UK: "Profiling may be price we have to pay", says Muslim MP

A Muslim MP has opened up divisions within the Islamic community by saying it is reasonable for Muslims to be singled out for extra airport security measures following the Detroit bomb attempt.

Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said it had become necessary to 'profile' passengers from certain racial and religious groups in order to weed out possible terror suspects.

He said: "I think most people would rather be profiled than blown up. It wouldn't be victimisation of an entire community.

"I think people will understand that it is only through something like profiling that there will be some kind of safety.

"If people want to fly safely we have to take measures to stop things like the Christmas Day plot. Profiling may have to be the price we have to pay.

"The fact is the majority of people who have carried out or planned these terror attacks have been Muslims."

Muslim opinion on the subject was split yesterday, with some groups objecting to any such move for fear of alienating large sections of the community.

Massoud Shadjareh, the chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said: "It's not true that all terrorists are Muslims.

"Any such measure would not only alienate people, it would also be ineffective in terms of stopping terrorists. What's to stop them dressing up as orthodox Jews in order to evade profiling-based searches?"

However, many British Muslims now agree with Mr Mahmood.


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Source: Daily Telegraph

With thanks to Islam in Europe

Gangs Supporting Suicide Bombings Forming in UK

From CAN:

Radical Muslim gangs whose members aspire to be suicide bombers have formed in Birmingham in England’s West Mislands County, the Sunday Mercury reports.

The new gang, called Bang Bang Taliban, is known for creating YouTube videos with rap songs performed by the group’s members. The report says the members are mostly Asians and are connected to another gang called the Burger Bar Boys.

“They’re threatening rivals with violence and talking about becoming suicide bombers,” the Sunday Mercury quoted one anonymous community worker as saying.

Police Chief Superintendent Tom Coughlan is optimistic that the problem can be tackled, surprisingly claiming that the Bang Bang Taliban and Burger Bar Boys gangs could be squashed in a few years. The report quoted another advisor to the government as describing Coughlan’s statement as “strangely naïve.”

Muslim gang activity in the United Kingdom caused a huge stir in 2006 when Asian gang members killed a 15-year old boy in Glasgow for no reason. The attack was launched as a reprisal for a fight in a nightclub that was not related to the victim. The boy was kidnapped, at which point witnesses heard him screaming, “I’m only 15, what did I do?”

The boy was driven 200 miles away, stabbed, beaten, and then burnt alive. The body was dropped back off in Glasgow. Three of the murderers fled to Pakistan.

British prisons are becoming home to quickly-growing Muslim gangs as well. The Observer reported in May that a secret government reported warned that the gangs were taking control of maximum-security prisons.

World Threats

Birmingham: Opposition to Saudi imams

If Saudi clerics are sincerely opposed to al-Qaeda, is this enough to make them role models?

An instructive row has broken out between the Quilliam Foundation, British Muslims for Secular Democracy, humanists, and progressive rabbis on the one hand, and the Green Lanes Mosque in Birmingham, over a couple of visiting Saudi imams who will preach there this weekend.

The Quilliam/BMSD complaint is that these people are well-documented anti-semites and preachers of hate; the mosque responds indignantly that the preachers are thoroughly opposed to al-Qaeda and to terrorism, and that the objectors are unrepresentative stooges.

The first question is whether the original charges are justified. Here, I think that the mosque has been caught bang to rights. The letter objecting to the preachers" visit lists some pretty hair-raising statements on their site. The links are to Arabic sound files, but I don't see any reason to doubt their authenticity, which has not in any case been denied:

(..)

On the other hand, the mosque defends itself against the charge that it is sponsoring terrorism: "These speakers are academics who have specialised in Islamic sciences and are well respected in scholarly circles. It is grossly unjust to suggest that they belong to some fringe ideology rather than orthodox Islam."

Is anti-semitism of this sort really mainstream, orthodox Islam?


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Source: Guardian (English)

With thanks to Islam in Europe

Terror police to monitor nurseries for Islamic radicalisation

Nursery-age children should be monitored for signs of brainwashing by Islamist extremists, according to a leaked police memo obtained by The Times.

In an e-mail to community groups, an officer in the West Midlands counter-terrorism unit wrote: “I do hope that you will tell me about persons, of whatever age, you think may have been radicalised or be vulnerable to radicalisation ... Evidence suggests that radicalisation can take place from the age of 4.”

The police unit confirmed that counter-terrorist officers specially trained in identifying children and young people vulnerable to radicalisation had visited nursery schools.

The policy was condemned last night. Chris Grayling, the Shadow Home Secretary, said that it ran the risk of “alienating even more people”. Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said that it was an “absurd waste of police time”.

Sir Norman Bettison, who speaks for the Association of Chief Police Officers on Prevent, the Government’s anti-terror strategy, said that the officer’s e-mail was a “clumsy” attempt to explain it.

Sir Norman, the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, said: “There is absolutely no example, nationally, of the police engaging with nursery-age kids specifically on this issue. That is the age for learning about ‘Stranger Danger’ and ‘The Tufty Club’.”

The Home Office has disclosed, meanwhile, that a seven-year-old has become the youngest child to feature in a scheme to tackle grooming by extremists. David Hanson, the Police Minister, disclosed in a parliamentary answer that the child was one of 228 people referred to the Channel Project, part of Prevent focused on individuals.

More than 90 per cent of those identified by the project have been aged between 15 and 24 and most, but not all, are Muslim.

Criticism of the anti-extremism strategy is growing. The programme, funded from the £3.5 billion per year security budget, is said to stigmatise communities and encourage Muslims to spy on one another.

This week John Denham, the Communities Secretary, said that the programme had to be more transparent to dispel “the fear that by joining a Prevent activity, the organisers or the participants are opening themselves up to covert surveillance, intelligence-gathering and the collection of files on the Muslim communities”.

The e-mail obtained by The Times was written by a sergeant in response to Muslim community concerns. He was trying to allay fears but seems to have inflamed them.

He wrote: “I am a police officer and therefore it will always be part of my role to gather intelligence and I will report back any information or intelligence which may suggest someone is a terrorist, or is planning to be one or to support others. However, my role is to raise the level of awareness of the threat of terrorism and radicalisation and support and work with partners to try to prevent it.”

Arun Kundnani, of the Institute of Race Relations, contacted the officer and said he was told that officers had visited nursery schools. Mr Kundnani added: “He did seem to think it was standard. He said it wasn’t just him or his unit that was doing it.

He said the indicators were they [children] might draw pictures of bombs and say things like ‘all Christians are bad’ or that they believe in an Islamic state. It seems that nursery teachers in the West Midlands area are being asked to look out for radicalisation.

He also said that targeting young children was important because they would be left aware of what was inappropriate to say at school. He felt that it was necessary to cover nurseries as well as primary and secondary schools. He said it was a precaution and that he wasn’t expecting to come back with a list.”

More at Times Online

Birmingham: Gang warn about becoming Taliban suicide bombers

GUN-toting members of a new Birmingham teenage gang are boasting about becoming suicide bombers, it was claimed last night.

The chillingly named Bang Bang Taliban have told community workers they want to dominate the city's gangland – and that they would gladly be "martyred" as Islamist terrorists.

The gang, thought to be linked to the notorious Burger Bar Boys, mainly consists of Asian youngsters from the Handsworth area.

"They're threatening rivals with violence and talking about becoming suicide bombers," said one community worker, who asked not to be named. Their affiliation is with the Burgers, and nine out of 10 of their members will start off as couriers and runners for the bigger gangs.

"It's a real shock to hear them talking about suicide bombings and grinning about it.

''We have to educate these boys and get into the schools to help stop them getting involved. Someone is influencing these youths, someone is getting them involved in this."


Source: Sunday Mercury, h/t Harry's Place

Thanks to Islam In Europe

Anti-Muslim extremists plan Scots protest

By David Leask

ANTI-MUSLIM extremists linked with serious unrest in England are planning a major demonstration in Glasgow, it has emerged.

The English Defence League (EDF) aims to take to the streets of Scotland's biggest city on Saturday, 14 November, sparking major safety concerns among police and council insiders.

The organisation, which denies it is racist and insists it is only against Islamic militants rather than all Muslims, has set up a wing north of the Border called the Scottish Defence League.

An EDF rally in Birmingham erupted into violence this summer, prompting scores of arrests. Supporters are understood to have links with far-right groups and football hooligans. Some have been seen making Nazi salutes.

Communities Secretary John Denham this month raised fears of a return to 1930s fascism when he compared some far-right groups to Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts. The Scotsman understands that the EDF – or its purported Scottish wing – has still to ask for permission to march through Glasgow.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council yesterday said "any application would be considered". However, senior officials at the authority, which has the power to ban marches on police safety advice, would be keen to block any demonstration that is deemed likely to lead to violence.

Strathclyde Police were unavailable for comment last night.

Some city leaders fear that the EDF could spark counter-demonstrations from Glasgow's still highly mobilised left groups and from city Islamists.

"We think these guys (the EDF] want to see pictures of people in Union Jack T-shirts with blood on their heads," said one.

"We are not going to let that happen in Glasgow.

"If they are coming up here looking for a fight – there is no way they are going to get it. The police know how to deal with these guys."

The Glasgow demonstration was announced on the Facebook website this week. Some 132 people have already said they will attend.

The time and place of the rally have still to be settled. Any attempt to approach sensitive areas, such as Glasgow Central Mosque, would present serious public safety problems, city insiders confirmed to The Scotsman.

EDF supporters south of the Border have been seen parading with placards against the building of new mosques.

The Scottish Islamic Foundation yesterday said it would be organising a public meeting within the next seven days to work out how it should respond to extreme anti-Islamic groups crossing the border.

The group's chairman, Asif Ahmed, said: "This is time for Scotland to once again show we will not be divided by extremists. We have faced worse and come through it.

"The last time Glasgow was tested was at the 2007 airport attack. What we saw then was all strands of society coming together for a remarkable show of solidarity in George Square.

"We'll be working again to make sure that the numbers peacefully opposing extremism will far outstrip that of the haters."

Manchester City Council has sought help from the Home Office to find ways of banning an EDF march scheduled for its streets next month.

Source: Scotsman via Winds of Jihad

H/T Gramfan

Police arrest 30 after violent street clashes between anti-fascists and right-wing 'English Defence League' protesters in Birmingham

By Daily Mail Reporter

Officers were trying today to identify more people involved in violent scenes at a right-wing protest which resulted in dozens of arrests.
More than 30 people were arrested in Birmingham city centre yesterday when anti-fascist campaigners fought with supporters of a rally against Islamic fundamentalism by The English Defence League (EDL).

As shoppers looked on, gangs of men and youths hurled bottles at one another and pelted riot police with bricks in the New Street area of the city, close to the main train station.

The disorder - which followed similar violent scenes at an EDL protest last month - involved around 200 people and spilled on to the adjoining Bennetts Hill, a street lined with a number of pubs popular with shoppers.West Midlands Police said a group of more than 20 men were arrested on a bus in Digbeth High Street.Later a 'significant' number of people were also detained from buses that left the Bennetts Hill area.

They were taken into custody at stations across the city.Detective Chief Inspector Sue Southern said: 'Officers acted quickly and robustly to quell pockets of disorder caused by several groups of 20 to 30 men.

'Shoppers in and around the Bullring shopping centre were unaffected by the disorder, with retailers reporting no effect on trade.'She added: 'Officers will continue to work to identify any persons involved in the disorder.'If criminal acts or racially aggravated incidents are reported, then police will arrest and prosecute anyone found to be responsible.'

Police said they were well prepared after last month's trouble.

Earlier this week the force, along with Birmingham City Council, obtained an order from the Home Secretary banning protesters from the Bullring area of the city, under section 14a of the Public Order Act. Under the same legislation, Chief Constable Chris Sims passed an order restricting the protests to two locations - Lancaster Circus and Old Square.

But after meeting on Broad Street in the city's entertainment district, demonstrators proceeded to New Street, around half a mile away, and trouble ensued.Publishing details of the protest plans on its website, the English Defence League had urged supporters to avoid being drawn into violent clashes.

It said: 'We would like to state that anyone who wishes to cause trouble, or use this demonstration to voice any other issues other than Islamic fundamentalists, radical Islam and Sharia will be turned away.

'We are not a fascist organisation and urge anyone who knows of anybody who is intent on causing trouble on the day to contact us.'The group predicted the demonstrations would be a 'great day out', adding: 'We are confident that, due to the support and communications with West Midlands Police, this looks set to be a great day out for all concerned.'

Ms Southern said: 'The chair of the city centre partnership has commented on how successful today's operation has been in enabling the busy retail area of Birmingham to carry on trading unaffected by events elsewhere.'

Source: Mail Online

Labour Party embroiled in race row after candidate told she was 'too white and Jewish' to be selected

By Emily Andrews

Row: Elaina Cohen, pictured in 2001, claims she was told she was 'too white and Jewish' to be selected as a Labour candidate in Birmingham

The Labour Party has become embroiled in a race row after a prospective female councillor was allegedly told she was 'too white and Jewish' to be selected.

Elaina Cohen claims that Labour councillor Mahmood Hussain said he would not support her application for an inner-city ward because 'my Muslim members don't want you because you are Jewish'.

Mrs Cohen, 50, has made an official complaint about the alleged remarks made by Mr Hussain, a Muslim and former lord mayor of Birmingham.

She said: 'I am shocked and upset that a member of the Labour Party in this day and age could even think something like that, let alone say it.

'People should not be allowed to make racist comments like that. If someone in the party feels I cannot represent them because of my colour or religion, that's ridiculous.

'I felt particularly aggrieved because I have worked across all sections of the community, particularly with the Muslim section, and have been on official visits to Pakistan.'

Mrs Cohen had applied to stand as a Labour councillor for the Birmingham ward of East Handsworth and Lozells, which has a high Asian and Afro-Caribbean population.

As one of Labour's safest seats on Tory-led Birmingham city council, the final candidate would be almost certain of victory at the June 4 by-election.

But when Mrs Cohen telephoned 57-year-old Mr Hussain for his support, she was astonished to be told that she was too 'white and Jewish' to be considered.

Lorraine Briscoe, who runs a local community association, was sitting next to Mrs Cohen when the conversation took place on speakerphone last Tuesday.

'I was disgusted that a councillor could make comments like that in 2009,' she said.

'He told her, "They will not vote for someone who is white and Jewish. My Muslim members don't want you because you are Jewish".

'Elaina then asked him if he had talked to his Muslim members about it and he said, "I don't want to talk about it with you" and hung up.

'Elaina does a lot of good work in this community and she does not see race or religion, she just sees people.'

Two days after the alleged conversation, Mrs Cohen and another candidate were rejected by a pre-selection panel after failing to gain the support of the local party.

Instead, members were presented with one candidate, black South African Hendrina Quinnen, who was selected by an almost unanimous vote.

Mrs Cohen has now sent an official complaint to Labour Party general secretary Ray Collins and Birmingham city council accusing Mr Hussain of improper conduct.

Mr Hussain said yesterday: 'I would not make those sort of comments. The allegations are not true.'

Source: Daily Mail

H/T: Jihadwatch