Police were drafted in after an English Defence League football match was organised on a pitch normally used by Asian youths.
Blackburn magistrates heard shortly after the EDL game, involving 20 to 25 white males, started, about 30 Asian males arrived at the concrete pitches in Queens Park.
The two groups were playing on adjoining pitches but tempers flared and words were exchanged when the ball from the Asian game went over to the other side.
Nicholas John Smyth, 26, of Sherwood Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to using racially-aggravated threatening behaviour.
He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs.
Joanne Close, prosecuting, said during the football matches there was an altercation between Smyth and one of the Asian men.
When the EDL game finished, they congregated near the fence separating the two pitches and Smyth started shouting at the Asian male to “come and sort it out”.
Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Smyth had gone to play football with a few friends.
He realised there were members of the EDL there, although he was not a member of the organisation.
Mr Taylor said when the Asian males arrived they tried to take over both pitches, which led to tension.
“It seems that normally this area is exclusively used by Asians,” said Mr Taylor.
“Words were exchanged when the Asian males tried to get on the pitch where the white males were playing.
“My client heard racist comments coming from the Asian males and he accepts that he responded.
“He says he can’t understand why the police officers seemed unable to hear the comments coming from the other side.”
Blackburn citizen
Friday, 15 July 2011
Police Increase Presence in Portsmouth as the English Defence League Plans Demonstration (UK)
Police from across the two counties will be in Portsmouth this weekend to help facilitate peaceful protest by members of the English Defence League.
Officers will be on duty in the city centre on the morning of the event on the 16th July to minimise disruption to the community and shoppers.
Superintendent Rick Burrows said: "Those still coming into Portsmouth should be aware that there will be more police around than usual to ensure peace is kept throughout the day, and whilst there will be traffic congestion, we will work to minimise the impact on your day.
"Edinburgh Road will be closed from 10am until about 3pm and the main traffic congestion will occur around this area, the Guildhall Square and Gunwharf Quays area between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
"It is also worth bearing in mind that Portsmouth are playing Chelsea at home from 3pm and this will increase the chances of traffic congestion around the routes to Fratton Park.
"We are continuing to engage with all parties involved in this protest event, and we have planned extensively to have the appropriate resources on duty throughout the day to ensure that any protest does not have an adverse impact on local communities.
"Our message to those planning on coming to Portsmouth to protest is that you will be welcomed; we will facilitate your lawful protest, but we have to bear in mind the interest and needs of the wider community and, in doing so, we may ask you to abide by certain conditions.
"We expect all people taking part in the protest to do so peacefully and legitimately, but anyone intent on coming to engage in a confrontation or disorder will be robustly dealt with. "We will be looking to protesters to self-police, and to work with us to ensure this protest is peaceful.
"We are grateful to Portsmouth City Council for its continued support and involvement, and look forward to a safe event that leaves no negative legacy for the communities of Portsmouth."
Any member of the local community with concerns or intelligence about this event is invited to contact Inspector Greg Moore by dialling 101, or via e-mail at: Gregory.moore@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
The very latest information for media and the public will be available via the constabulary's Twitter account, follow @HantsPolice, and on the force website special events page: http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/news/EDL_Demonstration.htm
Aboutmyarea.co.uk
Officers will be on duty in the city centre on the morning of the event on the 16th July to minimise disruption to the community and shoppers.
Superintendent Rick Burrows said: "Those still coming into Portsmouth should be aware that there will be more police around than usual to ensure peace is kept throughout the day, and whilst there will be traffic congestion, we will work to minimise the impact on your day.
"Edinburgh Road will be closed from 10am until about 3pm and the main traffic congestion will occur around this area, the Guildhall Square and Gunwharf Quays area between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.
"It is also worth bearing in mind that Portsmouth are playing Chelsea at home from 3pm and this will increase the chances of traffic congestion around the routes to Fratton Park.
"We are continuing to engage with all parties involved in this protest event, and we have planned extensively to have the appropriate resources on duty throughout the day to ensure that any protest does not have an adverse impact on local communities.
"Our message to those planning on coming to Portsmouth to protest is that you will be welcomed; we will facilitate your lawful protest, but we have to bear in mind the interest and needs of the wider community and, in doing so, we may ask you to abide by certain conditions.
"We expect all people taking part in the protest to do so peacefully and legitimately, but anyone intent on coming to engage in a confrontation or disorder will be robustly dealt with. "We will be looking to protesters to self-police, and to work with us to ensure this protest is peaceful.
"We are grateful to Portsmouth City Council for its continued support and involvement, and look forward to a safe event that leaves no negative legacy for the communities of Portsmouth."
Any member of the local community with concerns or intelligence about this event is invited to contact Inspector Greg Moore by dialling 101, or via e-mail at: Gregory.moore@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
The very latest information for media and the public will be available via the constabulary's Twitter account, follow @HantsPolice, and on the force website special events page: http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/news/EDL_Demonstration.htm
Aboutmyarea.co.uk
Teachers must 'uphold British values' to work in schools (UK)
Teachers face being barred from the classroom for failing to uphold “British values” and proper discipline under rigorous new professional standards for schools.
For the first time, staff are told they could be struck off for showing intolerance towards pupils with other faiths and beliefs.
Teachers in England are warned against staging lessons that undermine “fundamental” values such as the rule of law, democracy and individual liberty.
The move is designed to make it easier for heads to sack teachers who are members of the British National Party or those with extremist Islamic beliefs.
It follows comments from Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, that membership of far-right groups was incompatible with the duty to “shape young minds”.
Under new guidelines, staff will also be told to take responsibility for promoting “good and courteous behaviour” among children in lessons and around the school.
In a further move, the standards – being introduced in 2012 – place a renewed emphasis on teachers’ subject knowledge, suggesting staff should uphold high standards of “literacy, articulacy and the correct use of standard English” at all times.
It represents an attempt to establish clear boundaries for staff in all state schools and weed out poor teachers failing to achieve basic skill-levels.
The slimmed-down rules focus on just eight key areas of teaching – and one section focusing on personal and professional conduct – as opposed to more than 100 separate standards introduced by Labour.
Mr Gove insisted the previous system placed a premium on “bland statements and platitudes”, covering areas such as communicating with colleagues, promoting wellbeing and establishing a safe learning environment.
The new standards will have “real teeth”, he said, adding: “They set clear expectations about the skills that every teacher in our schools should demonstrate. They will make a significant improvement to teaching by ensuring teachers can focus on the skills that matter most.”
Just 1.5 per cent of student teachers fail to satisfy the current standards during training and fewer than 20 teachers have been struck off in the last decade for incompetence.
New standards – covering just four pages – set out the key skills that each trainee must satisfy to win qualified teacher status and then remain in the classroom.
As part of the new guidelines, staff must set high expectations of pupils, demonstrate good subject knowledge, plan and teach well-structured lessons, promote good progress among pupils, adapt their teaching to children’s different needs, make good use of assessment, manage behaviour and fulfil their wider responsibilities to school life.
Under behaviour, teachers are told to establish “clear rules and routines” and promote “good and courteous” manners among pupils. The section on subject knowledge says staff must have decent standards of written English – whatever the teacher’s subject specialism.
Beyond teaching, the guidance says staff "must not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs".
It comes after a teacher and BNP member was cleared of religious intolerance last year by the General Teaching Council - the profession's regulatory body - despite using a school laptop to describe some immigrants as "filth" on a website.
The National Association of Head Teachers welcomed the document, saying the standards were “clear, concise and relevant”.
But Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers’ union, said the rules underline “the punitive mind set this Coalition has towards teachers”.
“The new standards are vague, poorly drafted, lack clarity, are open to wide interpretation, will breed confusion and uncertainty and will simply serve as a stick with which to beat teachers,” she said.
Telegraph
For the first time, staff are told they could be struck off for showing intolerance towards pupils with other faiths and beliefs.
Teachers in England are warned against staging lessons that undermine “fundamental” values such as the rule of law, democracy and individual liberty.
The move is designed to make it easier for heads to sack teachers who are members of the British National Party or those with extremist Islamic beliefs.
It follows comments from Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, that membership of far-right groups was incompatible with the duty to “shape young minds”.
Under new guidelines, staff will also be told to take responsibility for promoting “good and courteous behaviour” among children in lessons and around the school.
In a further move, the standards – being introduced in 2012 – place a renewed emphasis on teachers’ subject knowledge, suggesting staff should uphold high standards of “literacy, articulacy and the correct use of standard English” at all times.
It represents an attempt to establish clear boundaries for staff in all state schools and weed out poor teachers failing to achieve basic skill-levels.
The slimmed-down rules focus on just eight key areas of teaching – and one section focusing on personal and professional conduct – as opposed to more than 100 separate standards introduced by Labour.
Mr Gove insisted the previous system placed a premium on “bland statements and platitudes”, covering areas such as communicating with colleagues, promoting wellbeing and establishing a safe learning environment.
The new standards will have “real teeth”, he said, adding: “They set clear expectations about the skills that every teacher in our schools should demonstrate. They will make a significant improvement to teaching by ensuring teachers can focus on the skills that matter most.”
Just 1.5 per cent of student teachers fail to satisfy the current standards during training and fewer than 20 teachers have been struck off in the last decade for incompetence.
New standards – covering just four pages – set out the key skills that each trainee must satisfy to win qualified teacher status and then remain in the classroom.
As part of the new guidelines, staff must set high expectations of pupils, demonstrate good subject knowledge, plan and teach well-structured lessons, promote good progress among pupils, adapt their teaching to children’s different needs, make good use of assessment, manage behaviour and fulfil their wider responsibilities to school life.
Under behaviour, teachers are told to establish “clear rules and routines” and promote “good and courteous” manners among pupils. The section on subject knowledge says staff must have decent standards of written English – whatever the teacher’s subject specialism.
Beyond teaching, the guidance says staff "must not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs".
It comes after a teacher and BNP member was cleared of religious intolerance last year by the General Teaching Council - the profession's regulatory body - despite using a school laptop to describe some immigrants as "filth" on a website.
The National Association of Head Teachers welcomed the document, saying the standards were “clear, concise and relevant”.
But Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers’ union, said the rules underline “the punitive mind set this Coalition has towards teachers”.
“The new standards are vague, poorly drafted, lack clarity, are open to wide interpretation, will breed confusion and uncertainty and will simply serve as a stick with which to beat teachers,” she said.
Telegraph
BNP urges nationalist 'fight' on Twitter (UK)
The British National Party has encouraged its members to use social media outlets like Twitter to promote its messages, leading to concern from anti-extremist campaigners.
In a newsletter entitled Adam's Operation Fightback, the BNP said supporters should not be afraid to use hashtags like #nationalist and #BNP when talking about news issues, and that they should "jump on trending topics and turn them into a nationalist discussion".
The party urged followers to get their friends "involved in the fight for our people" by sharing links to articles and campaigns, and asking others to "take action and retweet".
The newsletter said Twitter could be used every day to keep people "updated on the latest campaign to win our country back".
And on Facebook it recommended that members should post a pro-nationalist quote to inspire friends to take action.
Reacting, a spokesman for anti-extremist campaign group Searchlight told Publicservice.co.uk that the BNP and extremist groups had used social media for sometime, something which did raise concerns.
But he added that social media was a valuable intelligence tool for monitoring political extremism, and that comments on sites like Twitter could "help to highlight the true face of the BNP".
Public Service UK
In a newsletter entitled Adam's Operation Fightback, the BNP said supporters should not be afraid to use hashtags like #nationalist and #BNP when talking about news issues, and that they should "jump on trending topics and turn them into a nationalist discussion".
The party urged followers to get their friends "involved in the fight for our people" by sharing links to articles and campaigns, and asking others to "take action and retweet".
The newsletter said Twitter could be used every day to keep people "updated on the latest campaign to win our country back".
And on Facebook it recommended that members should post a pro-nationalist quote to inspire friends to take action.
Reacting, a spokesman for anti-extremist campaign group Searchlight told Publicservice.co.uk that the BNP and extremist groups had used social media for sometime, something which did raise concerns.
But he added that social media was a valuable intelligence tool for monitoring political extremism, and that comments on sites like Twitter could "help to highlight the true face of the BNP".
Public Service UK
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Social media game aims to end extremism
The man behind the project, Suleiman Bakhit, hopes that Happy Oasis can create positive role models for children who might otherwise be enticed by extremist views.
The game launched this week and has already attracted 50,000 followers.
Newly appointed TED fellow Mr Bakhit spoke about his project at the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh.
Mr Bakhit, who comes from Jordan, was a student at the US University of Minnesota when the 9/11 attacks took place. Shortly afterwards he was attacked by four men because he was an Arab.
Magic carpet
Instead of feeling bitter, Mr Bakhit decided to engage in an education campaign.
"I realised that you fight extremism by starting with the young. The message was simple - 'We are not all terrorists'," he told the BBC.
Armed with a not-so-magic carpet, he began telling Aladdin-style stories in local schools.
"One day a child asked me if there was an Arab superman and I realised that there wasn't," he said.
So began his comic-book project which aimed to create a range of positive Arab role-models, including a female James Bond and a Jordanian special agent who fights extremists.
In Jordan, Mr Bakhit has sold 300,000 copies of his comics and came to realise that there was a market for a web-based version.
"Print media is dying but there are 30 million Arabs on Facebook so I thought about making social games with the same message," he said.
Mr Bakhit wanted to make sure that his characters related to the children he was aiming to reach.
"I took a peer-to-peer approach, engaging kids to get their ideas," he said.
He was undecided about whether to include a character dressed in a burka until he showed the animated character to a focus group.
"They loved the idea so she was in," he said.
The first game featured special agent Element O and while it was, in Mr Bakhit's words "not very good", it did show him the potential of such a project.
"Fans were discussing the games in the forums and arguing about politics. I went on as Element O and the arguments immediately stopped," he said.
Mr Bakhit said he now hopes to take his comic book model to Pakistan, where extremism is a growing problem.
BBC News
Stepmom in Calif. neo-Nazi case pleads not guilty (USA)
The stepmother of a 10-year-old California boy charged with murdering his white supremacist father has pleaded not guilty to child endangerment.
Krista McCary also pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Superior Court to four charges of criminal storage of a gun. She was charged after her neo-Nazi husband Jeff Hall was shot to death in their home on May 1.
Authorities say the eldest of Hall's five children took his parents' gun off a shelf and shot his father in the ear while he was sleeping.
Hall was a regional leader of the National Socialist Movement who led rallies at a day labor site and synagogue.
McCary's public defender, Judith Gweon, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Forbes
Krista McCary also pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Superior Court to four charges of criminal storage of a gun. She was charged after her neo-Nazi husband Jeff Hall was shot to death in their home on May 1.
Authorities say the eldest of Hall's five children took his parents' gun off a shelf and shot his father in the ear while he was sleeping.
Hall was a regional leader of the National Socialist Movement who led rallies at a day labor site and synagogue.
McCary's public defender, Judith Gweon, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Forbes
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Did you snap the EDL demo? Plea by police for your pictures (UK)
Police are asking the public for their pictures and video of violence that erupted when the English Defence League descended on Halifax at the weekend.
Divisional commander for Calderdale Chief Superintendent Chris Hardern says they are investigating a clash between some of the far-right group and counter-demonstrators at King Cross and the break-out of EDL members from the Eureka car park.
He urged residents who saw what happened, have footage or photographs, or who witnessed any other trouble, to get in touch.
Calderdale councillor Faisal Shoukat (Lab, Park) says he was assaulted after EDL supporters turned up at the counter-demonstration .
He said he was speaking to organisers of the counter-protest as they were setting up when EDL supporters turned up and started damaging the gazebo and speakers.
“They started shouting racist abuse and opening up a banner with racist remarks on it and they chanted ‘‘EDL’.” he said.
He suffered bruising to the back of his head and kidney area.
He said one of the EDL members was filming the incident.
Police have confirmed they are investigating an allegation of assault against a man during the King Cross disturbance.
The EDL had been told they could hold their protest in the Eureka car park, and the museum shut for the day because of the demonstration, but some of the group came intent on marching on the town’s streets.
Coaches are believed to have let some off in Sowerby Bridge, from where some marched into Halifax and others took buses into King Cross and the park opposite the William IV pub where the counter-demo was planned.
Police marched the protesters into the Eureka car park where the mob hurled glass bottles at police, shouted anti-Islamic chants and “Let’s go mental” before breaking fencing to get out of the car park and onto the Eureka grounds.
Officers donned riot gear and escorted the EDL supporters to coaches and the rail station and out of Halifax.
Chf Supt Hardern repeated the force’s thanks to members of the public for supporting officers’ efforts to keep disruption to a minimum.
“We want to thank the communities of Halifax and the rest of Calderdale for their patience, tolerance and understanding,” he said.
He added his thanks to officers for the courage they showed on Saturday, especially the ones who had to deal with the ones who broke out of the car park.
And he wants to thank partner agencies who police have been working with in the lead up to the event.
Anyone who can help the police should call 0845 6060606 or CrimeStoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Halifax Courier
Divisional commander for Calderdale Chief Superintendent Chris Hardern says they are investigating a clash between some of the far-right group and counter-demonstrators at King Cross and the break-out of EDL members from the Eureka car park.
He urged residents who saw what happened, have footage or photographs, or who witnessed any other trouble, to get in touch.
Calderdale councillor Faisal Shoukat (Lab, Park) says he was assaulted after EDL supporters turned up at the counter-demonstration .
He said he was speaking to organisers of the counter-protest as they were setting up when EDL supporters turned up and started damaging the gazebo and speakers.
“They started shouting racist abuse and opening up a banner with racist remarks on it and they chanted ‘‘EDL’.” he said.
He suffered bruising to the back of his head and kidney area.
He said one of the EDL members was filming the incident.
Police have confirmed they are investigating an allegation of assault against a man during the King Cross disturbance.
The EDL had been told they could hold their protest in the Eureka car park, and the museum shut for the day because of the demonstration, but some of the group came intent on marching on the town’s streets.
Coaches are believed to have let some off in Sowerby Bridge, from where some marched into Halifax and others took buses into King Cross and the park opposite the William IV pub where the counter-demo was planned.
Police marched the protesters into the Eureka car park where the mob hurled glass bottles at police, shouted anti-Islamic chants and “Let’s go mental” before breaking fencing to get out of the car park and onto the Eureka grounds.
Officers donned riot gear and escorted the EDL supporters to coaches and the rail station and out of Halifax.
Chf Supt Hardern repeated the force’s thanks to members of the public for supporting officers’ efforts to keep disruption to a minimum.
“We want to thank the communities of Halifax and the rest of Calderdale for their patience, tolerance and understanding,” he said.
He added his thanks to officers for the courage they showed on Saturday, especially the ones who had to deal with the ones who broke out of the car park.
And he wants to thank partner agencies who police have been working with in the lead up to the event.
Anyone who can help the police should call 0845 6060606 or CrimeStoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Halifax Courier
Russian nationalists given life for 27 racist murders
The ringleader was among the five men given life sentences for the 2007-08 killing spree in and around Moscow, which targeted people from Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus and from ex-Soviet Central Asia.
Standing in a glass box, the group shared jokes and attempted Nazi salutes in handcuffs before their sentencing in the Moscow Military District Court, state TV showed.
Eight members of the gang, including one young woman, were given terms of between eight and 25 years behind bars, Russian media reported.
Neo-nationalist groups have been increasing in number in Russia, and violent clashes in the capital between Muslims and ethnic Slavs have raised concerns authorities will be unable to keep order ahead of March 2012 elections.
Over the last two years, a judge and a lawyer who fought against neo-nationalists, Eduard Chuvashov and Stanislav Markelov, were shot and killed in attacks officials connected to their work.
Rights workers say the Russian government's lenient attitude to the far right allows racism to flourish in Russia, which is home to some 20 million Muslims, a seventh of the population.
Many migrants from the impoverished North Caucasus, where an Islamist insurgency is raging, come to the Russian heartland for menial work. They say they are often treated with suspicion by ethnic Russians and many face racism.
Those convicted on Monday belong to the far-right Nationalist Socialist Society, which was outlawed in February and whose logo is a red and black stylised swastika.
The group's leader Lev Molotkov pleaded not guilty, and the defence plans to appeal against the length of the sentences, Russian media reported.
After being convicted, some of the nationalists shouted: "Our conscience is above your laws, we'll be back!" Interfax news agency reported.
They were also found guilty of attempted terrorism, creating and participating in extremism and inciting racial hatred.
Reuters
Standing in a glass box, the group shared jokes and attempted Nazi salutes in handcuffs before their sentencing in the Moscow Military District Court, state TV showed.
Eight members of the gang, including one young woman, were given terms of between eight and 25 years behind bars, Russian media reported.
Neo-nationalist groups have been increasing in number in Russia, and violent clashes in the capital between Muslims and ethnic Slavs have raised concerns authorities will be unable to keep order ahead of March 2012 elections.
Over the last two years, a judge and a lawyer who fought against neo-nationalists, Eduard Chuvashov and Stanislav Markelov, were shot and killed in attacks officials connected to their work.
Rights workers say the Russian government's lenient attitude to the far right allows racism to flourish in Russia, which is home to some 20 million Muslims, a seventh of the population.
Many migrants from the impoverished North Caucasus, where an Islamist insurgency is raging, come to the Russian heartland for menial work. They say they are often treated with suspicion by ethnic Russians and many face racism.
Those convicted on Monday belong to the far-right Nationalist Socialist Society, which was outlawed in February and whose logo is a red and black stylised swastika.
The group's leader Lev Molotkov pleaded not guilty, and the defence plans to appeal against the length of the sentences, Russian media reported.
After being convicted, some of the nationalists shouted: "Our conscience is above your laws, we'll be back!" Interfax news agency reported.
They were also found guilty of attempted terrorism, creating and participating in extremism and inciting racial hatred.
Reuters
Monday, 11 July 2011
Arson attack in Býchory, Czech Republic: Group of attackers shouted racist slogans
Today in the early morning hours in Býchory, Kolín district, an unidentified perpetrator threw a flaming torch into a Romani home. None of the victims suffered physical injury. Police suspect racial motivation.
"At 12:30 AM a group of people walked around the Romani home shouting racist slogans. One of them then threw a flaming, wrapped stick, resembling a torch, into the house. The family put out the fire themselves. Fortunately no one was injured and the damage is estimated at about CZK 100," Soňa Budská, spokesperson for the Central Bohemian Regional Police, told news server Romea.cz. The regional police are taking over the investigation and will pursue it as attempted grievous bodily harm.
Romea
"At 12:30 AM a group of people walked around the Romani home shouting racist slogans. One of them then threw a flaming, wrapped stick, resembling a torch, into the house. The family put out the fire themselves. Fortunately no one was injured and the damage is estimated at about CZK 100," Soňa Budská, spokesperson for the Central Bohemian Regional Police, told news server Romea.cz. The regional police are taking over the investigation and will pursue it as attempted grievous bodily harm.
Romea
Bush Hill Park Q&A scrapped after objections to BNP and Christian candidates (UK)
A Hustings meeting ahead of a by-election has been axed amid objections to some candidates being invited.
The nine candidates standing for the vacant Enfield Council seat in Bush Hill Park had been invited to a question and answer session next week ahead of the poll.
But the Bush Hill Park Residents Association, which was organising the session, has pulled the plug amid fears of protests and political bias.
The British National Party have entered a candidate – London organiser Steve Squire – for the first time in Bush Hill Park, but Labour candidate Ivor Wiggett is understood to have refused to share the platform with him under party policy.
Objections were also raised to Christian Party representative Clive Morrison being invited, owing to alleged inflammatory comments made during his bid for the Edmonton Parliamentary seat last year.
Tony Kingsnorth, chairman of the association, said they were worried about the event being beset by protests outside and decided to call it off.
The issue has been further complicated as Mr Kingsnorth is a candidate himself, standing as an independent, with vice chairman John Jewson running his campaign.
This meant organising the debate would have to fall to other members of the committee, and the association did not want to risk being political by holding the event.
Paul Smith, the Lib Dem candidate, expressed his disappointment at the debate's cancellation on his blog, saying: “To be clear, the Lib Dems will appear at such events regardless of who else is on the platform because we believe that voters are drawn to fringe and extreme parties primarily because the major parties are seen as ignoring them.
“Get out onto the doorstep, meet these voters at hustings and they are given the voice they want and deserve and they can see how false the arguments from the extremists are.”
The BNP has never contested Bush Hill Park before, but Mr Squire is believed to have entered as a test in Enfield ahead of next year's London Assembly elections to see how the party fares.
Polling day is Thursday, July 28, with the result expected the day after.
Enfield Independant
The nine candidates standing for the vacant Enfield Council seat in Bush Hill Park had been invited to a question and answer session next week ahead of the poll.
But the Bush Hill Park Residents Association, which was organising the session, has pulled the plug amid fears of protests and political bias.
The British National Party have entered a candidate – London organiser Steve Squire – for the first time in Bush Hill Park, but Labour candidate Ivor Wiggett is understood to have refused to share the platform with him under party policy.
Objections were also raised to Christian Party representative Clive Morrison being invited, owing to alleged inflammatory comments made during his bid for the Edmonton Parliamentary seat last year.
Tony Kingsnorth, chairman of the association, said they were worried about the event being beset by protests outside and decided to call it off.
The issue has been further complicated as Mr Kingsnorth is a candidate himself, standing as an independent, with vice chairman John Jewson running his campaign.
This meant organising the debate would have to fall to other members of the committee, and the association did not want to risk being political by holding the event.
Paul Smith, the Lib Dem candidate, expressed his disappointment at the debate's cancellation on his blog, saying: “To be clear, the Lib Dems will appear at such events regardless of who else is on the platform because we believe that voters are drawn to fringe and extreme parties primarily because the major parties are seen as ignoring them.
“Get out onto the doorstep, meet these voters at hustings and they are given the voice they want and deserve and they can see how false the arguments from the extremists are.”
The BNP has never contested Bush Hill Park before, but Mr Squire is believed to have entered as a test in Enfield ahead of next year's London Assembly elections to see how the party fares.
Polling day is Thursday, July 28, with the result expected the day after.
Enfield Independant
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Czech Republic/Islamophobia: Former Czech PM sued over statements on Islam
Retired politician Milos Zeman, Czech prime minister in 1998-2002, faces a criminal complaint over the statements on Islam he made in June at an international conference on Europe.
“The enemy is the anti-civilisation spreading from North Africa to Indonesia. Two billion people live in it and it is financed partly from oil sales and partly from drug sales,” Czech news servers quoted Zeman as saying about Islam at the recent conference.
Zeman said Thursday Muslims believe in the Koran like Nazis believed in racial supremacy and anti-Semitism and communists in class struggle and dictatorship of the proletariat.
He said Islam is far more aggressive and intolerant than present Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and other world religions.
He added that the Koran includes passages calling for the subjugation, enslavement and even elimination of non-believers.
Zeman has been known for his strong statements.
IINA
“The enemy is the anti-civilisation spreading from North Africa to Indonesia. Two billion people live in it and it is financed partly from oil sales and partly from drug sales,” Czech news servers quoted Zeman as saying about Islam at the recent conference.
Zeman said Thursday Muslims believe in the Koran like Nazis believed in racial supremacy and anti-Semitism and communists in class struggle and dictatorship of the proletariat.
He said Islam is far more aggressive and intolerant than present Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and other world religions.
He added that the Koran includes passages calling for the subjugation, enslavement and even elimination of non-believers.
Zeman has been known for his strong statements.
IINA
EDL demo: Six people arrested and police officer injured
Hundreds of police officers were deployed in Halifax today to keep English Defence League protesters under control.
Around 450 members of the far-right group came to the town, with coaches arriving from the Midlands and other parts of the country.
Some clashed with a counter demonstration in King Cross but were marched to the designated protest site at Eureka car park.
There was also some who arrived in Sowerby Bridge and marched from there into Halifax.
Police had to don riot gear when the protesters broke their way out of the car park and onto the childrens museum site.
The protesters were herded back onto coaches and trains and out of Halifax by around 5pm.
Five people have been arrested on suspicion of public order offences. A 21-year-old has also been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.
A police officer was injured. He suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Around 70 people were at the counter demonstration in King Cross.
*For full story, pictures and video see Monday’s Halifax Courier
Halifax Courier
Around 450 members of the far-right group came to the town, with coaches arriving from the Midlands and other parts of the country.
Some clashed with a counter demonstration in King Cross but were marched to the designated protest site at Eureka car park.
There was also some who arrived in Sowerby Bridge and marched from there into Halifax.
Police had to don riot gear when the protesters broke their way out of the car park and onto the childrens museum site.
The protesters were herded back onto coaches and trains and out of Halifax by around 5pm.
Five people have been arrested on suspicion of public order offences. A 21-year-old has also been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.
A police officer was injured. He suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Around 70 people were at the counter demonstration in King Cross.
*For full story, pictures and video see Monday’s Halifax Courier
Halifax Courier
SCOUTS SAY NO TO NEO-NAZI CAMP TENANTS (Sweden)
A Swedish neo-Nazi political party is planning to gather this weekend in Höör, in southern Sweden, where they are organising a summer camp for their supporters and their families.
The camp, organised by the right-wing extremist Party of Swedes (Svenskarnas parti), was to be held in a cabin owned by the Swedish Guide and Scout Association (Svenska scoutförbundet), who claim they were tricked when the premises were booked. According to the Scout Association, the representatives from the Party of Swedes pretended to be from a sports club in Malmö, when they asked to rent the premises. "It feels awful that a neo-Nazi organisation wil be using our facilities under a fake name," said Erik Sillén, chairman of the Scout Association, to newspaper Kvällsposten. The Party of Swedes estimate that the summer camp, called Nordic Vision, will receive roughly one hundred visitors. "We're directing ourselves to people that we consider to be Swedes. People with African names aren't welcome. Adopted children with Swedish names aren't welcome either," said organiser Andreas Carlsson, from the Party of Swedes. Carlsson has previously described the camp in Swedish media as a way for kids to "have fun", but also adding that everyone will be able to take part in a debate on the Sunday where one of the topics will be “Who is a Swede and who isn’t?”. The Lund police force were still unaware of hundreds of neo-Nazis' plans to gather in Skåne's woods this weekend, when Kvällsposten spoke with the police station on Thursday. "I hope and believe that the Swedish Security Services know about this, because that many extremists in the same place is a big security risk. But we have no information about this yet. We're sitting here completely non-plussed, after your phone call," said officer Mats Persson to the newspaper.
The Scout Association is renouncing the party, announcing that they will not permit the camp to be carried out on their premises. "Our local association has waived the rental agreement," said Erik Sillén to news agency TT. He underlines that this decision has support from the Scout Association on a national level, and they are planning to back the local association up, in the case of a dispute with the Party of Swedes. The 10,000 kronor ($1,580) paid in advance by the party will be returned, explains Sillén, who is uncomfortable with the idea of owing money to neo-Nazis. "That wouldn't feel good. Anyway, they've ordered a service that we won't be delivering, so of course we're returning the money. But this is about values and ideas that the Scouts don't want anything to do with," he told TT. But the organiser of the event, Andreas Carlsson, told TT that the Party was now searching for another solution. "It is a little last minute," he told TT. If no other premises can be found, the party will take legal action in order to be able to use the cabin anyway. According to him, the legal advice they have received so far says they have the law on their side. Earlier this summer, journalist Johannes Jakobsson of the Swedish magasine Expo, which studies and maps anti-democratic, right-wing extremist and racist tendencies in society, told The Local that there is little doubt about the party's heritage.
“The party leadership is the same as the old National Socialistic Front (National Socialistisk Front – NSF), they represent an ethnic nationalism and they believe in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories,” he said. According to him, the Party of Swedes party was formerly known as the People's Front (Folkfronten) and was founded by members of the former National Socialist Front (Nationalsocialistisk front - NSF) in November 2008. At the time it dissolved, NSF was the largest neo-Nazi political party in Sweden. It became a political party on April 20th, 1999, the 110th birthday of Adolf Hitler.
The Local Sweden
The camp, organised by the right-wing extremist Party of Swedes (Svenskarnas parti), was to be held in a cabin owned by the Swedish Guide and Scout Association (Svenska scoutförbundet), who claim they were tricked when the premises were booked. According to the Scout Association, the representatives from the Party of Swedes pretended to be from a sports club in Malmö, when they asked to rent the premises. "It feels awful that a neo-Nazi organisation wil be using our facilities under a fake name," said Erik Sillén, chairman of the Scout Association, to newspaper Kvällsposten. The Party of Swedes estimate that the summer camp, called Nordic Vision, will receive roughly one hundred visitors. "We're directing ourselves to people that we consider to be Swedes. People with African names aren't welcome. Adopted children with Swedish names aren't welcome either," said organiser Andreas Carlsson, from the Party of Swedes. Carlsson has previously described the camp in Swedish media as a way for kids to "have fun", but also adding that everyone will be able to take part in a debate on the Sunday where one of the topics will be “Who is a Swede and who isn’t?”. The Lund police force were still unaware of hundreds of neo-Nazis' plans to gather in Skåne's woods this weekend, when Kvällsposten spoke with the police station on Thursday. "I hope and believe that the Swedish Security Services know about this, because that many extremists in the same place is a big security risk. But we have no information about this yet. We're sitting here completely non-plussed, after your phone call," said officer Mats Persson to the newspaper.
The Scout Association is renouncing the party, announcing that they will not permit the camp to be carried out on their premises. "Our local association has waived the rental agreement," said Erik Sillén to news agency TT. He underlines that this decision has support from the Scout Association on a national level, and they are planning to back the local association up, in the case of a dispute with the Party of Swedes. The 10,000 kronor ($1,580) paid in advance by the party will be returned, explains Sillén, who is uncomfortable with the idea of owing money to neo-Nazis. "That wouldn't feel good. Anyway, they've ordered a service that we won't be delivering, so of course we're returning the money. But this is about values and ideas that the Scouts don't want anything to do with," he told TT. But the organiser of the event, Andreas Carlsson, told TT that the Party was now searching for another solution. "It is a little last minute," he told TT. If no other premises can be found, the party will take legal action in order to be able to use the cabin anyway. According to him, the legal advice they have received so far says they have the law on their side. Earlier this summer, journalist Johannes Jakobsson of the Swedish magasine Expo, which studies and maps anti-democratic, right-wing extremist and racist tendencies in society, told The Local that there is little doubt about the party's heritage.
“The party leadership is the same as the old National Socialistic Front (National Socialistisk Front – NSF), they represent an ethnic nationalism and they believe in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories,” he said. According to him, the Party of Swedes party was formerly known as the People's Front (Folkfronten) and was founded by members of the former National Socialist Front (Nationalsocialistisk front - NSF) in November 2008. At the time it dissolved, NSF was the largest neo-Nazi political party in Sweden. It became a political party on April 20th, 1999, the 110th birthday of Adolf Hitler.
The Local Sweden
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Neo-Nazi skinhead taken down with one punch (USA)
A neo-Nazi is in jail because he allegedly tried to pick a fight with the wrong man, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Daren C. Abbey, 28, is accused of verbally confronting and then assaulting Marlon L. Baker, a 46-year-old African American. It happened inside a Bayview, Idaho bar on July 3.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Baker was approached by Abbey. Investigators said Abbey began threatening to stab Baker if he would not leave Bayview. Investigators said Abbey said "blacks are not welcome here." After continued harassment, Baker left the bar and walked about 400 yards with Abbey following behind him yelling racial slurs.
Baker finally turned around and Abbey came at him. That's when investigators said Baker punched Abbey in the face once, knocking him down. Investigators said Baker was wearing a shirt that said "Spokane Boxing Club Champion". Investigators also said Abbey was intoxicated.
The Southern Poverty Law Center spoke to the owner of Spokane Boxing who said Baker has never been a licensed professional boxer, to his knowledge. It is possible Baker may have informal boxing experience.
Investigators said Abbey is listed as a transient out of Coeur d'Alene. He has ties to California and Montana. Reports show Abbey had contact with police in Coeur d'Alene in 2004. He has multiple tattoos including swastikas and a thunderbolt. He also has a shaved head.
According to SPLC, Abbey was arrested and booked into jail on charges of battery, a misdemeanor, and felony malicious harassment. Officials said Baker was not injured and not charged.
Abbey was treated for a possible broken nose after being booked into the Kootenai County Jail.
Abbey is being held on $75,000 bond.
NWCN
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Daren C. Abbey, 28, is accused of verbally confronting and then assaulting Marlon L. Baker, a 46-year-old African American. It happened inside a Bayview, Idaho bar on July 3.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Baker was approached by Abbey. Investigators said Abbey began threatening to stab Baker if he would not leave Bayview. Investigators said Abbey said "blacks are not welcome here." After continued harassment, Baker left the bar and walked about 400 yards with Abbey following behind him yelling racial slurs.
Baker finally turned around and Abbey came at him. That's when investigators said Baker punched Abbey in the face once, knocking him down. Investigators said Baker was wearing a shirt that said "Spokane Boxing Club Champion". Investigators also said Abbey was intoxicated.
The Southern Poverty Law Center spoke to the owner of Spokane Boxing who said Baker has never been a licensed professional boxer, to his knowledge. It is possible Baker may have informal boxing experience.
Investigators said Abbey is listed as a transient out of Coeur d'Alene. He has ties to California and Montana. Reports show Abbey had contact with police in Coeur d'Alene in 2004. He has multiple tattoos including swastikas and a thunderbolt. He also has a shaved head.
According to SPLC, Abbey was arrested and booked into jail on charges of battery, a misdemeanor, and felony malicious harassment. Officials said Baker was not injured and not charged.
Abbey was treated for a possible broken nose after being booked into the Kootenai County Jail.
Abbey is being held on $75,000 bond.
NWCN
670 police prepare for marches (UK)
Police in Cambridge have deployed more than 670 officers as the English Defence League and anti-fascist groups march through the city.
Cambridgeshire Police expect up to 500 members of the EDL to take part in a march.
Similar numbers from Unite Against Fascism and the TUC will take part in a counter march.
East of England MEP Richard Howitt will deliver a speech to the counter march. He will say: "We publicly attest that the EDL is not welcome in this city because we cannot let the poison of their ideas seep in to the body of our community.
"I am proud to live and work in this, the most international of cities, where one in 10 of my neighbours comes from black or ethnic minority communities.
"This is a city which spoke out to end slavery 50 years before it was abolished and today, over two hundred years later, we speak out to restate that there can never be those amongst us who can be treated as less than equal."
Mark Woods, speaking on behalf of Cambridge's Muslim community, said: "We accept that there's a right to free speech but there are also laws against inciting racial hatred.
"The Muslim community here recognises it has had its own problems and is working hard to tackle those.
"Our message to the EDL is: you're not welcome in Cambridge."
Belfast Telegraph
Cambridgeshire Police expect up to 500 members of the EDL to take part in a march.
Similar numbers from Unite Against Fascism and the TUC will take part in a counter march.
East of England MEP Richard Howitt will deliver a speech to the counter march. He will say: "We publicly attest that the EDL is not welcome in this city because we cannot let the poison of their ideas seep in to the body of our community.
"I am proud to live and work in this, the most international of cities, where one in 10 of my neighbours comes from black or ethnic minority communities.
"This is a city which spoke out to end slavery 50 years before it was abolished and today, over two hundred years later, we speak out to restate that there can never be those amongst us who can be treated as less than equal."
Mark Woods, speaking on behalf of Cambridge's Muslim community, said: "We accept that there's a right to free speech but there are also laws against inciting racial hatred.
"The Muslim community here recognises it has had its own problems and is working hard to tackle those.
"Our message to the EDL is: you're not welcome in Cambridge."
Belfast Telegraph
Enormous Disruption Looming: Halifax counts cost of EDL protest (UK)
Traders across Halifax were today counting the cost of the English Defence League’s decision to hold another demo in town - today.
Scores of pubs and other businesses will be shutting while the far-right group staged its protest.
Shops and pubs say they will lose business but want to avoid the disorder seen last time the EDL came to Halifax.
Megan Forest, from The Three Pigeons, South Parade, said they planned to shut until 4pm. “We don’t want the trouble.”
Others closing include The Ring O’Bells, which will stay shut until the protesters have left. The Barum Top will be closed until 6pm. The Salvation will keep its doors shut till 5pm and the Plummet Line will also be closed till 5.
Chris Lord, of Chris Lord Photography, said he was bound to lose business today because people will not be passing his office on Square Road.
“We’re all trying hard to earn a living,” he said.
The EDL decision to come to Halifax will also mean Eureka, one of Halifax’s busiest tourist attractions, will shut for the day.
Police and Calderdale Council have designated the museum car park as the least disruptive spot for the protest.
Police are also be expected to run a up a huge bill manning the demonstration.
The force cannot say yet how much it will cost them but a demonstration in Bradford last summer cost the force £650,000.
MP for Halifax Linda Riordan said: “This has caused unnecessary disruption to people, businesses, and shopkeepers as well as affecting the local economy.
“It is outrageous that local businesses have been put in a position where they have to close for the day.
“I am confident the police will handle the situation effectively.
“But my message to the EDL is for them to go away and don’t come back to Halifax.
“I am sure the vast majority of people in this town, who are tolerant, respectful and decent, would agree with me.”
A joint statement from a group of Halifax organisations and individuals including Calderdale Council’s political leaders, Mrs Riordan, Halifax Minster, Calderdale College and Halifax Festival said: “The planned EDL protest is unwanted and damaging to everyone who lives, works and cares for Halifax and Calderdale.
“We support the right to peaceful protest but there is no clear reason why this group want to protest in Halifax,and the event will only bring tension, discord and anxiety.
“We have seen the impact of previous disruptive and criminal behaviour by supporters of this group in Halifax in recent months followed by the arrests of 16 people in April.
“Today is the first day of Halifax Festival. Eureka would be marking their 19th birthday in Halifax, but is now closed. It should be a day for local people to enjoy, a day for us to welcome visitors to our town, and a welcome boost for local businesses in difficult times.
“Instead, this protest – which will cost the police, council and partners many thousands of pounds – will disrupt our town and have a damaging impact on our businesses on the day itself and potentially afterwards.
“Fortunately, Halifax is a resilient place, with a clear determination to respond to the challenges of the economic recession.
“We are a place where people live side by side, with common values based upon mutual respect, tolerance and unity.
“The actions of the EDL in choosing to demonstrate in Halifax today show they care nothing for the wellbeing of anyone who lives, works in or cares about Halifax.
“They are not welcome in our town. It is time that they got this message.”
The protest clashes with the launch of Halifax Festival, but organisers say they are determined it will go ahead.
A counter-EDL protest was being held today in King Cross Road, around noon.
Halifax courier
Scores of pubs and other businesses will be shutting while the far-right group staged its protest.
Shops and pubs say they will lose business but want to avoid the disorder seen last time the EDL came to Halifax.
Megan Forest, from The Three Pigeons, South Parade, said they planned to shut until 4pm. “We don’t want the trouble.”
Others closing include The Ring O’Bells, which will stay shut until the protesters have left. The Barum Top will be closed until 6pm. The Salvation will keep its doors shut till 5pm and the Plummet Line will also be closed till 5.
Chris Lord, of Chris Lord Photography, said he was bound to lose business today because people will not be passing his office on Square Road.
“We’re all trying hard to earn a living,” he said.
The EDL decision to come to Halifax will also mean Eureka, one of Halifax’s busiest tourist attractions, will shut for the day.
Police and Calderdale Council have designated the museum car park as the least disruptive spot for the protest.
Police are also be expected to run a up a huge bill manning the demonstration.
The force cannot say yet how much it will cost them but a demonstration in Bradford last summer cost the force £650,000.
MP for Halifax Linda Riordan said: “This has caused unnecessary disruption to people, businesses, and shopkeepers as well as affecting the local economy.
“It is outrageous that local businesses have been put in a position where they have to close for the day.
“I am confident the police will handle the situation effectively.
“But my message to the EDL is for them to go away and don’t come back to Halifax.
“I am sure the vast majority of people in this town, who are tolerant, respectful and decent, would agree with me.”
A joint statement from a group of Halifax organisations and individuals including Calderdale Council’s political leaders, Mrs Riordan, Halifax Minster, Calderdale College and Halifax Festival said: “The planned EDL protest is unwanted and damaging to everyone who lives, works and cares for Halifax and Calderdale.
“We support the right to peaceful protest but there is no clear reason why this group want to protest in Halifax,and the event will only bring tension, discord and anxiety.
“We have seen the impact of previous disruptive and criminal behaviour by supporters of this group in Halifax in recent months followed by the arrests of 16 people in April.
“Today is the first day of Halifax Festival. Eureka would be marking their 19th birthday in Halifax, but is now closed. It should be a day for local people to enjoy, a day for us to welcome visitors to our town, and a welcome boost for local businesses in difficult times.
“Instead, this protest – which will cost the police, council and partners many thousands of pounds – will disrupt our town and have a damaging impact on our businesses on the day itself and potentially afterwards.
“Fortunately, Halifax is a resilient place, with a clear determination to respond to the challenges of the economic recession.
“We are a place where people live side by side, with common values based upon mutual respect, tolerance and unity.
“The actions of the EDL in choosing to demonstrate in Halifax today show they care nothing for the wellbeing of anyone who lives, works in or cares about Halifax.
“They are not welcome in our town. It is time that they got this message.”
The protest clashes with the launch of Halifax Festival, but organisers say they are determined it will go ahead.
A counter-EDL protest was being held today in King Cross Road, around noon.
Halifax courier
Racist' stop-and-search powers to be challenged (UK)
The high court has agreed that a full legal challenge can be brought against a police stop-and-search power alleged to be used in a racist way against African-Caribbean people.
The challenge follows officers stopping and searching a 37-year-old woman with no convictions, after they claimed she was holding onto her bag in a suspicious way.
The woman, Ann Roberts, ended up being held down by officers on the floor in front of other people, handcuffed and taken to a police station where she was wrongly accused of being a class A drug user and placed on a treatment programme under the threat of arrest if she failed to attend.
Roberts was stopped under section 60 of the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, brought in to tackle illegal raves. The power allows police to stop and search people without having a reasonable suspicion they are involved in criminality.
Roberts, a special needs assistant, argued that a disproportionate number of black Londoners are searched in violation of article 14 of the European convention on human rights, which bans discrimination.
Her lawyers say statistical evidence implies that a black person is more than nine times more likely to be searched than a white person. They go on say section 60 is "incompatible" with three articles of the convention: 14, 5, which protects the right to liberty and security, and 8, which protects the right to private and family life.
Police say section 60 is a valuable tool which has been used to tackle areas plagued by violence.
On 9 September 2010 Roberts was on a bus when an inspector found she had insufficient money for her journey on her prepaid Oyster card.
Police were called when she could not produce identity documents.
According to her lawyers, she was searched under section 60 after a police officer took the view she was holding on to her bag in a manner that suggested she had something to hide.
She was told the area she was in was a "hotspot" for gang violence and the possession of knives. Few, if any, acts of gang violence are committed by married women in their mid 30s.
Roberts asked to be searched in a police station rather than in public in case it was seen by young people with whom she worked.
Police refused and when they tried to seize her handbag a struggle followed which led to officers restraining her on the floor.
Three bank cards with different identities were found in her bag. She explained they were in her name, her maiden name – having recently married – and her son's name.
She was told she was being arrested on suspicion of fraud and taken to Tottenham police station.
She was subjected to a drugs test which she was told showed small amounts of crack cocaine, but a later test showed she was clear.
After being put in a cell, she was interviewed and told she was no longer suspected of fraud but was being detained on suspicion that she had obstructed a police search.
Later a caution was administered for obstruction.
The Guardian
The challenge follows officers stopping and searching a 37-year-old woman with no convictions, after they claimed she was holding onto her bag in a suspicious way.
The woman, Ann Roberts, ended up being held down by officers on the floor in front of other people, handcuffed and taken to a police station where she was wrongly accused of being a class A drug user and placed on a treatment programme under the threat of arrest if she failed to attend.
Roberts was stopped under section 60 of the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, brought in to tackle illegal raves. The power allows police to stop and search people without having a reasonable suspicion they are involved in criminality.
Roberts, a special needs assistant, argued that a disproportionate number of black Londoners are searched in violation of article 14 of the European convention on human rights, which bans discrimination.
Her lawyers say statistical evidence implies that a black person is more than nine times more likely to be searched than a white person. They go on say section 60 is "incompatible" with three articles of the convention: 14, 5, which protects the right to liberty and security, and 8, which protects the right to private and family life.
Police say section 60 is a valuable tool which has been used to tackle areas plagued by violence.
On 9 September 2010 Roberts was on a bus when an inspector found she had insufficient money for her journey on her prepaid Oyster card.
Police were called when she could not produce identity documents.
According to her lawyers, she was searched under section 60 after a police officer took the view she was holding on to her bag in a manner that suggested she had something to hide.
She was told the area she was in was a "hotspot" for gang violence and the possession of knives. Few, if any, acts of gang violence are committed by married women in their mid 30s.
Roberts asked to be searched in a police station rather than in public in case it was seen by young people with whom she worked.
Police refused and when they tried to seize her handbag a struggle followed which led to officers restraining her on the floor.
Three bank cards with different identities were found in her bag. She explained they were in her name, her maiden name – having recently married – and her son's name.
She was told she was being arrested on suspicion of fraud and taken to Tottenham police station.
She was subjected to a drugs test which she was told showed small amounts of crack cocaine, but a later test showed she was clear.
After being put in a cell, she was interviewed and told she was no longer suspected of fraud but was being detained on suspicion that she had obstructed a police search.
Later a caution was administered for obstruction.
The Guardian
Friday, 8 July 2011
Italian court sentences nine elderly German Nazis
An Italian court on Thursday handed down life sentences to nine elderly Germans for having killed more than 160 civilians in northern and central Italy during World War II.
The nine former Nazi soldiers, all in their 80s and 90s, were sentenced in absentia by a court in Verona Tuesday night after a seven-month trial. They had been charged with killing 140 civilians in the Modena region in 1944 and also for massacres of dozens of others carried out in Tuscany and Emilia Romagna regions.
The nine men had been German officers and soldiers attached to a parachute division charged with quashing Italian resistance to German occupation.
"At last there is justice for the victims and their relatives and a bloody page of history can be closed," one of the plaintiffs told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
Jerusalem Post
The nine former Nazi soldiers, all in their 80s and 90s, were sentenced in absentia by a court in Verona Tuesday night after a seven-month trial. They had been charged with killing 140 civilians in the Modena region in 1944 and also for massacres of dozens of others carried out in Tuscany and Emilia Romagna regions.
The nine men had been German officers and soldiers attached to a parachute division charged with quashing Italian resistance to German occupation.
"At last there is justice for the victims and their relatives and a bloody page of history can be closed," one of the plaintiffs told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
Jerusalem Post
Newbury Town Council has been criticised over an appendix to a report on planning for traveller sites (UK)
Newbury Town Council has been accused of racism after publishing statements on travellers “worthy of the British National Party (BNP).”
The offending paragraphs appeared in an appendix to a report on planning for traveller sites prepared for Monday night’s the planning and highways committee meeting.
They were initially published on the council website but were removed when the storm broke.
They stated: "We do not believe that travellers should be treated as a separate ethnic group or that policy towards them should be governed by such considerations. Because of the undesirable effects of the travelling way of life on receipt of social services, especially education, we do not consider that travelling in the sense used in this paper can be sustained in the long run.
“It is gradually disappearing and that trend should not be discouraged. We obviously agree on the measures to prevent abuse of the planning system by travellers.”
The comments were condemned by the general secretary of West Berkshire Minority Ethnic Forum, Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera who pointed out: “Roma, Romany Gypsies and Irish travellers are now all recognised to have protection under the Race Relations Act as they have been finally recognised as minority ethnic communities in law.
“The intolerance shown towards these communities is still very obvious, and is even enshrined within some of the policies and procedures of our public authorities. Are these somewhat limiting and discriminatory views the opinions of the town council as a whole, or merely a few individuals? Whichever. it is very concerning.”
Local Labour Party spokesman Richard Garvie said he interpreted the words to mean that travellers should not have equal access to health and education services and branded the comments “worthy of the BNP.”
The wording of the report also sparked a heated debate on the forum at our website, Newburytoday.co.uk ahead of Monday night’s meeting.
Before the meeting began, Anthony Pick (Con, St Johns) revealed that he was the author of the offending report and added: “I apologise for any offence which my remarks may have caused and I withdraw them without reservation.”
Committee vice chairman Adrian Edwards (Con, Falkland) spoke next, saying he was responsible for submitting the report to committee and adding: “I would like to apologise that I failed to pick this up.”
Council chief executive Graham Hunt then offered a “full and unqualified” apology, adding that the final responsibility for what was published rested with him.
He pointed out that the offending report had been removed from the website and promised “equality training” would be put in place.
Mr Hunt added: “Newbury Town Council welcomes any initiative which will improve facilities for the travelling community.”
Mr Garvie said afterwards: "For the council to have to issue three apologies at the start of a meeting shows how serious an incident this was.”
Newbury Today
The offending paragraphs appeared in an appendix to a report on planning for traveller sites prepared for Monday night’s the planning and highways committee meeting.
They were initially published on the council website but were removed when the storm broke.
They stated: "We do not believe that travellers should be treated as a separate ethnic group or that policy towards them should be governed by such considerations. Because of the undesirable effects of the travelling way of life on receipt of social services, especially education, we do not consider that travelling in the sense used in this paper can be sustained in the long run.
“It is gradually disappearing and that trend should not be discouraged. We obviously agree on the measures to prevent abuse of the planning system by travellers.”
The comments were condemned by the general secretary of West Berkshire Minority Ethnic Forum, Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera who pointed out: “Roma, Romany Gypsies and Irish travellers are now all recognised to have protection under the Race Relations Act as they have been finally recognised as minority ethnic communities in law.
“The intolerance shown towards these communities is still very obvious, and is even enshrined within some of the policies and procedures of our public authorities. Are these somewhat limiting and discriminatory views the opinions of the town council as a whole, or merely a few individuals? Whichever. it is very concerning.”
Local Labour Party spokesman Richard Garvie said he interpreted the words to mean that travellers should not have equal access to health and education services and branded the comments “worthy of the BNP.”
The wording of the report also sparked a heated debate on the forum at our website, Newburytoday.co.uk ahead of Monday night’s meeting.
Before the meeting began, Anthony Pick (Con, St Johns) revealed that he was the author of the offending report and added: “I apologise for any offence which my remarks may have caused and I withdraw them without reservation.”
Committee vice chairman Adrian Edwards (Con, Falkland) spoke next, saying he was responsible for submitting the report to committee and adding: “I would like to apologise that I failed to pick this up.”
Council chief executive Graham Hunt then offered a “full and unqualified” apology, adding that the final responsibility for what was published rested with him.
He pointed out that the offending report had been removed from the website and promised “equality training” would be put in place.
Mr Hunt added: “Newbury Town Council welcomes any initiative which will improve facilities for the travelling community.”
Mr Garvie said afterwards: "For the council to have to issue three apologies at the start of a meeting shows how serious an incident this was.”
Newbury Today
HOLOCAUST DENIAL NO CRIME IN SPAIN
In a ruling that may have ripple effects across Europe, the Spanish Supreme Court has ruled that neo-Nazi literature and speech, including that which openly denies the Holocaust, is not a punishable crime. In his June 3 ruling, presiding judge Dr. Adolfo Prego said that while such speech is truly offensive, it is only a crime if advocates violence. “Advocating an ideology is not punishable no matter which ideology is involved,” Judge Prego chided prosecutors in his ruling. The verdict overules a 2009 lower court conviction of four Spanish neo-Nazis, Ramón Bau, Óscar Panadero, Carlos García and Juan Antonio Llopart, who were found guilty of disseminating hate literature.
Panadero owned and operated the now-defunct Kalki bookstore, which openly sold neo-Nazi paraphanelia and literature, including books that denied the Holocaust. Garcia was an employee at the store, while Bau and Llopart ran organizations that promoted National Socialist ideology. Judge Prego noted that he himself was offended by the neo-Nazi literature, but could not let the conviction stand as this would open the door to random prosecution of any opinion expressed. As a result of the Supreme Court ruling, the four men were aquitted of their prison terms, which ranged from 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 years.
The Jewish Community Federation of Spain (FCJE) roundly condemned the verdict, reports the World Jewish Congress. “We Jews are very worried that the Spanish judiciary, which in certain situations shows a lot of sensitivity, does not consider the sale of books in which the Holocaust is denied and racism propagated an offense banned by our laws,” the group said in a press statement. The Israeli Embassy in Madrid said in a statement, “Israel believes that this decision gives support to racist violence and shows a lack of historic knowledge.” It added that the ruling was reason for “sadness and concern.”
Holocaust denial is explicitly or implicitly illegal in 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Switzerland.
The European Union’s Framework decision on Racism and Xenophobia, released in 2007, states that denying or grossly trivialising “crimes of genocide” should be made “punishable in all EU Member States.” While other EU member states have already adopted either parts or the entire framework into their laws, Spain has not complied.
Europe Today
Panadero owned and operated the now-defunct Kalki bookstore, which openly sold neo-Nazi paraphanelia and literature, including books that denied the Holocaust. Garcia was an employee at the store, while Bau and Llopart ran organizations that promoted National Socialist ideology. Judge Prego noted that he himself was offended by the neo-Nazi literature, but could not let the conviction stand as this would open the door to random prosecution of any opinion expressed. As a result of the Supreme Court ruling, the four men were aquitted of their prison terms, which ranged from 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 years.
The Jewish Community Federation of Spain (FCJE) roundly condemned the verdict, reports the World Jewish Congress. “We Jews are very worried that the Spanish judiciary, which in certain situations shows a lot of sensitivity, does not consider the sale of books in which the Holocaust is denied and racism propagated an offense banned by our laws,” the group said in a press statement. The Israeli Embassy in Madrid said in a statement, “Israel believes that this decision gives support to racist violence and shows a lack of historic knowledge.” It added that the ruling was reason for “sadness and concern.”
Holocaust denial is explicitly or implicitly illegal in 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Switzerland.
The European Union’s Framework decision on Racism and Xenophobia, released in 2007, states that denying or grossly trivialising “crimes of genocide” should be made “punishable in all EU Member States.” While other EU member states have already adopted either parts or the entire framework into their laws, Spain has not complied.
Europe Today
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