alt. title: "UK government troubled by violent anti-Islam protests"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rightwing-protestors-target-harrow-mosque-1785797.html

Hundreds of Asian youths threw rocks, bottles and fireworks at riot police last night as anger over an anti-Muslim demonstration spilled onto the streets of Harrow.

Police made ten arrests and fought a series of skirmishes with masked protesters close to Harrow Central Mosque, which had been targeted by demonstrators.

The demonstration was organised by two groups, the English Defence League and Stop the Islamisation of Europe. It was called off after the first 15 supporters to turn up were chased off by counter-demonstrators who outnumbered them heavily.
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Anti-Islamic protesters had to be sheltered by riot police who formed a cordon round them and rescued one from a beating after he was caught and set upon by a crowd of Asian youths. As police protected the men, further violence broke out when a number of masked protesters started hurling bottles, rocks and fireworks at officers. The masked youths ignored pleas by a larger crowd of Muslims who urged them to keep the protests peaceful.

The violence came just a few days after an anti-Islamic protest organised by the English Defence League in Birmingham descended into running street battles which led to 90 people being arrested, with more anticipated as CCTV footage is examined. The group said it planned to organise more demonstrations across the country.

In Harrow, several of the Asian youths making up the bulk of 1,500 counter-protesters armed themselves with sticks and metal poles. Nine of the arrests were for the suspected possession of offensive weapons.

The town's central mosque is still under construction and is expected to provide a enough prayer space for the area's 35,000 Muslims.

Elders at the mosque said the timing of the protests were particularly insensitive because it fell not just on the anniversary of the 11 September attacks, but also during Ramadan, a deeply spiritual month where Muslims fast from dawn until sunset.

The violence which erupted in the early evening came in stark contrast to the peaceful mass protest earlier in the day before the anti-Islamic demonstrators had arrived.

John Denham, the Communities Secretary, compared the protests organised by groups such as the English Defence league to the rise of Oswald Moseley's blackshirts in the 1930s and its role in provoking violent street fights, particularly the Battle of Cable Street in 1936.

He made his comments in a newspaper interview as he unveiled government plans to tackle the problem of alienation felt by white, working class people leading to them being exploited by far-right groups.

Mr Denham later clarified that he did not believe we were facing a situation like the 1930s. "It's nothing like the 1930s," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. "All we are facing at the moment is small. But I think we need to take it seriously enough to say that there are obviously people who would like to be provocative, hope that there is not just a reaction but there is an overreaction, then people blame the people who overreact and the situation gets out of control."

In an emotional speech during midday prayers, the mosque's imam, Ajmal Masroor, called on his followers to ignore any anti-Muslim protesters and resist the temptation to retaliate. He prompted laughter when he told listeners: "My father always said to me, 'If a dog bites your leg do you turn around and bite the dog back?' Of course not."

But he could do little to prevent hundreds of angry young Muslims gathering to defend the mosque, which they believed would be attacked by Islamophobes. Mahmood Abdullah, a 17-year-old student, travelled up from Morden in south London. He said: "We don't want to start a fight but we are willing to defend our brothers and sisters if we have to. We want to show them that for every protester they bring, we'll bring 10."

By early evening hundreds of young Asians had taken over Station Road, the main thoroughfare that runs parallel to the mosque, and frequent cries of "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Greatest) could be heard.

The small group of white men who were protected by the police from the mob were largely reluctant to speak. One, who said he was from Middlesex
but declined to give his name, simply stated: "We've become a minority in our own country."

The English Defence League first surfaced as an organisation in the spring and has been banned from holding any marches in Luton for three months. Activists have been using social networking sites such as Facebook to spread their protests across the country.

Stop the Islamisation of Europe, which boasts 2,300 supporters on its Facebook page, is inspired by a right-wing group in Denmark of the same name who have held regular protests outside mosques ever since cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad appeared in a newspaper sparking riots across the Muslim world.

Unlike far-right groups such as the British National Party, which campaigns on an anti-immigration ticket, the EDL and SOIE have concentrated on campaigning against Islam.

Their emergence has alarmed anti-racism campaigners, who fear a return to the days of the National Front when regular street battles broke out between its members and immigrant groups in the 1970s and 1980s.

Tony McNulty, the MP for Harrow, said: "Emotions are running high. But most of the protesters are not even from here. A load of young teenagers chasing ghosts should not detract from an overwhelmingly peaceful, multi-racial protest."

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1212831/Tensions-threaten-boil-right-wing-extremists-anti-fascist-protestors-clash-outside-London-mosque.html

Labour minister: Anti-Islam extremists no better than Oswald Mosley's 1930s fascists

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:03 AM on 13th September 2009


A Cabinet minister has raised fears of a return to 1930s fascism, comparing modern right-wing groups to Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts.

Communities Secretary John Denham's comments came as he announced a drive to prevent white working class people being 'exploited' by extremists.

He singled out protests being organised by the English Defence League, some of which have turned violent over recent months.

Hundreds of supporters are expected to gather in Trafalgar Square tomorrow.

Anti-right wing youths and English Defence League clash with police at rally this evening outside the mosque in Harrow

Enlarge Right wing protesters are held back by the police during the rally

Angry right-wing protesters are held back by the police

Yesterday protesters from the Stop Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) group were involved in a demonstration outside a mosque in Harrow, north east London, to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Ten people were arrested.

'I think that the English Defence League and other organisations are not actually large numbers of people,' Mr Denham told the Guardian. 'They clearly, though, have among them people who know what exactly they're doing.

Fascist warning: John Denham

'If you look at the types of demonstrations they've organised... it looks pretty clear that it's a tactic designed to provoke and to get a response and hopefully create violence.'

Mr Denham pointed to historical 'parallels' with the so-called 'Battle of Cable Street' in October 1936, when Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists, attempted to lead supporters through a Jewish area of the East End of London, leading to violent clashes.

'You could go back to the 1930s if you wanted to - Cable Street and all of those types of things. The tactic of trying to provoke a response in the hope of causing wider violence and mayhem is long established on the far-right and among extremist groups.'

EDL's supporters are alleged to include far-right activists and football hooligans filmed at recent protests chanting racist slogans and making Nazi salutes.

Mr Denham said there was a need for a broader strategy from government to 'undercut issues that racists try to exploit'.

In the coming weeks ministers will unveil a programme targeted at mainly white, working-class communities, he said.

'You need to be prepared to let people's real underlying fears and concerns come out, but to be able to address them frankly and openly,' he said.

He gave the example of perceptions of unfair allocation of council housing and new jobs, and said there could be changes at street level to allow local people to 'influence and shape' how resources are distributed in their area.


Enlarge

Police with their batons drawn dispersing the crowd which had gathered to watch the Black shirts assembling for the Facist march through the East End. The Battle of Cable Street took place on Sunday October 4, 1936
Enlarge

Line-up: Riot police line the anti-Islam demonstrators up against a wall
Enlarge

An anti muslim protestor tries to hide his face after being detained by the police in Harrow

The clashes on Friday afternoon came after a right-wing extremist group protested against the construction of a new five-floor mosque next to the Harrow Central Mosque.

Riot police stepped in to prevent the rally from going ahead after members of the Stop Islamification of Europe group clashed with more than 1,000 anti-fascist and Muslim demonstrators who gathered to defend the building.

More than 550 police charged at the protesters, largely made up of Muslim men, and corralled them around the mosque.

During one skirmish, a white teenage youth was chased by a mob of up to 200 chanting demonstrators.

Scotland Yard said there were seven arrests for public order offences or possession of weapons while one person was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace.

Weapons confiscated include a hammer, a chisel and a bottle of bleach.

Muslim supporters - some covering their faces with bandanas - could be seen throwing rocks and bricks while one group trampled a wire fence as the two groups goaded each other.
Enlarge

Muslims gather outside Harrow central mosque ahead of yesterday's protests
Enlarge

Riot threat: A young Muslim standing outside Harrow's new mosque, right, which sparked the protests

Police wearing riot gear responded by closing roads and kettling in the protesters outside the mosque, refusing to allow movement between their lines.

By mid evening numbers outside the mosque had dwindled to about 100, as counter-protesters, many of whose faces were covered by scarves, drifted away.

Navin Shah, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, and the former Labour Leader of Harrow Council, said: 'The mood had been light-hearted, but after about 4pm or 5pm there began to be some concern among the mosque trustees about protesters who did not belong to Harrow. This is always a big worry, when you have extremism.

'People were saying that some fascists arrived in three cars, about eight or nine of them, and they were chased by about 200 people.
Bricks, road signs and stones were thrown during the demonstration, which resulted in eight arrests

Bricks, road signs and stones were thrown during the demonstration, which resulted in eight arrests

'I didn't see any violence, but there were some reports of it, though thankfully not much damage.

'I was shocked to see those scenes, but overall we've come through with a clean bill of health, because what we did see was a very strong demonstration of unity, racial harmony and struggle for peace.

'I'm pleased that we've been tested, I do genuinely feel that we've successfully come through this very difficult occasion.'

One counter protester Mohammad Iqbal, 30, a trainee surgeon, from Forest Gate, East London, said: 'I heard there was going to be a bizarre protest here, linking 9/11 and the mosque, so after attending Friday prayers I stayed to protest against that.

'I don't think there was any overt violence, but there was a mob mentality. I heard there was an egg thrown, that's pretty distressing, the police are just in the line of fire, and it's unforgivable to attack them.

'People are staying here because there are rumours of football hooligan types coming to carry out attacks.'

A doorman at a nearby club, who declined to give his name, said: 'I saw them come running by. Thank God we've still got our windows, but the police have been very good.'

Elders at the mosque criticised the timing of the protest as it coincided not just with the anniversary of the September 11 attacks but also Ramadan, which is of deep spiritual significance to Muslims.

An Islamic leader with a loud-hailer appealed for calm from the protesters.

He said: 'We don't need any pictures on the TV of people fighting or shouting. Remember we're fasting, we're fasting right now.'

Despite his request, angry groups, many covering their faces with ski masks, motorcycle helmets and scarves continued shouting and throwing sticks at the police lines.
Police officers control anti-Muslim protesters as they gesture and chant towards anti-fascist demonstrators

Police officers control anti-Muslim protesters as they gesture and chant towards anti-fascist demonstrators

Councillor David Ashton, leader of Harrow Council, said: 'We are saddened and dismayed that groups from outside the borough have come here and caused unrest.

'Harrow has an excellent record in community relations and we condemn those who came to our borough from elsewhere to either foist extreme political opinions on us or use religion as a cover for causing trouble.

'I would like to pay tribute to Harrow Mosque and its officials for their earlier calls for restraint and moderation. It is a pity those words were not heard by those who came to Harrow from outside our area.'

The demonstration follows a riot in Birmingham last weekend which descended into violence.