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Defend Harrow Central Mosque from fascist attacks

Brent and Harrow Unite Against Fascism | 16.08.2009 21:42 | Anti-racism

Fascists and racists threaten to attack the Central Mosque in Harrow. Brent and Harrow Unite against Fascism call for opposing the fascists.

BRENT AND HARROW UNITE AGAINST FASCISM
STATEMENT IN DEFENCE OF THE CENTRAL MOSQUE, HARROW

We call on all residents and workers in Harrow and London to show their disgust and outrage at the threats recently made to the Central Mosque in Harrow by the racists and fascists. Islamaphobia is just as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide people, using scapegoats, as was the case in Nazi Germany during the 30s with anti-semitism.

We stand by our Muslim brothers and sisters in solidarity against this threat, just as we do when synagogues, churches and temples are attacked. An insult to one is an insult to all. Racism is abhorrent and has no place in our society. We can not allow this evil and bigoted hatred to raise its ugly head.

Today it may be Muslims; tomorrow it could be Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Gays, Travellers and any other innocent minorities. The Fascists have only one purpose in attacking the religious freedoms that we fought for and that is to
impose their so-called Master Race philosophy through fear, intimidation and violence. The result, if unchallenged was 6 million killed in Hitler’s Concentration Camps during the Holocaust. Bosnia and Rwanda stand as further reminders to the effects of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

In the 1930s, the fascist Oswald Mosley and his Blackshirts were defeated by united action of ordinary people in the East End at Cable Street and so shown the door. In the late 70s, at Lewisham, the same happened to the National Front. The BNP and other racist groups believe that they can succeed. The moment that happens we will all be worse off. Prevention is better than cure for a disease, and this is a disease. Do not allow this insult to all be ignored.

In Birmingham, Liverpool and elsewhere, the so-called English Defence League was routed by joint opposition from anti-fascists and anti-racist groups and local young people. Unity is Strength. We must all stand together and reject this evil in its infancy so that it does not get a hold and strangle us. They threaten the Central Mosque today. They have made similar threats to Muslims in Luton and elsewhere for tomorrow. In the future it could be a synagogue or temple that they attack.

Harrow is a multi-cultural and multi-religious society. Muslims have every right to attend a mosque in peace, as is everyone else’s right. The fascists and racists will not be allowed to prevent this or to divide our communities.


"If we are failures as the defenders of the cause ... the defenders are the ones to be changed ... not the cause." Ghassan Kanafani

JOIN US AND SHOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF HARROW REJECT THIS THREAT ON US ALL BY THE RACISTS AND FASCISTS.

THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THESE NAZIS IN HARROW.

Brent and Harrow Unite Against Fascism

Comments

Hide the following 10 comments

What fascist and racist attacks

17.08.2009 06:38

. .are you referring to? Has this been in the media?what is the story here? Thank you

More detail please


Oppose racism. Fuck religion.

17.08.2009 07:32

Let's be clear. Being against relgion is not akin to racism.

Relgion is something you choose, adopt, embrace and actively subscribe to.

Religion remains the opium of the masses whichever forms it takes. It's simply ideology dressed in spiritual form.

Anti-religion


Re:Oppose racism. Fuck religion.

17.08.2009 13:06

"Being against relgion is not akin to racism."

"Relgion is something you choose, adopt, embrace and actively subscribe to. "


Well, so is racism?

Yes, religions are responsible for many evils throughout the world, however it is best to confront this even-handedly, and at the point of it's antagonism. For example, I do not have a problem with confronting Islamo-fascist preachers, however conflating militant Islam with ordinary Muslim people is just a bullshit excuse for racism.

Anon


this callout ignores reason for this protest - installation of Sharia Law Court

17.08.2009 14:00

The demo is against the creation of a Sharia law court inside the mosque. In this, those who are doing a callout for a protest against the protest should be aware that they demonstrably do an honest appraisal of the facts here a disservice. In portraying this a simple black and white self-determination vs racism issue, you (some tickbox politically correct apologist for male chauvinistic fundamentalism) are conniving to allow an important evaluation of this subject go unnoticed as the legitimisation of Sharia Law goes unopposed through the backdoor in this country, allowing the fragmentation in the authority of British Law which adheres to the principle of Habeas Corpus

Somersett


all anti fascists should be there to stop EDL scum

17.08.2009 15:21

simple as this. as many anti fash down as possible. no platform for these scum. today its the mosques, tomorrow it'll be synagogues, social centres, immigrants' homes.....
i don't give a hit about their reasons for the demo - i know what they stand for, and i'm ready to stop that with force

antifascist


I don't think so (or if so, mistaken)

17.08.2009 15:30

Sharia law courts (or any other religious law caourts) do not in Western countries represent an usurpation of the public legal system.

1) Your normal legal courts have no say in religous matters. Take divorce for example. Your civil court can of course grant a civil divorce. But are you imagining that it could grant a RELIGIOUS divorce? In oither words, making a claim along the lines "if the civil court grants a divorce then the Catholic Church has to recognize that and could be penalized by refusing this person a remarriage "in Church"?

2) Your current civil courts DO allow for negotiated surrender of rights. What the heck do you think a contract is? What do you think arbitration agreements are? Nor does the mere existence of a contract or arbitration agreement mean the civil courts no longer have any say. They can indeed rule on the question of whether that contract or arbitration agreement is valid (was it entered into voluntarily, for example -- meeting requirements for that validitiy under CIVIL law).

Now it is an entirely different question raised when and if there is an attempt to REPLACE the civil law. How about waiting for that when and if to be other than moot.

MDN


Marx

17.08.2009 17:05

"Religion (remains) the opium of the masses" is a misleading quote from Marx. In the fuller quote, Marx was defending religion against the militant atheists: "Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people."
Those of us opposed both to Fascism and to Sharia should defend the Mosque when it is attacked by the Fash and also defend any women who may in the future be attacked by right wing Imams.

God
- Homepage: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1843/critique-hpr/intro.htm


Harrow

18.08.2009 10:50

The co-called "anti-religion" commenters (if that's what you really are and not just fash trolls) are making the mistake of trusting that fascists ever tell the truth: there is no "Sharia court" planned for this new Mosque:

 http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/4551250._No_plans__to_hold_Sharia_Court_meetings_at_new_mosque/

... this is just a blatant racist provacation in the heart of multi-cultural NW London. If the fash are allowed to demonstrate without incident in HARROW it will be a big win for them.

All anti-fascists to Harrow on the 29th!! Brum youth showed us the way:  http://current.com/items/90662089_birmingham-fascist-anti-fascist-street-fights.htm

Jonas


been called off ..

20.08.2009 15:49

 http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/4553713.Mosque_protest_called_off_after_Sharia_court_denial/

"Bill Baker, the organisor, said: “It's been cancelled. They've made assurances that sharia courts will not be held in the building. If they go back on that then obviously we will be allowed to protest.”

He added: “If it's only going to be used for the community then good luck to them.”

A protest by the EDL in Birmingham on August 10 resulted in violent clashes between members and anti-fascist campaigners attempting to break up the demonstration.

Mr Baker told the Harrow Times ties with the EDL and Casuals United, which formed in the aftermath, were broken after the skirmishes in Birmingham.

He said: “The protest was organised by people from all walks of life, all religions and faiths – even the local Sikhs and Hindus were concerned.

“It wasn't a far-right protest. Although they might have been utilising the situation they were nothing to do with us.

“We are opposed to extremism on both sides of the political agenda.”

D02


EDL demo re-scheduled for Sept 11

29.08.2009 17:01

After it was revealed the EDL were lying about there being Sharia courts at Harrow, their Aug 29 demo was cancelled, and re-scheduled for Sept 11 when it's GOING AHEAD as a 9.11 memorial event.

There is no evidence Harrow Mosque has ANY connection with extremism and when the f**k did these morons ever stage a 9.11 memorial before? Using 9.11 to try and divide our communities is the height of cynicism and EDL themselves have been exposed as co-founded by BNP activist Chris Renton. When the EDL demonstrated in Birmingham outright Nazis like NF activist Wigan Mike's skinhead gang turned up with the express intention of attacking (in their own words) "niggers and Muslims", so ALL anti-Fascists need to be there on Sept 11 to show these racist morons where to go.

Jewish Lad