights to a place of worship… as any other community,” he said.

A look at the Census reveals that Dudley’s Muslim population has increased since 2001. But it remains the largest religious minority (4.1 per cent or 12,902 residents). Christianity remains the dominant religion in the region (63.5 per cent of residents) yet the number of residents not disclosing their faith is higher than the Muslim population (6.3 per cent). So the argument for a larger mosque is not unreasonable.

At the council’s development control committee, prior to approval, the Committee chairman, Cllr Qadar Zada said: “No-one has said much more than just about the mosque, very few times have I heard about the enterprise and training centre in one of the most deprived wards in Dudley.”

Labelling the approved proposal a ‘mega-mosque’ is sensationalistic and ignores how non-Muslims benefit from the plans. Focusing upon the size of the mosque and minaret potentially feeds into far-right paranoia of what constitutes a ‘mega-mosque’.

The redevelopment includes an enterprise and education centre, a sports centre, a two-storey car park and the mosque benefits from three prayer rooms.

Another example of problematic reporting is found in today’s online edition of the Express & Star (November 12). The image (cropped to highlight just the mosque) distorts the entire proposal. It takes the reader several paragraphs to learn of the sports and community facilities.

Other councillors raised opposition to the mosque as went against the ‘historical character’ of Dudley. In the end, the plans were approved at a vote of 5-3. Supporters of the mosque packed out the town hall as a small protest took place outside.

Britain First made their presence felt outside amid a visible police presence. A video captures their deputy leader Jayda Fransen (a candidate in the Rochester and Strood by-election) shouting: “You guys won’t get your mega mosque if we bury a pig on the grounds of it….Let’s see you worship upon ground that is infested with swine….you are going to stand on swine infested ground and worship your false prophet are you?”

Public opinion in Dudley was not uniform in rejection or approval – the council received 885 letters of rejection and 370 in support – but a petition in favour of the proposal was handed to the council with 1,718 signatures.

After years of campaigning, bluster and arguments on both sides, a deprived area of Dudley will now flourish in redevelopment.

The post The Dudley mosque campaign appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The years brought far-right protests, a series of high court battles that resulted in lost decisions for both Dudley Council and Dudley Muslim Association, and a rejection of a larger proposal in 2011.

Kurshid Ahmed, from Dudley Muslim Association, noted that the plans had divided parts of the community.

“One must remember the Muslim community in Dudley is an integral part of the wider Dudley community and have rights to a place of worship… as any other community,” he said.

A look at the Census reveals that Dudley’s Muslim population has increased since 2001. But it remains the largest religious minority (4.1 per cent or 12,902 residents). Christianity remains the dominant religion in the region (63.5 per cent of residents) yet the number of residents not disclosing their faith is higher than the Muslim population (6.3 per cent). So the argument for a larger mosque is not unreasonable.

At the council’s development control committee, prior to approval, the Committee chairman, Cllr Qadar Zada said: “No-one has said much more than just about the mosque, very few times have I heard about the enterprise and training centre in one of the most deprived wards in Dudley.”

Labelling the approved proposal a ‘mega-mosque’ is sensationalistic and ignores how non-Muslims benefit from the plans. Focusing upon the size of the mosque and minaret potentially feeds into far-right paranoia of what constitutes a ‘mega-mosque’.

The redevelopment includes an enterprise and education centre, a sports centre, a two-storey car park and the mosque benefits from three prayer rooms.

Another example of problematic reporting is found in today’s online edition of the Express & Star (November 12). The image (cropped to highlight just the mosque) distorts the entire proposal. It takes the reader several paragraphs to learn of the sports and community facilities.

Other councillors raised opposition to the mosque as went against the ‘historical character’ of Dudley. In the end, the plans were approved at a vote of 5-3. Supporters of the mosque packed out the town hall as a small protest took place outside.

Britain First made their presence felt outside amid a visible police presence. A video captures their deputy leader Jayda Fransen (a candidate in the Rochester and Strood by-election) shouting: “You guys won’t get your mega mosque if we bury a pig on the grounds of it….Let’s see you worship upon ground that is infested with swine….you are going to stand on swine infested ground and worship your false prophet are you?”

Public opinion in Dudley was not uniform in rejection or approval – the council received 885 letters of rejection and 370 in support – but a petition in favour of the proposal was handed to the council with 1,718 signatures.

After years of campaigning, bluster and arguments on both sides, only a High Court judgement will determine if building work will start. Dudley Council is bidding to buy back the land, a decision opposed by Dudley’s Muslim Association.

The post The Unvarnished Reality of the Dudley Mosque Affair appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The anti-Muslim incident took place on October 22 after a member of the pubic contacted the police to report suspicious behaviour outside the property. A swift police response lead to the arrest of a 41-year-old male in the early hours of today (October 23).

In early September, the Islamic Centre was approved by councillors. But some residents could not hide their disgust that an old church and abandoned Unemployment and Culture Centre will be replaced with a building that will “devalue the whole area”.

In spite of the approval, the Islamic Centre will take two years to build, but two racist attacks in three months hint a deeper malaise in the area. In August, a racist drunk decorated children’s bunting with swastikas and KKK symbols and hung it outside the proposed site.

Giles Orton, Chief Inspector, told the Chester Chronicle: “Local residents can be reassured that the police have a high visibility presence in the area.

“Through firm policing we will put an end to racially aggravated incidents in Ellesmere Port.

“Hate crimes are not tolerated within this community.”

Police and community leaders were unable to comment on the racist Facebook page ‘Ban Ellesmere Port mosque’ – a page with almost 600 ‘likes’ that wants to “stop Muslims taking over Ellesmere Port and keeping Britain British” – due to ongoing enquiries. Nor could they confirm if the pig’s head attack is linked to the page.

The page contains the usual anti-Muslim memes – a fixation with pork, banning Islam and a deeply unpleasant ‘joke’ that depicts arson – the caption reads “I threw my new Muslim neighbours a house-warming party The police called it arson…whatever”.

In late September, a 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of posting racist comments relating to the proposed Islamic Centre. But the individual was released without charge.

At an online and offline level, the rise in anti-Muslim incidents in the area of Ellesmere Port is alarming.

Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious is asked to contact Cheshire police on 101.

The post Pig’s Head Left Outside Proposed Islamic Centre in Chester in Anti-Muslim Hate Incident appeared first on TELL MAMA.

A section in the documentary focused on the actions of the East London mosque and how members of Anjem Choudhary’s group sometimes entered the mosque and fomented and agitated within it.

The Communications Officer, Salman, was shown in the documentary highlighting how mosque worshippers chased away supporters of Anjem Choudhary and how the mosque effectively policed itself against people promoting hate and extremism. These actions, Salman stated, were rarely picked up in the headlines around the East London mosque which had painted the mosque in a negative light, whilst not reporting on these positive steps against extremism.

Salman also went on to highlight the link between Anjem Choudhary, press headlines and anti-Muslim hate material which the mosque received. Salman mentioned that when there were press headlines around Muslims or around Anjem Choudhary, the mosque received hate mail and some examples were shown in the documentary. It seems that receipt of hate mail was not a new occurrence and that the mosque employees, sadly, had grown accustomed to it. Additionally, Salman also mentioned that he believed some press journalists ‘had a speed dial’ button to Anjem Choudhary and when they wanted an inflammatory quote, it was him that they called.

Robb Leech’s documentary is a depressing insight into how the vulnerabilities of young men are abused. The documentary also re-enforces the fact that young men need support mechanisms in place around them if they are to have a future free from manipulation by charismatic individuals. Sadly, history tells us that such groups and causes, may not be the last.

The post Robb Leech’s Documentary, ‘My Brother, the Terrorist,’ Highlights Anti-Muslim Hate Received by Mosques appeared first on TELL MAMA.

On yesterday’s visit, (Monday 15 September), Immigration & Security Minister James Brokenshire stressed how UK communities are at their best when working together.

He condemned the recent brutal murder of humanitarian aid worker David Haines and other horrific acts of violence in Syria and Iraq during his meeting with community leaders at the Al Medina Mosque in Barking.

Immigration & Security Minister James Brokenshire said:

Faith institutions such as the Al Medina Mosque demonstrate how people are at their best when we work together. It is clear from the many activities and donations from across the UK that many of us feel the plight of the Syrian people.

We are also unified in our condemnation of the atrocious acts of brutality which we have seen unfolding in Iraq and Syria. We stand together in condemning terrorism and extremism but also in being clear that these have nothing to do with Islam or any other faith.

As the Prime Minister said, the root of these actions lies in a poisonous political ideology that a small minority support. In contrast, Islam is a religion which is observed peacefully and devoutly by more than a billion people.”

Without Fear

The minister also stated that this government is determined that everyone should be able to practise their faith freely and without fear. He said it was heartening to see how many people are making clear how alien these acts are to religion.

He emphasised the social media campaign #notinmyname, adding:

It is so important that these voices are heard and that they are joined in solidarity by many more.

The post Security Minister, James Brokenshire MP: UK communities are stronger together appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The example below of a broken mosque door shows the real impact of when such hooligans march through towns. This picture was sent in and shows a vandalised mosque window. The real impact of such groups is that they are a menace to all communities.

The best way to tackle grooming is for the signals to be picked up, individuals feeling more confident to report the abuse in and for agencies to work with young people and take their reports seriously. It does not need thugs menacing the streets of any city in our country. It is as simple as that.

Picture of mosque circulated on Twitter by @zebmustefa and @eduhueh

The post Rotherham Mosque Damaged After Far Right Groups March Through appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Later that night, at 1:20am, the police were again called to the Centre after receiving a report that a minibus was on fire, which the congregation used to shuttle members to the Islamic Centre. Officers found that the minibus had been set alight deliberately, and two men in black clothes were seen running from the scene.

The police are treating both incidents as linked and CCTV footage from the rear of the Centre may be used to help capture the criminals. However, the police are still looking for witnesses to come forward. According to Inspector Chris Hadfield, the Greater Manchester Police is “investigating the possibility that this is a targeted hate crime and we will be working closely with our partners in the council and local community to try and track down the people responsible and prevent such an attack happening again.”

According to the Manchester Evening News, the NASFAT congregation (Nasrul-Lahi-il-Fathi Society of Nigeria) is feeling very vulnerable after such a violent attack. Chairman of the Centre, Abiola Ojo said,

“We don’t know why they are doing this. We are peaceful people. Since we have been here we have done nothing to harm the community. But whenever there are issues involving Islam in the world, something happens. We needed this bus as now some people won’t be able to make prayer meetings. But there is also the psychological effect on our members, they are now living in fear. They don’t want to come to a building where they think they might be in danger.”

We hope the Greater Manchester Police are successful in their search for witnesses and prosecution of the criminals that executed this attack. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police by dialing 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The post Attack on NASFAT Islamic Centre in Manchester is Disturbing appeared first on TELL MAMA.

To give you an example of the kinds of threats we are seeing to mosques, we wanted to highlight some of the social media activities reported in. Whilst the example below is just one set (and with a small number of followers attached to the account), it is the kind of information that allows us to make some key assessments and ensure that communities remain vigilant. We are proud of this country’s police forces and the work that they do and we believe that the UK is one of the safest country’s in the world. What we therefore request, is that people maintain vigilance at Friday prayers in mosques given the fact that the recent Rotherham scandal has led to a specific focus by some on Muslim communities and where hate, intimidation and threats are being made to innocent members of Muslim communities. Please stay safe and if you are targeted for anti-Muslim hatred, please do make contact with us, or report in through 101. (If you report through 101, please do make contact with us and inform us of the case – this will be greatly appreciated.)

The post Community Alert: Please Remain Vigilant in Mosques At Friday Prayers Today appeared first on TELL MAMA.

 Once again, we are seeing such discussions take place and some examples are listed below. We ask that mosques continue to remain vigilant on their security and maintain CCTV coverage within and around the perimeter of the mosque. We have also developed this simple leaflet for support and do maintain contact with your local Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

The post Threats to Mosques Continue on Far Right Sites appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The Britain First web-sites states that the flash protest was to highlight the “treatment of women under Islam and the segregation of women at the Crayford mosque.” These new scholars in Islam clearly do not realise that women and men pray separately in the vast and overwhelming majority of mosques and that if they are truly interested in supporting the rights of women, maybe they could support the following mosques that our partner organisation, Faith Matters, collated in the publicly available Developing Diversity directory. Here is a public directory of mosques that want to cater for the needs of women and men in their congregations and have actively taken measures in ensuring better service delivery for their congregations. We suspect that women’s rights and supporting faith institutions that promote and enhance women’s rights are not high up on the agenda of this far right group, but it is a topic that is used and abused by such inflammatory groups.

Not content with intimidating mosque worshippers, Britain First’s Facebook page has just posted up statements and pictures where they, “confronted the Vue Manager over their “Muslims only” policy.” Playing on the recent story about Vue cinema allegedly only letting in Muslims which we highlighted here, Britain First have decided to make this another campaigning theme. Furthermore, they state that, “Britain First will not allow anti-British discrimination to go unchallenged!”

What is interesting to note from the statement above is that the reader can infer that Muslims are therefore not British by virtue of the allegations made against Vue; that the people allegedly not let in, are British and one can assume that the ones entering the cinema are therefore not British in the eyes of Britain First. Forget the fact that there are British Muslims and put aside the fact the strenuous denials by Vue cinema that such actions took place and what we seem to have is a far right group which is fundamentally based on prejudice against Muslims. So their talk about tackling discrimination, is frankly, preposterous.

Facebook Posts

For a group tackling anti-British discrimination, you would therefore assume that Britain First would make an effort not to target mosques and harass elderly worshippers. We have raised their actions many times before here, here, here and here. You would also think that a group tackling discrimination might be active in taking off posts that promote toxic bigotry. Yet, a simple scan of Facebook comments in relation to their Vue cinema posting shows the following and with posts that are clearly racist and anti-Muslim in nature. We think that the statements on their Facebook page show the kind of audience that Britain First play to, so the next time they talk about countering discrimination, just remember these posts.

The post A Legacy of Anti-Muslim Hate Against British Citizens. Britain First Continues to Agitate appeared first on TELL MAMA.

March 17 2014: A minority of activists entered the Jamia Madina Masjid mosque in Bolton and Jamiyat Tabligh-ul-Islam mosque in Oldham. Video shows a minority of activists outside the Golden Mosque in Rochdale.

Why? Britain First activists distribute their ‘Muslim grooming ’ leaflets.

https://www.britainfirst.org/video-britain-first-invades-mega-mosques-across-the-north-west/

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=853_1395096979

May 10: Up to ten Britain First activists, some in uniform, protest at ten different places of worship in Bradford city centre.

Why? Activists hand out ‘Muslim grooming’ leaflets and army issued Bibles. In Bradford alone, 100 Bibles were distributed.

May 11: Britain First activists enter two mosques in Glasgow, Scotland. (Glasgow Central Mosque and Cumbernauld mosque).

Why? Activists hand out ‘Muslim grooming’ leaflets and army issued Bibles.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/13/police-far-right-invasions-bradford-glasgow-mosques-britain-first

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/city-must-unite-to-tackle-mosque-invaders-1-6612884

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6b0_1399927080#LXl60TuGWHmdLc1t.99

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=906_1400143834

http://www.cumbernauld-news.co.uk/news/local-news/far-right-paramilitary-disrupts-worship-at-cumbernauld-mosque-1-3421270

May 19: Four Britain First activists, all uniformed, enter East London Mosque and demand to speak to the Imam.

Why? Activists hand out ‘Muslim grooming’ leaflets and army issued Bibles before abruptly leaving.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=09d_1400519585

http://www.eastlondonmosque.org.uk/news/britain-first-invasion-fail

June 16: Britain First allegedly enter several mosques and Islamic centres, including Luton Central mosque and Bury Park mosque. Yet, the video released by Britain First only shows activists entering a single mosque.

Why? To protest the bail conditions placed upon the ex-leader and founder of the English Defence League (EDL) Tommy Robinson. Worshippers at one mosque are shown in the video being handed ‘Muslim grooming’ leaflets and army issued Bibles.

July 3: Several Britain First activists, all uniformed, argue with worshippers outside the Nasir Mosque in Gilligham. They later visit the Jamia Mosque in Gillingham.

Why? To protest the application for a new mosque in Gillingham, inside Jaima mosque, elderly worshippers were told, “Withdraw your application for a new mosque, ok?

“Otherwise we, Britain First, will run a big campaign against you guys personally and also the council and the Imam, yeah?

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/right-wing-group-threaten-to-19501/

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a68_1403860598

July 14: Three uniformed Britain First activists are filmed entering Crayford mosque and confronting one elderly Muslim male. According to one worshipper, six activists stayed for around ten minutes to harass individuals.

Why? To protest against gender segregation. One worshipper is told, “Inform the Imams that they have exactly 7 days to remove sexist, segregationist signs from outside their building, or we will”.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=78b_1405334328

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11339126.VIDEO__Far_right_group__invade__Crayford_mosque_demanding_removal_of__sexist__signs/

The post A Timeline of Britain First and their Inflammatory Actions in the UK, by Steve Rose appeared first on TELL MAMA.

A group of five men and one woman – including BF leader and former BNP councillor Paul Golding – entered the mosque and, following a familiar script, refused to take off their shoes, and began to harangue attendees and confront the imam who was present at the time. The subject? The ‘sexist and offensive signs’ outside the mosque, which read ‘Brothers only’ and ‘Sisters only’, and divide men and women into separate worship in the mosque (as Charlotte Meredith points out in the Huffington Post, most mosques, Orthodox Jewish synagogues, and Sikh Gurdwaras operate on a similar basis). This isn’t a new concern to Golding – who, as part of the England National Resistance, was campaigning on the same issue last year – but this particular protest took on a new dimension.

Surrounding the Imam, and pushing into his personal space, the BF members warned him that ‘you’ve got one week to take those signs down, or we will’. Another BF member warned that ‘when you respect women, we’ll respect your mosque’. Syed Alam, one of the mosque volunteers, talking to News Shopper, said reported the Britain First members stayed for up to ten minutes harassing members in a ‘very aggressive and threatening manner’. Speaking to Tell MAMA, another imam present reported that they were ‘shouting loudly’ and raising their voices, and had confronted the chairman of the mosque without any prior warning. According to Rahat Alam, another volunteer, the mosque chairman was ‘shocked, but fine’, and that while the mosque community had been shaken by the incident, they had gathered together in solidarity against it. Indeed, as so often happens after such incidents, they responded by expressing welcome to visitors who came in on peaceable and amicable terms.

As mentioned above, and elsewhere on this blog, Britain First are increasingly adopting ‘invasion’ as a tactic – previously, mosques in the North-West Bradford, Glasgow, Luton, Kent and East London have also been targeted since the campaign, part of ‘Operation Fightback’, began in May this year. Throughout BF have adopted an overtly militaristic approach, not only describing their intrusions in terms of ‘invasions’, but also engaging in combat training for a ‘defence force/activist academy’, forming quasi-military regional ‘companies’ with designated leaders, and describing themselves as having been ‘blooded’ by their activity in the field. Jim Dowson, one of the organisation’s leaders, has also described the group’s actions as a ‘holy war’ or ‘crusade’, defined explicitly as the same (but opposite) concept to ‘Jihad’. Paul Golding, another leader, declared that ‘It’s as simple as this: take action or we will continue our Christian Crusade.’ Even the music on their video reflects this; much of the video is accompanied by martial, Lord-of-the-Rings-style drums and chanting.

This tone is belied by the actual numbers present at many ‘invasions’. As with similarly to this intrusion, their ‘violent actions’ have typically been limited to entering unlocked mosques in groups of four to ten, refusing to leave or take off shoes, and haranguing worshippers and handing out religious literature, before leaving. Nonetheless, the approaches made by the group have certainly adopted a threatening character, with members wearing uniforms of matching hats and dark green tops (‘activist jackets’), driving former military land rovers, and invading the personal space of (often elderly) mosque staff.

Perhaps the most significant impact of these ‘invasions’, however, seems to be the way they claim space. Religious institutions of any faith are typically places of peace, contemplation, and religious observance – as late as the 17th century in England, churches provided legal sanctuary from persecution. Religious institutions are places of peace and refuge from the world. As such, the symbolic impact of a group of people stomping in in matching ‘activist jackets’, threatening to start remodelling the property unless their demands are met represents a fairly dramatic intrusion on a religious space; a claim to ownership of and domination over it, which, whether intentional or not, is fairly threatening. It’s a sudden, shocking action that suggests ‘we can come in here and do what we want, and you can’t stop us’, and that ‘we don’t respect this institution’. As such, even if the rhetoric of ‘invasion’ massively overestimates the actual threat, it still can have be upsetting, as the statements of Syed and Rahat Alam, and the second imam, suggest.

If we take BF at their word, then their concern is about gender equality, and women’s liberation; indeed, the female BF member argued that ‘we fought long and hard for equality’, and would not let a mosque’s own practice impede that. The idea of women’s liberation from oppressive forces is certainly a valuable one, but it’s not clear that, for all of their concern about Islam and women, Britain First listen particularly much to women’s voices. We’ve read accounts from female members of the mosque community who have senior responsibilities in the running it, and see the separate entrances are part of a religious observance that they choose to partake in. Building on Tell MAMA’s research, academics from Birmingham University have investigated the nature and impact of intersectional hate violence targeting Muslim women, seeing the looking at the mutually reinforcing issues of violence against women and anti-Muslim violence, and looking to explain why attacks on Muslim women are so common compared to other forms of hate violence. Others have remarked on the double-glazed extra-strong glass ceiling that seems to limit Muslim women’s employment achievements. Yes, we should care about misogyny and poor treatment of women, and especially in cases where overlapping forms of discrimination; but feminist movements little need groups of uniformed far-right ‘activists’ storming into mosques and delivering ultimatums over the complaints of Muslim women.

The post Britain First and Senior Citizens in the West Kent Muslim Association appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Cheadle Muslim Association (CMA) wants to increase the size of their mosque and improve the facilities and services offered. Proposed changes include dedicated indoor wash facilities since the current setup relies upon temporary container facilities.

For female worshippers, the proposal would provide dedicated prayer space within the main building, as others would benefit from the increased space for education and community services. The mosque is also the focal point for improving community dialogue by hosting various events and allowing local school visits.

At present, the application has received 758 rejections and 798 approvals. But does this strength of feeling accurately reflect public opinion in Cheadle?

One possible explanation for the volume of rejections is the Facebook page ‘Say NO Cheadle Mosque Extension CMA,’ which was created on June 22. In under a week, the page gained over a thousand ‘likes.’

It actively encourages individuals to oppose the application in various ways – the most popular is a direct link to the relevant section on the council website – that way, a new objection takes minutes to create.

Fears about rising traffic congestion drive many objections. Yet, that type of objection is also used by far-right and other anti-Muslim groups to mask more bigoted objections.

For example, one user submitted a message photo that encouraged objection in non-racist terms, “It has to be a non racist objection ie to do with material planning grounds ie traffic parking appearance massing or overlooking.”

In response to any potential traffic congestion, the CMA encourages worshippers to use available public transport routes and car sharing, as it will not increase car parking space.

The admin team behind the page maintain that racism or hate speech is unacceptable and quickly removed. But this policy is not always enacted as some individuals accuse the admin team of censoring opinions more critical of their intentions.

Rather oddly, the admin ‘liked’ these statements:

 “You need to contact the mosque buster he is a building law expert and will help anyone opposing a mosque free of charge”

“Im actually the division leader of stockport and thameside edl eth cook and well go where we want lol”

“The area is mainly English Christian society and that should be protected against Islamist followers who openly use threats against local people when they hold services in that mosque.”

A simple explanation offered for this inconsistency is that the admin team consists of five individuals. Nor are they so quick to remove offensive posts, including a bizarre comment about the local community being ‘drenched’ with non-English speaking individuals who are ‘not as friendly’ as the government likes to imply.

Others lament the ‘stealth approach’ of Islam challenging ‘Christian principles,’ as another individual wrote, “no more mosques got enough,” neither comment faced censorship.

Whilst the admin team cannot control who shares content, it is noteworthy that the anti-Islam page ‘Our Eye on Islam’ shared one of their photos. Another anti-Islam page ‘Truth About Islam’ encouraged supporters to ‘like’ their page. Other Facebook pages, including ‘Infidels of Britain’ and ‘Bolton North West Infidels,’ encourage the same.

In an effort to potentially distort the strength of feeling, the admin team encouraged individuals to use family addresses or empty properties to drive up the volume of opposition (before quietly removing the post.)

On June 30, a new campaign page, titled ‘NO to Cheadle Mosque Extension’ launched after the original page was removed from Facebook. The Stockport Division of the English Defence League (EDL) did their best to promote the new page. In a matter of days, it gained over 1,500 ‘likes.’

Warnings from the admin team about keeping content “clean” once again go unheeded, as problematic and offensive posts are easy to find:

“Thank you Cheadle. We must all stick together in this fight against Islamification.”

“This is the tip of the iceberg and we are slowly and stealthily being infiltrated by this terrorist loving cult called Islam”

“Keep up the good work guys… No to ANY Mosques ANYWERE…”

The admin team also ‘liked’ comments relating to controversial ‘mosque buster’ Gavin Boby. One poster signed off his comment with the EDL slogan “NFSE” (No fucking surrender ever) but faced no censor.

So how do we differentiate legitimate grievances from those driven by an anti-Muslim agenda? Due to poor administration, both Facebook pages only serve to distort the ongoing local debate.

The post Mosque Objections and Links to Networks. The example of the Cheadle Muslim Association appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Chelsea Lambie, 18, was sentenced to 12 months in a Young Offenders Institution whilst Douglas Cruikshank, 39, received nine months in prison. Cruikshank, Lambie, and a third offender, Wayne Stilwel, 25, threw uncooked strips of bacon inside Edinburgh Central Mosque and attached more to its door handles.

All three individuals are associated with the far-right Scottish Defence League (SDL).  Stilwel received a custodial sentence of ten months last year for his part in the hate crime.

In response, both Britain First and the English Defence League (EDL) pushed the far-right myth of a two-tier legal system. Richard Dawkins, prominent scientist and atheist, remarked on Twitter, “How can you be jailed a year for nonviolently draping bacon on a door?” But it did not end there, his stream of consciousness continued to question the severity of the crime, “Who (apart from the pig) is damaged by bacon? How can this possibly justify a year in jail? Law gone mad.”

Dawkins incorrectly highlighted the double standard of those not imprisoned for holding up signs that read, “Behead those who insult Islam.” Yet, his most bizarre example of obfuscation was to compare the door of a vegan to that of a mosque. Unlike the far-right, Dawkins did acknowledge that bacon smearing was “a very nasty thing to do,” but still argued that a year in prison remains “ludicrously harsh.”

But does Dawkins have a point? In short, no, only a superficial understanding of the case could generate that response. There are several factors to consider and help explain why custodial sentences were handed out. Firstly, both Lambie and Cruikshank ran into legal trouble last year. The former was fined after using racist and threatening language at a shopkeeper. Cruikshank pleaded guilty to acting aggressively towards police officers in a pub.

During the trial, Cruikshank only changed his plea to guilty after convincing the judge to drop the racial element, whilst Lambie was found guilty after denying the charges. Both were convicted after trial of an offence in contravention of S38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 – namely Threatening and abusive behaviour.

Scottish law is clear:

“(1) A person (“A”) commits an offence if—

(a) A behaves in a threatening or abusive manner,

(b) the behaviour would be likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm, and

(c) A intends by the behaviour to cause fear or alarm or is reckless as to whether the behaviour would cause fear or alarm.”

Both sentences were in line with legislation:

“(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to a fine, or to both, or

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.”

We must also not discount the premeditated nature of the crime, as on the day of the attack (January 31 2013), CCTV footage was shown to the jury of two men and a woman entering a local Tesco store at 4:45am and asking an assistant which bus they needed to catch to be at the mosque for 7:30am. At another store, the three individuals purchased two packets of bacon. A short time later, they arrived at Edinburgh Central Mosque with their hoods up. Bacon was wrapped around the door handles as the woman triumphantly took photographs of the men.

One worshipper was already inside praying and waved at the trio, assuming they would be entering the building to do the same, but instead, bacon was thrown onto the prayer room window, as they fled the scene in laughter.

Usman Mahmood, a security guard at the mosque, told the trial: “I felt very bad seeing this meat in my sacred place. It hurt my feelings when I saw this meat hanging inside the mosque in the worshipping area. It was very disturbing.” Mahmood also stated that the situation might have been “far worse” had the mosque contained more worshippers. Clearly, the incident at the mosque could have had far-reaching implications as mosque incidents and attacks send a message out to the users of the mosque that they, collectively as a community, have been targeted as users of that faith institution. This incident was therefore meant to demean, insult, abuse and target the institution and would have an impact on all those who used and visited the mosque. It was, in essence, meant to collectively humiliate.

When Lambie was arrested, police found incriminating messages on her mobile phone. On the day of the crime, messages included:

“Going to invade a mosque, because we can go where we want.”

Another read: “Went to the mosque in Edinburgh and wrapped bacon round the door handles, opened the door and threw it in ha ha ha.”

The internet on the mobile phone was used to locate the mosque and local taxi firms.

Hours after the crime, Lambie used the phone to search on Google: “Edinburgh mosque bacon search.”

Sentencing Lambie, Sheriff Noble did note that she was a mother with a young child, but her continual denial of guilt eventually worked against her. Had the Sheriff not amended the charge against Cruikshank, his sentence would have increased to thirteen months in prison.

Following sentencing, John Logue, Procurator Fiscal for East of Scotland, said, “Prejudice and bigotry have a corrosive effect on our nation and we will maintain our zero-tolerance approach towards such crimes which will continue to be investigated carefully and prosecuted robustly.”

Pork is part of the far-right’s anti-Muslim culture war and this crime is merely a product of it. Dismissing or downplaying it demonstrates a lack of empathy and helps normalise such repugnant behaviour which in the end, targets whole communities who use such faith institutions.

The post The Truth Behind the Spin Of Dawkins, by Steve Rose appeared first on TELL MAMA.

News has come in that the Far Right extremist group has posted another ‘mosque invasion’ on its web-site as part of what it regards as, ‘Operation Fightback.’ We believe that enough is enough and the police have to act and to act now against Britain First.

We have heard from a variety of police services that there are no real laws that are being broken and that there is little that can be done. Given the tensions, anger and agitation that these inflammatory events are causing, it is imperative that police forces, the Home Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government provide re-assurance to mosques or look at what mechanisms can be put into place to stop such actions in the future by Britain First.

We have also seen the pathetic nature of these ‘mosque invasions’ and which have terrorized elderly Muslims praying in mosques and who are not aware of what is taking place. Many have not approved their faces being filmed, nor are they aware of how they are being humiliated by these Far Right agitators.

We will be writing to the Home Secretary on these matters in the next few days. We hope that she realises that such behaviour needs to be tackled and if the Government wants to talk about British values, how about tackling these abhorrent groups to ensure that we all understand that hate and prejudice will not be tolerated in our country.

The post More ‘Mosque Invasions’ By Britain First – the Police Have to Act Now! appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Conspiracies and the Politics of Fear 

 Britain First positions itself as a vanguard against a ‘creeping’ Islam, the European Union and non-white invasion. For their supporters, the promise of speaking the ‘unspeakable’ is a seductive proposition.

By fusing the language and iconography of militarism and conquest, Britain First promise to remove the impediments that hinder progress towards a utopian vision for Britain.

One example is the recent ‘invasions’ of mosques in Bradford, Glasgow and London. Despite the rhetoric, there was no invasion. The mosque doors were always open. But their supporters need a different narrative.

The few uniformed individuals who wondered through delivered army-issued Bibles and ‘Muslim grooming’ pamphlets.

A quick read of the pamphlet reveals its conspiratorial nature. It alleges that elites allowed for an “epidemic” of child exploitation by framing Islam as a peaceful faith.

It taps into a wider unease around “political correctness” to claim that most victims are white (or Sikh) but never Muslim. Other pages repeat Islamophobic tropes about integration and supremacy. Yet, it ignores the fact that abusive men are driven by power and control and not religion.

After each successful ‘invasion,’ Britain First’s Facebook is alive with tales of success. Only by externalising Muslims as an existential threat can such actions look heroic.

Among the hundreds of Facebook ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ are comments that range from derision to racism.

Censorship

Censorship is another key theme that entrenches supporters with a siege mentality. Who are the main conspirators? Elites and Muslims, of course. The only solution is to donate to the cause.

Some do whilst others speak in the language of violence:

“Islam is a cancer of the world. There will.never be peace while they exist. It is an invasive parasite that needs eradicating.“

“Their end is coming. All countries in the western world and all other religions are now fighting this cancer. They have no friends and by trying to take over everywhere, they have made massive enemies. Their extinction is long overdue”

“My dad and husband didn’t fight in the forces for the muslims to takeover. My family are waiting for holy war we will fight for our country.”

Britain First claims the BBC form part of the conspiracy, despite featuring on Daily Politics and party election broadcasts.

The party also allow supporters to read their own insular histories:

“Learn your own heritage, culture, history, myths and legends by exploring our growing library of articles – perfect for young patriots and children!”

Outside knowledge is not trusted as Britain First shapes their outlook. As a result, intellectual fundamentalism grows.

Yet, the most disturbing aspect of Britain First is their “Activist Academy.” Last month, activists learnt various self-defence activities, including Muay Thai and boxing.

Online comments calling for the destruction or removal of mosques are commonplace. Rather interestingly, recent comments from Hindu nationalists and ex-Muslims from abroad (who deserve the freedom to leave their faith), proved equally popular. The latter are viewed as experts within a pre-existing and negative anti-Islamic discourse. But they fail to acknowledge that some from the latter group may have been shaped by their own subjective experiences in singular Muslim-dominated cultures.

Speaking about Britain First’s recent mosque ‘invasions’, the Director of TELL MAMA, Fiyaz Mughal, said:

“The recent pictures that Britain First produced showed them entering mosques and attempting to humiliate old men who had just come to pray. This kind of intimidation is not on in our country where we value the right for people to worship in peace.”

Britain First offers one of the most retrograde and toxic forms of populism. Post-European elections, their online and offline presence will remain problematic.

The post Britain First and Far Right Fundamentalism by Steve Rose appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Supporters and activists of the Britain First group came to the Abu Bakr mosque on Saturday the 10th of May at around 3 pm in 2 vehicles. Men and women in the group entered the mosque with their shoes on and they were asked to take their shoes off in the place of worship, yet they refused. Members of the mosque remained calm although some provocative and intimidating statements around ‘Pakistani Muslim grooming gangs’ were targeted at worshipers in the mosque at that time. Members of the Britain First group then added to the intimidating environment by freely roaming around the mosque and stating that they have members of the armed forces in their group. The Committee member also mentioned that they distributed inflammatory leaflets around grooming that were targeted at Pakistani Muslims, as though grooming was just an issue of this specific community.

What is also worrying is that the Committee member mentioned that the response from the local police to the incident was slow though the mosque is working with the Council for Mosques in Bradford so that the issue is escalated through to the right channels.

Statements in the Inflammatory Britain First Video

Statements in this video include comments from sympathisers suggesting that, ‘this is our country,‘ as though Britain is not the home for British Muslims who were the target of the actions of these Far Right sympathisers.

Threats of ‘suffering the consequences‘ are also made in this video, as is the inflammatory statement to a worshipper in one of the mosques to, “save you from hell and to reject the false Prophet Muhammad.”

Worryingly, the Mayor of Bradford is also targeted and activists of the Far Right group visit his home and as they stand outside his premises one states, “the Mayor of Bradford lives in a nice street, not in the Muslim areas of Bradford,” thereby implying that the Muslim areas of Bradford are defacto, not so nice.” Finally, the confrontational attitude of this group is very apparent when they visit another mosque in Bradford which was full of worshipers. The comment, “we don’t care if the mosque is packed,” shows a disregard for the safety and security of members of the congregation by this group. A panic or stampede in the mosque, or even a physical confrontation could have raised tensions levels to a high degree in the town. But what do Britain First care about that?

Community Advice

If you have been subjected to such actions or if you are worried about what to do, we suggest the following:

– Call 101 and log the incident with the police. You can also drop us a line at TELL MAMA so that we can assist in various ways.
– Do not confront this Far Right group. They are looking for confrontation and they will use that to further dupe other vulnerable young men into thinking that they are ‘defending’ their notions of Britain. Thankfully, the Britain that they purport to protect, is not the Britain that we see. The Britain we see is a place where everyone has the right to worship and follow any religion and to live their lives free from such fear and intimidation.
– Keep a log and diary of the situation so that it can be reported in. If the mosque has CCTV coverage scanning the inside of the mosque, please hand the film to the police as evidence and intelligence.
– Remain vigilant and do not confront anyone.
– This mosque safety leaflet that we have produced can also be useful.

–

The post Britain First & the Impact of its Actions in Bradford appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Activists of Britain First came with a camera to record the reactions of the congregation, yet no-one had told these interfaith activists gone wrong that the Zuhr (evening prayers) had finished and that the mosque was pretty empty. True to form, Britain First scored an own goal as members of the mosques remained calm and did not react to the Far Right group.

The two mosques involved were the Abu Bakr and Madni Masjid in Bradford and the following pictures on the Britain First web-site state that the Far Right group ‘invaded’ mosques in Bradford.

Commenting on this group, the Director of TELL MAMA, Fiyaz Mughal OBE said:

“This is shocking and we have seen Britain First agitate in East London in Tower Hamlets and take things into their own hands on numerous occasions. In East London, they drove a large Land Rover type vehicle into Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets whilst wearing what seemed to be bullet proof vests. Now they are agitating on the streets of Bradford in an area where there is a high Muslim population and this does not bode well.

We were also informed that some young groups of British Muslims were patrolling areas in Bradford today and this counter ‘tit-for-tat’ type reaction helps no-one. If a mosque or Muslim civil society group or institution has a visit by any group that is threatening, the key thing is to inform the Police. We need to be the eyes and ears of the Police so that extremist groups like this do not cause counter-reactions since this is precisely what they are looking for. If anyone reacts to them, this will play into their strategy. Stay calm and simply contact the Police.”

The post Britain First ‘Invade’ 2 Mosques in Bradford appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Whilst we acknowledge the superb work that police forces have done in bringing to justice a number of people involved in such anti-Muslim attacks against mosques, there is a need for basic security advice and services to be provided to mosques across England and Wales. With this in mind, we are looking to engage with providers of security advice and specific security packages that include:

– The provision of advice and the implementation of basic security measures and processes that include threat reduction from objects thrown into mosques and risk to life from flying glass,
– The provision of advice and the implementation of basic security measures that reduce threats to mosques and worshippers from incendiary materials placed outside mosque walls or thrown into mosques,
– The installation of evidence gathering assets that include both video and on-line threat recording,
– The provision of advice and training to mosque workers on how to reduce threats from perpetrators entering the mosque and causing damage within mosques.
– The provision of personal safety devices to mosque workers that meet legal requirements within England and Wales.

Please do get in touch with us if you would like to be part of the portfolio of security providers that we are putting together and you can e-mail us on info@tellmamauk.org and address the e-mail to the Security Manager of TELL MAMA c/o David Eaton.

The post Security Providers Needed To Build A Portfolio of Security Services For Mosques appeared first on TELL MAMA.

We request that if this graphic is used, that you reference it to us at TELL MAMA. Thank you.

Fig 1. Attacks on Mosques Reported Into TELL MAMA Between 1st January 2012 – 31st of August 2013

The post Timeline Map of Mosque Incidents & Attacks Between 2012-2013 appeared first on TELL MAMA.

“Please sign and share. This is a grade 2-listed building in Bristol and holds a great deal of history for the city. Once again, we see another part of English heritage under threat and being forced to make way for yet another mosque. Put a stop to this now.”

Many supporters quickly declared they had signed and shared. As a result, Bristol City Council no longer accepts public comments.  Prior to the EDL sharing this information, the development had only received three public objections from Bristol residents.

Since then, the development plans gained nine public comments (all objections) and only two were from Bristol residents. The rest came from Swansea, Warrington, Wiltshire, Birmingham, Manchester (twice) and Dundee. Why people feel the need to object to a building that will not directly affect them merely reflects the reach of the EDL’s latest campaign.

One comment from Birmingham states:

“There lots of places of worship, and centres for people to gather, I believe this space could be used in a much more beneficial way to preserve heritage.”

It is noteworthy that this statement and the EDL’s plea both refer to the ‘heritage’ of the building. In two other public comments, we find variants of the phrases, “there are lots of places of worship” or “there are enough places of worship in Britain”. Others simply list their objections in more simple terms.

However, the most obvious link between the EDL and these objections comes from Magda Csatlos, who claimed to have signed and shared on their wall (see screenshots below).  Her objection is predicated on there being too many places of worship, its financial cost and lack of aesthetic appeal. However, this piece of evidence could be coincidental (but unlikely).

Other EDL divisions shared the link with their followers:

On a related note, a special planning meeting will be held in South Woodford to discuss the future of a proposed mosque after it received over 288 objections. An application was submitted in September to demolish the existing mosque and replace it with a new three-storey building comprising of a prayer room, community hall and four residential flats.

In June, a petition opposed to the building of a mosque in Worcester Park received over 3,500 signatures. Moreover, the local council received over 500 objections. Weeks earlier, racist vandals had painted a swastika on the door of the proposed mosque.

For the first time, we have proof that the English Defence League is actively encouraging supporters to target mosques at the proposal stage. However, it is impossible to predict what impact (if any) this will have on the Bristol proposal.

Given the high number of objections to other proposed mosques, an analysis of these figures might help separate the genuine and non-genuine objections. Otherwise, the numbers do not add up. (Evidence is provided through snapshots below).

http://planningonline.bristol.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=MSDY9XDNK8000

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10475148.Racist_vandals_paint_swastika_on_proposed_mosque_site/?action=complain&cid=11695404

http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/10506788.Thousands_of_people_sign_anti_mosque_petition/

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/10775033.Controversial_mosque_development_to_be_discussed_at_dedicated_meeting/

Thanks to Steven Rose for drafting this article for TELL MAMA and for undertaking the investigative work

The post Evidence of EDL Co-ordinated Mosque Planning Application Objections appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Holding strong neo-Nazi beliefs, Pavlo Lapshyn, a promising PhD student from Ukraine’s Russian minority, followed the classic lone wolf pattern: self-radicalising, influenced by Anders Breivik and neo-Nazi ideologue William Pierce (who inspired Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh) and ‘buying into’ the Counter-Jihadist narrative followed by the EDL and other anti-Muslim movements that believe Muslims are “taking over”.

“Lapshyn got 40 years today, for a reign of terror and murder which was designed to ignite a racial/religious war in the UK,” said Fiyaz Mughal, director of the Tell MAMA anti-Muslim hatred monitoring project.

“It was only thanks to luck that people were not injured by his bombs – he miscalculated Friday prayer times during Ramadan – yet that was too late for an elderly, widely-respected grandfather, Mohammed Saleem, 82, murdered in the most cowardly fashion by a young man who stabbed him in the back, then stamped on his head and left him to die. His actions are beneath contempt. The irony, for those who profess to have left the Far Right behind them, is that Lapshyn was himself an immigrant who was carrying out attacks on those already settled here in the UK.”

“Today we join with the Muslim community, and other peace and faith activists, in calling for an end to such hatred. The Government must finally wake up to the threat of right-wing extremism in this country, particularly with the breakup of the EDL and fragmenting of the BNP, and do something before more any more psychopaths such as Lapshyn attempt to kill innocent Britons.”

[ends]

NOTES:

 – Tell MAMA is a national hate crime project that supports victims of anti-Muslim prejudice. Further information can be found here: www.tellmamauk.org

The post TELL MAMA WELCOMES SENTENCING OF MOSQUE BOMBER & MURDERER PAVLO LAPSHYN appeared first on TELL MAMA.

So, we were honoured to provide a 90 minute community education session to young people in the Dar-Ul-Isra mosque in Cardiff and where we discussed some of the following thematic areas:

• Key findings to date regarding those most affected at a street level,
• The Far Right and the impact of activists in the on-line world,
• Social media guidelines of the CPS and managing community expectations in relation to material that may be offensive,
• Victim’s rights and the Victim’s Charter – understanding what the rights of victims are?
• Working with Twitter and Facebook in undertaking ‘take-downs’ of the worst accounts promoting anti-Muslim prejudice and hate.
• Specific legal mechanisms that may be avenues for social justice for victims.

We will be reaching out to Muslim communities across the country in our work. However, if you are based in Wales and would like the TELL MAMA team to visit you, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us through info@tellmamauk.org. Empowering yourself by knowing your rights is the only way to ensuring that those who hate understand that communities will not accept this poison to affect perceptions. You have a part in the play in ensuring that everyone can live their lives free from fear and prejudice.

The post Empowering Muslim Communities in Wales Through Outreach Educational Events appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Now, what Natasha may not know or care to know, is that women who wear the Hijab, (that’s the religious headscarf to you Natasha), do seem to suffer a great deal of anti-Muslim prejudice at a street level and this is evidenced through the cases that come into TELL MAMA. Cases coming in also seem to point to women who wear the Hijab and the Niqab, (that is the face veil Natasha), suffering greater numbers of anti-Muslim prejudiced incidents and more aggressive incidents. (The aggression is what women who wear the Hijab and the Niqab mention to us time and time again). So, the question is this Natasha. Whilst we would never expect nor want any female to suffer violence, hate or abuse, why is it ok for you to caricature and marginalise other women, many of whom state that they suffer abuse on many occassions. You see, by promoting such graphics, you are promoting the notion that Muslim women who wear the Hijab and Niqab are not British, even though many are born here, feel British and are proud of this country. But maybe that just passed you by.

We also received another set of tweets which may well fall foul of the Malicious Communications Act (2003). Here are two individuals having a public Twitter chat with potentially criminal intentions.

Here we have @AntiIslamDanny who uses the Arabic term ‘Kafir’ to describe himself. Ask Danny where the actual Arabic letters which make up the word are phonetically placed and we may have lost him already. He was busy having a chat with the online Watford EDL co-ordinator by the name of ‘the Rev.’ The latter is a well known EDL sympathiser who is active online and the conversation brazenly highlights the desire of Danny to ‘close (down) some muzzrat’ web-sites. (Here we go, asssociating Muslims with vermin and you might want to see our posting in the news section on the 1/9/13 which highlights the use of this term by Far Right sympathisers). We have passed these snapshots to Hertfordshire Police as Danny very kindly listed that he lived in Hertfordshire and we have highlighted possible infringements of the Malicious Communications Act, 2003.

On a separate note, we also came across this tweet which was sent in by a member of the public. We know that over 28 mosques have suffered incidents and attacks post Woolwich and statements like this clearly do not help. We are sure that Brougham Street mosque, (possibly the Abu Bakr mosque) would like to consult with their solicitors on this since if not true, there are a number of civil actions they can take against the individual running this account. This also includes those who retweeted the tweet. By targeting mosques, EDL sympathisers like this are, in our opinion, targeting hate towards mosques and Muslim communities. We have also passed this tweet onto the Lancashire Constabulary. So much for the EDL being a ‘campaigning group.’ More like a bunch of misfits and sociopaths in our opinion.

The post On-line Law Breaking, the Targeting of Mosques & Promoting a Sense of the ‘Other’ appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Press Release

The Jewish community is deeply saddened and concerned by the recent number of bombing and arson attacks on mosques since the appalling murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.

The planting of bombs in places of worship such as at the Aisha Mosque in Walsall and the Wolverhampton Central Mosque is truly shocking. We utterly condemn and abhor these hateful actions against the Muslim community. It is particularly distressing that these attacks are taking place during the holy month of Ramadhan, the month of fasting, praying, acts of generosity and charity from Muslims.  

As a fellow minority group we are particularly sensitive to hate crimes and we extend our full support and solidarity with the British Muslims.  The perpetrators of these attacks seek to cause divisions and mistrust between different groups in our society and we are certain that they will not succeed in their endeavours.

We wish the Muslim community to know that we share their sorrows and concerns about these Islamophobic attacks on them and their places of worship and pray that God will remove all hatred and enmity from among all people so that we shall all live peacefully as one nation in this country.

Board of Deputies of British Jews

Rabbi Ivan Binstock, Dayan, London Beth Din

Rabbi Danny Rich, Chief Executive, Liberal Judaism

Rabbi Sybil Sheridan, Chair, Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi, Masorti Judaism UK

National Council of Imams and Rabbis, The Joseph Interfaith Foundation

For information

The Joseph Interfaith Foundation is a national joint Muslim-Jewish interfaith organisation. www.josephinterfaithfoundation.org

National Council of Imams & Rabbis  http://www.josephinterfaithfoundation.org/joseph-main/religiousLeaders.php

For contact:

Mehri Niknam MBE

Executive Director

Email: info@josephinterfaithfoundation.org

Mobile: 07816 814 691

The post Response from the British Jewish Community to Attacks on Mosques Post Woolwich appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Yet, after all of these events that have no doubt raised community tensions, we still come across individuals who want to broadcast their dark desires to attack mosques. Here is one example of someone who broadcast his views to 113 followers on his Twitter address:

We are seeing more and more people feeling confident enough to make such threats on-line. What is concerning is that this brazen open prejudice seems to be acceptable, so much so, that they decide to broadcast it over Twitter. Obviously, we will be passing on these comments to the police and what is disturbing is that this gentleman, (Stuart Dryan) continues the discussion and actually admits that attacks against mosques seem to be the only option, (for the Far Right EDL).

Finally, just to confirm the EDL link, here is a tweet to massage the ego of the Fuhrer, apologies, his leader, Stephen Yaxley, (aka Tommy Robinson).

Whilst we must never forget those who lay their lives down for the freedoms we all enjoy, the last thing we need is such individuals trumpeting the cause of our nation based on promoting fear, division and hate. England is a country that we have much to feel proud of. Its diversity of communities, linked through shared values, are what make England and Britain, Great!

The post So EDL Sympathisers Espouse Non-Violence? Pigs Might Just Fly! appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Police confirmed that no threats were made to the mosque and that they are keeping “their options open.” Well, we thought that we would highlight some comments from local EDL sympathisers in the West Midlands area who gloated over the burning down of the Al Rahma community centre in Muswell Hill in North London, some two weeks ago. These individuals posted onto the English Defence League Wallsall and Bloxwich Division. No doubt the local police will be looking into these matters, though this material was conveyed some time ago to through relevant force contacts.

The post After the Attack on Aisha Mosque, Walsall appeared first on TELL MAMA.

The diligent Executive Committee Member of this mosque called the Police and logged the incident as a faith hate crime and mentioned that this was the first time that there has been an attack on the mosque in over 20 years of the mosque’s existence.

If your mosque has suffered such an incident, do contact 101 and ask for the Police to log the incident and to take a statement from you. We can also help in the process and after contacting the police, you may contact us since we can provide the following:

– An avenue through which we can collect further evidence such as witness statements. The more evidence collected, the greater the likelihood of an arrest;
– Through the Securing Mosques Programme we can work with the local force to assess the security vulnerabilities of your local mosque; we can also look to work with local private sector companies who may be willing to donate camera equipment to secure the exterior of the mosque from vandalism and hate crimes;
– We can provide volunteers for large scale events that the mosque may be holding who can work with local residents and allay fears, traffic and other concerns which residents may have. This is sometimes the cause of local tensions which can be eased with good effective communication,
– We can also work with mosque executive committee members in drafting a security strategy for mosques.

The services listed above are free. Financial constraints are therefore NOT a barrier and we voice again the need for mosques to be pro-active regarding their security. If hate incidents and crimes are not reported in, the perpetrator will simply become eboldened and evidence shows that they may commit further and more violent crimes.

The post Vandalism Attack on Lancashire Mosque Today appeared first on TELL MAMA.