The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and ENAR Italy are deeply concerned by the succession of neo-Nazi and neo-fascist demonstrations and events taking place in Italy in the last weeks. Ahead of a neo-fascist demonstration planned tomorrow, on 22 May, in Milan, we call on the municipality of Milan and the Italian government to take a strong stand against right-wing extremism. Luciano Scagliotti, ENAR Board member for Italy, said: “We welcome the fact that the head of police in Milan has forbidden this neo-nazi rally ‘for public security reasons’, but more action is required to stop another European neo-nazi convention scheduled to take place in Milan on 29 May. Italian authorities must clearly show their refusal of fascism and racism.” ENAR and ENAR Italy are also concerned that local and national authorities have generally not taken action to denounce these demonstrations. Although some events were blocked, many others happened under the silence of both the authorities and the media, amounting to complicity with the neo-fascist movement. Far right groups’ actions are becoming increasingly visible, leading to rising cases of racist violence against minorities in Italy, but also elsewhere in Europe. These groups also increasingly have a transnational dimension, trying to bring together extreme right groups and parties from other EU countries. Their celebration of the Hungarian far right party Jobbik as a model for the rest of Europe is particularly worrying, given the party’s stances against Roma and other minorities. Particularly in times of economic crisis, the slogans used by these far right groups - against the power of banks, for a fortress Europe, etc. - have disturbing analogies with those of the 1930s Nazis, in a similar context of economic downturn. Mohammed Aziz, ENAR President, added: “History has taught us the dangers of right-wing extremism. Yet we are now experiencing a rise of the far right across Europe and even mainstream political parties expressing racist sentiments, and it is urgent to do something about it. Politicians and leaders across Europe must firmly condemn the rhetoric of these groups.”
The PDF Press Release
the Website Enar
Friday, 21 May 2010
BNP teacher could be banned in GTC 'first'
After admitting anti-Muslim postings, he faces historic charge of religious intolerance
A BNP supporter could become the first teacher to be struck off for religious intolerance next Monday.
Adam Walker will appear before a General Teaching Council (GTC) panel on Monday, charged with making anti-Muslim comments on a website while using a school laptop.
Mr Walker, who used to teach at Houghton Kepier Sports College at Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, quit the school in 2007.
He admits writing the comments - made under a pseudonym - but claims they had no link to his work as a design and technology teacher.
Legal wrangles have been going on for over a year, and his team has succeeded in removing former NUT president Judy Moorhouse from the disciplinary panel, arguing that her union's policies mean she would be biased against him. Fears of clashes between the BNP, protesters and police led to the case being postponed at the beginning of last year.
But his lawyers were unsuccessful in their claim that website administrators were wrong to reveal his identity and his posts should not be used in evidence.
Mr Walker, now working as campaigns co-ordinator for BNP MEP Andrew Brons, has vowed to take the case to the "highest level" if found guilty.
Teaching union the NASUWT has accused the GTC of allowing the BNP to use the case to attract publicity.
Mr Walker's brother Mark, who taught at Sunnydale Community College in Shildon, County Durham, lost his employment tribunal case for unfair dismissal last month.
He claimed he had been fired for his political views and involvement with the BNP. But the panel said the school had been justified in its actions on account of his sickness record.
Tes
A BNP supporter could become the first teacher to be struck off for religious intolerance next Monday.
Adam Walker will appear before a General Teaching Council (GTC) panel on Monday, charged with making anti-Muslim comments on a website while using a school laptop.
Mr Walker, who used to teach at Houghton Kepier Sports College at Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, quit the school in 2007.
He admits writing the comments - made under a pseudonym - but claims they had no link to his work as a design and technology teacher.
Legal wrangles have been going on for over a year, and his team has succeeded in removing former NUT president Judy Moorhouse from the disciplinary panel, arguing that her union's policies mean she would be biased against him. Fears of clashes between the BNP, protesters and police led to the case being postponed at the beginning of last year.
But his lawyers were unsuccessful in their claim that website administrators were wrong to reveal his identity and his posts should not be used in evidence.
Mr Walker, now working as campaigns co-ordinator for BNP MEP Andrew Brons, has vowed to take the case to the "highest level" if found guilty.
Teaching union the NASUWT has accused the GTC of allowing the BNP to use the case to attract publicity.
Mr Walker's brother Mark, who taught at Sunnydale Community College in Shildon, County Durham, lost his employment tribunal case for unfair dismissal last month.
He claimed he had been fired for his political views and involvement with the BNP. But the panel said the school had been justified in its actions on account of his sickness record.
Tes
Fascist cult 'may have killed Jewish student'
A coroner in Germany ruled that Jeremiah Duggan, 22, had committed suicide by running on to a road where he was hit by fast-moving cars in 2003.
A High Court judge in London yesterday said that evidence of “foul play” must be investigated after new details suggested the crash was faked and he might have been killed.
The court was told that Mr Duggan, from north London, had attended a youth event organised by the far-Right, “cult like’’ LaRouche group before his death.
Mr Duggan, who was studying at the British Institute and the Sorbonne in Paris, had believed he was attending a conference about the problems in Iraq.
Lord Justice Elias said his death, which was thought to have occurred on a highway near Wiesbaden, might have happened elsewhere and could have been “stage managed” to look like a road accident.
One member of the LaRouche group allegedly told his mother: “We have hunted him down ... it is right that he is dead, he is a traitor and a spy.”
The judge ruled that potentially crucial evidence was not available at the first inquest held in 2003 by Dr William Dolman, the north London coroner. Dr Dolman concluded in a narrative verdict that Mr Duggan “received fatal head injuries when he ran into the road” after phone calls home disclosed that he was “in a state of terror”.
Quashing that inquest, Lord Justice Elias said: “It is sufficient that fresh evidence here could alter the verdict, and in any event it is very much in the interests of justice that it should be carefully considered and analysed in a fresh inquest.
“It puts in issue whether or not there may have been foul play. It is necessary that this fresh inquest is held. We are not saying what the outcome of that inquest will be.’’
The decision was welcomed by Erica Duggan, Jeremiah’s mother, who has long fought for a new hearing. She hopes it will lead to the German authorities reopening their investigations into her son’s death.
She said: “No country has investigated my son’s death properly as yet. The German state has failed us. The British state has an obligation to establish how Jeremiah died.”
Lawyers for Mrs Duggan described the LaRouche group as “a cult-like organisation which Mrs Duggan now knows espouses a fascist and anti-Semitic ideology and is headed by Lyndon LaRouche, a convicted fraudster”.
The new inquest will be before a different coroner.
The Telegraph
A High Court judge in London yesterday said that evidence of “foul play” must be investigated after new details suggested the crash was faked and he might have been killed.
The court was told that Mr Duggan, from north London, had attended a youth event organised by the far-Right, “cult like’’ LaRouche group before his death.
Mr Duggan, who was studying at the British Institute and the Sorbonne in Paris, had believed he was attending a conference about the problems in Iraq.
Lord Justice Elias said his death, which was thought to have occurred on a highway near Wiesbaden, might have happened elsewhere and could have been “stage managed” to look like a road accident.
One member of the LaRouche group allegedly told his mother: “We have hunted him down ... it is right that he is dead, he is a traitor and a spy.”
The judge ruled that potentially crucial evidence was not available at the first inquest held in 2003 by Dr William Dolman, the north London coroner. Dr Dolman concluded in a narrative verdict that Mr Duggan “received fatal head injuries when he ran into the road” after phone calls home disclosed that he was “in a state of terror”.
Quashing that inquest, Lord Justice Elias said: “It is sufficient that fresh evidence here could alter the verdict, and in any event it is very much in the interests of justice that it should be carefully considered and analysed in a fresh inquest.
“It puts in issue whether or not there may have been foul play. It is necessary that this fresh inquest is held. We are not saying what the outcome of that inquest will be.’’
The decision was welcomed by Erica Duggan, Jeremiah’s mother, who has long fought for a new hearing. She hopes it will lead to the German authorities reopening their investigations into her son’s death.
She said: “No country has investigated my son’s death properly as yet. The German state has failed us. The British state has an obligation to establish how Jeremiah died.”
Lawyers for Mrs Duggan described the LaRouche group as “a cult-like organisation which Mrs Duggan now knows espouses a fascist and anti-Semitic ideology and is headed by Lyndon LaRouche, a convicted fraudster”.
The new inquest will be before a different coroner.
The Telegraph
Facebook group launches 'virtual protest' against neo-Nazis (Germany)
In the last week, the Facebook group Kein Facebook für Nazis - NPD Seite löschen, or “No Facebook for Nazis – delete the NPD page,” has gained some 260,000 members, weekly news magazine Stern reported on Thursday.
Members have been tasked with photographing themselves, arms outstretched, to simulate a human chain against the neo-Nazi party's Facebook presence. They have also been asked to incorporate the new group’s logo – a hand on which the index finger is illuminated – into the photos.
The Facegroup can be found Here
The virtual demonstration is set to reach its pinnacle on May 22-23, when organisers hope the action will influence Facebook administrators to take action against neo-Nazi content on the network.
According to Stern previous attempts to report neo-Nazi or NPD party content have had limited success because the social network takes a lenient approach and the right-wing extremist organisations fight diligently against being banned from it.
The group had initially called for an “online flashmob” on Sunday that would bombard NPD Facebook pages with comments and photos – but the attempt failed when the neo-Nazis deactivated the site.
Other efforts have included the publication of neo-Nazi organisation members’ email addresses for a similar bombardment.
The group has sent an open letter to Facebook’s Hamburg office that reads: “We believe that you have a singular chance to bring together and link people and cultures of all kinds. We believe that social networks should serve the better understanding of all people and cultures.”
The “virtual candle-lit demonstration” is the first attempt to create a broad social front against right-wing extremist activity, Stern said, explaining that instead of anonymous street protests, users are putting their names and faces on the line.
Recent German government intelligence reports show that right-wing extremists are increasing their activity on online social networks to reach young people. In April the Lower Saxony state intelligence service warned that neo-Nazis are using sites like Facebook, and similar German sites such as SchülerVZ, StudiVZ, Wer-kennt-wen and StayFriends to find new recruits.
The danger is that many young people are unable to recognise propaganda and attempts at indoctrination from these groups at first glance, head of the state intelligence agency Hans Wargel told daily Die Welt. Instead of blatant symbols such as swastikas, many are using graffiti and other less-recognisable imagery from youth culture, he said.
The tactic is new for these groups, he added, referring to a newspaper for the neo-Nazi NPD party called Deutsche Stimme, which recently encouraged its members to appear on online forums as people with humour, hobbies, and serious cultural interests.
The Local Germany
The prospect of a burqa ban spreads across Europe
Belgium
Belgium has made the furthest steps towards banning the burqa and the niqab. At the end of April, parliament agreed unanimously on a law that would forbid full veiling in public. But the law must still be approved by the Belgian senate, which is not seen as secure. Certain members of parliament have doubts about the constitutionality of such a ban.
France
On Wednesday, the French cabinet introduced a bill that would also ban face-covering in public. If parliament agrees on the measure, wearing a burqa or a niqab could carry a fine as early as the beginning of 2011. Veiled women would have to pay 150 euro ($188), according to press reports. Men who force women to wear veils could face a year in prison and a 15,000 euro fine.
Netherlands
Several bills banning face veils are being prepared simultaneously in the Netherlands, some addressing schools and the public service sector. Right-wing politician Geert Wilders is pushing especially hard for a ban on the veils. But Job Cohen, the Labour Party mayor of Amsterdam, is also calling for a measure that would take away unemployment payments for burqa-wearing woman who turn down job offers at a workplace that would require them to come to work unveiled.
Italy
Rules for the 'protection of the public order' have been on the books in Italy since 1975. This forbids head coverings in public facilities, whether it's a motor cycle helmet or a face veil. Italy's Equality Minister Mara Carfagna wants to write in an explicit ban on the burqa into this law. There are also four different bills from the governing coalition and the opposition for a ban of face veils, with penalties of up to two years in jail. There is also some resistance to these measures, for example from Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
Austria
The Austrian far-right Alliance for the Future of Austria party intends to introduce a bill to parliament calling for a burqa ban. Social Democratic Chancellor Werner Faymann has already said he would support such a ban in principle. But his coalition partners, the Austrian People's Party, have called for a widespread debate on the issue.
Denmark
A majority of the Danish population says it would support a burqa ban. The coalition partners in parliament are not quite as united in their stance on the issue, but agreed at the end of January to "fight against" face veils. The government would like to avoid a law because of constitutionality concerns from the justice ministry. But it has been agreed that schools, public sector institutions, and companies should take strict action against face veiling.
Switzerland
The country that passed a ban on the construction of minarets is also calling loudly for a ban on the burqa. But debate on the issue in the Swiss government has been put off as it sees no cause to discuss a ban at the moment.
Great Britain
A ban on face-veiling is not an official priority in Great Britain. The topic is being discussed on talk shows and in newspaper columns, but none of the three major political parties have taken up the cause. Only right-wing extremists are calling for a burqa ban in Britain.
European Council weighs in
Meanwhile, the European Council has voiced opposition to the burqa-ban ambitions of Belgium and France. Parliamentarians in the culture committee have spoken out against a general face-veil ban because it could run counter to the freedom of religion. The European Council's Human Rights Commissioner, Thomas Hammarberg, has warned that a burqa ban would only increase the tension between religious communities. Human rights conventions only allow controls on religious freedom in the interest of public safety or the preservation of democracy. Hammarberg says that is not the case in this situation.
Du World
France
On Wednesday, the French cabinet introduced a bill that would also ban face-covering in public. If parliament agrees on the measure, wearing a burqa or a niqab could carry a fine as early as the beginning of 2011. Veiled women would have to pay 150 euro ($188), according to press reports. Men who force women to wear veils could face a year in prison and a 15,000 euro fine.
Netherlands
Several bills banning face veils are being prepared simultaneously in the Netherlands, some addressing schools and the public service sector. Right-wing politician Geert Wilders is pushing especially hard for a ban on the veils. But Job Cohen, the Labour Party mayor of Amsterdam, is also calling for a measure that would take away unemployment payments for burqa-wearing woman who turn down job offers at a workplace that would require them to come to work unveiled.
Italy
Rules for the 'protection of the public order' have been on the books in Italy since 1975. This forbids head coverings in public facilities, whether it's a motor cycle helmet or a face veil. Italy's Equality Minister Mara Carfagna wants to write in an explicit ban on the burqa into this law. There are also four different bills from the governing coalition and the opposition for a ban of face veils, with penalties of up to two years in jail. There is also some resistance to these measures, for example from Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
Austria
The Austrian far-right Alliance for the Future of Austria party intends to introduce a bill to parliament calling for a burqa ban. Social Democratic Chancellor Werner Faymann has already said he would support such a ban in principle. But his coalition partners, the Austrian People's Party, have called for a widespread debate on the issue.
Denmark
A majority of the Danish population says it would support a burqa ban. The coalition partners in parliament are not quite as united in their stance on the issue, but agreed at the end of January to "fight against" face veils. The government would like to avoid a law because of constitutionality concerns from the justice ministry. But it has been agreed that schools, public sector institutions, and companies should take strict action against face veiling.
Switzerland
The country that passed a ban on the construction of minarets is also calling loudly for a ban on the burqa. But debate on the issue in the Swiss government has been put off as it sees no cause to discuss a ban at the moment.
Great Britain
A ban on face-veiling is not an official priority in Great Britain. The topic is being discussed on talk shows and in newspaper columns, but none of the three major political parties have taken up the cause. Only right-wing extremists are calling for a burqa ban in Britain.
European Council weighs in
Meanwhile, the European Council has voiced opposition to the burqa-ban ambitions of Belgium and France. Parliamentarians in the culture committee have spoken out against a general face-veil ban because it could run counter to the freedom of religion. The European Council's Human Rights Commissioner, Thomas Hammarberg, has warned that a burqa ban would only increase the tension between religious communities. Human rights conventions only allow controls on religious freedom in the interest of public safety or the preservation of democracy. Hammarberg says that is not the case in this situation.
Du World
English Defence League discussing Walsall demonstration
A spokesman for the EDL said the group would be protesting over a proposed new mosque in Walsall on June 19.
On the group’s Facebook page, supporters from around the country have bowed to attend the demonstation set to be held between 1.30pm and 4.40pm.
The web-page for the protest claims the group will be protesting a new mosque in the town, echoing recent demonstrations in Dudley which brought massive disruption over two Bank Holiday weekends.
The group have not confirmed outside which Walsall mosque they intend to protest.
However, the Mail understands the only new mosque in the district will be in the refurbished Bethel Chapel in nearby Willenhall.
A post on the group’s Facebook site from one of the group’s moderators said: “The date has just been set, there will be meetings and discussions over the next few weeks to decide the best location for the demo.”
Claiming to be against extreme Islam, the group have held protests across the country, including in Birmingham, where violence erupted between the EDL and rival groups.
EDL spokesman Steve Simmonds said: “The group’s leadership have announced a protest will take place in Walsall on June 19. Further details will be revealed after a meeting of the group.”
Mr Simmonds added violence at other demos had been caused by outsiders claiming to be EDL supporters.
“We’ve had people coming in who have no interest in the EDL and they just want to kick off,” he said.
“We’re trying to identify those people and we’ll hand them over to the police. The problem is they’re in a public place and can only be arrested if they commit an offence.”
He added communication between the EDL and police would make future demonstrations, including the next Dudley protest on July 17, less disruptive.
“We’re hoping to have a better demonstration and cause as little disruption as possible.”
West Midlands Police, who carried out large operations at the Dudley demonstrations, said they were not aware of a Walsall protest. A spokesman said: “We will continue to monitor the situation.”
Birmingham mail
Shooting of Colombian human rights activist condemned
Amnesty International has called on the Colombian authorities to investigate the killing of a human rights defender who was campaigning against abuses committed by paramilitaries and the security forces in the north-western region of Sucre.
Rogelio Martínez, who represented displaced rural communities in the area of San Onofre, was shot dead by a group of hooded men dressed in black as he travelled home by motorbike taxi on Tuesday.
“Rogelio Martínez campaigned long and hard to ensure that peasant farmers in the area could reclaim lands stolen from them by paramilitaries in collusion with the security forces, and he was dedicated to exposing human rights violations committed by these groups," said Marcelo Pollack, Colombia researcher at Amnesty International.
Martínez was also a member of the National Movement of Victims of State Crimes (MOVICE). He had been repeatedly threatened with death because of his work, along with other MOVICE members and land right activists in Sucre.
Activists campaigning for the return of lands stolen by paramilitary groups have been particularly vulnerable to threats and killings in recent years.
"Those campaigning for truth, justice and reparation and for the return of lands stolen by paramilitary groups in the context of Colombia’s long-running armed conflict continue to pay a heavy price for their human rights work," said Marcelo Pollack.
"The Colombian authorities also have a responsibility to ensure that human rights defenders in Sucre, and in the country as a whole, are effectively protected so that they can carry out their work safely and free from fear”, said Marcelo Pollack.
Amnesty International has condemned the killing of Rogelio Martínez and urged the authorities to carry out an immediate and impartial investigation to ensure that those responsible for his death are brought to justice.
Amnesty International
HUNGARIAN JEWISH CONGRESS CALLS FOR EXILING RACISM FROM PARLIAMENT
Hungary's democratic parliamentary parties should make joint efforts "to prevent Parliament from becoming a forum of discriminators and anti-Semites," the Hungarian Jewish Congress (MZSK) said on Sunday. In a statement sent to MTI, MZSK called it a dangerous development that representatives of a group whose supporters kept voicing racist and anti-Semitic views during the election campaign had made their way to Parliament. The congress has therefore asked the democratic parliamentary parties to isolate the voices of hatred and guarantee that the effective laws be enforced by all. The statement followed the inaugural session of Parliament on Friday where Gabor Vona, leader of the radical nationalist Jobbik party, stirred controversy by wearing a black vest with symbols of the party's banned paramilitary arm, the Hungarian Guard.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Young British and Angry EDL Documentary
Last night the BBC aired a documentary about the anti-Islamic English Defence League. Due to the length of that program a You Tube user has edited the highlights and added some valid information that the program should have revealed.
This user has a fantastic anti-racist channel and we highly recomend that you check it out. BNPInfo
This user has a fantastic anti-racist channel and we highly recomend that you check it out. BNPInfo
Extremists could take over police - warning
Extremists could seize control of the police under controversial government plans for elected commissioners, a North-East watchdog has warned.
Cleveland Police Authority condemned the US-style proposal for the public to choose their police chief - alleging there would be “disastrous consequences for one of our most important public services”.
The attack came as new Home Secretary Theresa May - in her first major speech - vowed to press ahead with introducing elected leaders, despite acknowledging police “concerns”.
The measure will be included in a policing Bill in next week's Queen's Speech, which will set out the first priorities for the new Conservative-Liberal coalition.
But Councillor Dave McLuckie, the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said the idea was opposed by local politicians of every party, as well as by “bobbies on the beat”.
And he added: “It is a very bad idea which will do nothing to improve either accountability or the quality of service to the public, but could cause enormous damage to the principles which make British policing the envy of the world.
“The Home Secretary must think again about a proposal which could have disastrous consequences for one of our most important public services.”
Cllr McLuckie said Sir Hugh Orde, the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), had warned of policing falling into the hands of “lunatics, or extreme interests”, adding: “It could result in chief constables resigning.”
The Association of Police Authorities (APA) plans to meet Mrs May next week, to add its voice to the protests.
Under the plans - which were included in the Conservative manifesto - the new elected leaders would have the power to set budgets and policing strategy, but not be allowed to interfere with operational independence.
Similar Labour plans for every borough to have a directly-elected representative on police authorities were dropped in the last parliament, after a near-identical outcry.
Yesterday, speaking to the Police Federation, Mrs May tried to win over the rank-and-file, deliberately not using the phrase “police commissioner” and saying: “I want to put your mind at rest.”
However, she vowed to press head with the policy, describing the idea of elections as a “giant step in the right direction” that would ensure a community’s wishes were carried out.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, the Home Secretary denied there was a risk of extremists taking control, saying: “I believe and trust in the people in electing these individuals.
“Just as the people made sure they did not elect any BNP members of parliament at the election, I do not think you would see any individual elected as a police commissioner, or whichever word we wish to use.”
Some police forces have raised fears of a repeat of the crisis that hit the Metropolitan force, in London, when Boris Johnson, the elected mayor, sacked its chief, Sir Ian Blair.
Northern Echo
Cleveland Police Authority condemned the US-style proposal for the public to choose their police chief - alleging there would be “disastrous consequences for one of our most important public services”.
The attack came as new Home Secretary Theresa May - in her first major speech - vowed to press ahead with introducing elected leaders, despite acknowledging police “concerns”.
The measure will be included in a policing Bill in next week's Queen's Speech, which will set out the first priorities for the new Conservative-Liberal coalition.
But Councillor Dave McLuckie, the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said the idea was opposed by local politicians of every party, as well as by “bobbies on the beat”.
And he added: “It is a very bad idea which will do nothing to improve either accountability or the quality of service to the public, but could cause enormous damage to the principles which make British policing the envy of the world.
“The Home Secretary must think again about a proposal which could have disastrous consequences for one of our most important public services.”
Cllr McLuckie said Sir Hugh Orde, the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), had warned of policing falling into the hands of “lunatics, or extreme interests”, adding: “It could result in chief constables resigning.”
The Association of Police Authorities (APA) plans to meet Mrs May next week, to add its voice to the protests.
Under the plans - which were included in the Conservative manifesto - the new elected leaders would have the power to set budgets and policing strategy, but not be allowed to interfere with operational independence.
Similar Labour plans for every borough to have a directly-elected representative on police authorities were dropped in the last parliament, after a near-identical outcry.
Yesterday, speaking to the Police Federation, Mrs May tried to win over the rank-and-file, deliberately not using the phrase “police commissioner” and saying: “I want to put your mind at rest.”
However, she vowed to press head with the policy, describing the idea of elections as a “giant step in the right direction” that would ensure a community’s wishes were carried out.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, the Home Secretary denied there was a risk of extremists taking control, saying: “I believe and trust in the people in electing these individuals.
“Just as the people made sure they did not elect any BNP members of parliament at the election, I do not think you would see any individual elected as a police commissioner, or whichever word we wish to use.”
Some police forces have raised fears of a repeat of the crisis that hit the Metropolitan force, in London, when Boris Johnson, the elected mayor, sacked its chief, Sir Ian Blair.
Northern Echo
Banned Hungarian Guard members reportedly join civil guards by the hundreds
Members of the Hungarian Guard, the banned uniformed arm of the radical nationalist Jobbik party, are joining civil-guard organisations by the hundreds, daily Nepszabadsag said on Wednesday.
The court has ruled that anyone contributing to the operation of the banned organisation may be punished by up to one year in prison.
The guard is planning a large meeting in the middle of the summer where they plan to publish details on how to survive the ban, the paper said.
The guard's local organisation in Baranya County in southern Hungary voluntarily took down their internet homepage before the court ruling was published.
"Despite all statements that show the contrary, we are trying to abide by the law," captain Norbert Horvath told Nepszabadsag.
Chief captain Robert Kiss declined to comment on reports about growing tension between the Hungarian Guard and Jobbik. At the same time, he said that many guard members have also been members of civil guards for years.
politics.hu
Deportation Likely for Ex-Nazi After Supreme Court Declined Appeal (USA)
The Justice Department now can petition an immigration judge to have Anton Geiser, 84, of Sharon removed from the United States -- a process complicated because Geiser's native country, Yugoslavia, no longer exists. His former hometown now is in Croatia.
"The Supreme Court's decision to deny Mr. Geiser's request effectively ends the denaturalization process against him," said Justice Department spokeswoman Laura Sweeney.
Geiser, drafted into the German army in September 1942, was trained in the Waffen SS to be a prison guard. He was stationed at Sachsenhausen and Arolsen, a sub-camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp.
Geiser said in court records that he never killed or harmed anyone
Geiser came to the United State in 1956 and became a citizen in 1962.
U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone in September 2006 revoked Geiser's citizenship through a civil process brought by the government. He was not convicted of any crime.
Irene Szulman, 80, of Shadyside spent four years imprisoned in a ghetto in Poland and later in concentration camps. She doesn't know if deporting Geiser now will do any good but said she is grateful for the government's efforts.
"They should make their lives as miserable as possible because they deserve it," Szulman said. "But as far as deporting him, what are they going to do with this old bag of bones?"
Moshe Baran of Squirrel Hill also had little compassion for Geiser's plight.
"He can't complain. He had a good life until he got caught," said Baran, 88, who lived in a ghetto in Horodok, Poland, now part of Belarus, before escaping from a Nazi labor camp in 1943 and joining Russian liberation forces. "I can't feel any sympathy for those who were part of this murder machine."
vosizneias.com
French politicians urged to reject ban on full face veils
The proposal, which is being put forward by the French government after a prolonged public debate on the wearing of Islamic face veils, would prohibit the wearing anywhere in public of any form of clothing intended to conceal one's face.
"A complete ban on the covering of the face would violate the rights to freedom of expression and religion of those women who wear the burqa or the niqab in public as an expression of their identity or beliefs," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's expert on discrimination in Europe.
Breach of the law would be punishable by a fine of up to €150 and/or the requirement to complete a community rehabilitation programme.
The move comes only a few weeks after the lower chamber of the Belgian parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a similar ban.
The Council of State (Conseil d'Etat), France's top legal advisory body, has already expressed serious reservations about the compatibility of such a general ban with the French constitution and the country's obligations under international human rights law.
"To ignore the advice of the Council of State on this issue would be to betray an indifference to human rights law in general and the rights of Muslim women who choose to wear full face veils in particular," said John Dalhuisen.
The French government has argued that the ban is necessary for public safety and to protect women from being pressurised into wearing full face veils.
"Legitimate security concerns can be met by targeted restrictions on the complete covering of the face in well-defined high risk locations.
"Individuals may also be required to reveal their faces when objectively necessary, for instance for identity checks. French law already allows for such limited restrictions," said John Dalhuisen.
States do have an obligation to protect women against pressure or coercion in their homes or communities to wear full face veils.
They should do this by taking steps to combat gender stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes and, where appropriate, by intervening in individual cases through criminal or family law.
A generally applicable ban would restrict the rights of those who freely choose to wear full face veils, while punishing those who do so against their will.
"For those women who are being coerced into wearing full face veils, the ban means they will either face state punishment if they go out in public – or more likely – they will be confined to their homes. This is counter-productive." said John Dalhuisen.
"Some people may well find the wearing of full-face veils objectionable, or contrary to established social customs.
However, human rights law is quite clear on this – the disquiet of one person cannot be used to justify a restriction on the freedom of expression of another," said John Dalhuisen.
"Much of the public debate in France on the wearing of full face veils has focused on the need to defend French Republican values. Amnesty International does not believe that such important values as liberty, equality and fraternity can be advanced by such a discriminatory restriction," said John Dalhuisen.
Amnesty International
White Supremacist Linked to Mail Bombing Imprisoned (USA)
A firearms and explosives expert suspected of involvement with two white supremacist brothers in the sending of a bomb to the office of a municipal diversity officer was sentenced to 6½ years in prison in Missouri on Tuesday.
Robert Joos Jr., an antigovernment zealot and pastor of a church of “apocalyptic Christians,” was convicted in January of being a felon in possession of firearms and a felon in possession of explosives. He had a prior conviction for unlawful use of a weapon.
Joos, 56, was indicted last year along with twin brothers Dennis and Daniel Mahon, following a lengthy investigation into the delivery of a mail bomb to the office of Scottsdale, Ariz., diversity officer Don Logan in 2004. Logan, who is black, needed extensive surgery for injuries to his hands and arms. His secretary suffered injuries to her face and eyes. The Mahons are awaiting trial.
Investigators began looking at Joos after phone records the morning of the bombing showed that the first telephone call that Dennis Mahon made after the attack was to a cell phone in Joos’ name. During the subsequent investigation, the brothers allegedly said that Joos’ 200-acre property in rural McDonald County, Mo., was used as a training facility for white supremacists.
Joos told undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that he had caches of weapons, food and water in caves on his property where he would go to avoid capture or attack, authorities said. One undercover agent told Joos he was having trouble with “Kenites” — a word that is apparently used to denote Jews by some anti-Semitic Christian Identity pastors — and Joos mailed him instructions for making a homemade bomb, along with a detailed drawing, according to federal prosecutors. (Most Christian Identity adherents maintain that Eve had sex with Satan and produced a child, Cain, from whom Jews are descended.)
Five shotguns, five hunting rifles and five pistols were recovered from Joos’ property, along with more than 19,000 rounds of ammunition and bomb-making components such as fuses and blasting caps.
SPL Centre
Robert Joos Jr., an antigovernment zealot and pastor of a church of “apocalyptic Christians,” was convicted in January of being a felon in possession of firearms and a felon in possession of explosives. He had a prior conviction for unlawful use of a weapon.
Joos, 56, was indicted last year along with twin brothers Dennis and Daniel Mahon, following a lengthy investigation into the delivery of a mail bomb to the office of Scottsdale, Ariz., diversity officer Don Logan in 2004. Logan, who is black, needed extensive surgery for injuries to his hands and arms. His secretary suffered injuries to her face and eyes. The Mahons are awaiting trial.
Investigators began looking at Joos after phone records the morning of the bombing showed that the first telephone call that Dennis Mahon made after the attack was to a cell phone in Joos’ name. During the subsequent investigation, the brothers allegedly said that Joos’ 200-acre property in rural McDonald County, Mo., was used as a training facility for white supremacists.
Joos told undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that he had caches of weapons, food and water in caves on his property where he would go to avoid capture or attack, authorities said. One undercover agent told Joos he was having trouble with “Kenites” — a word that is apparently used to denote Jews by some anti-Semitic Christian Identity pastors — and Joos mailed him instructions for making a homemade bomb, along with a detailed drawing, according to federal prosecutors. (Most Christian Identity adherents maintain that Eve had sex with Satan and produced a child, Cain, from whom Jews are descended.)
Five shotguns, five hunting rifles and five pistols were recovered from Joos’ property, along with more than 19,000 rounds of ammunition and bomb-making components such as fuses and blasting caps.
SPL Centre
FRANCE HAS FIRST 'BURKA RAGE' INCIDENT
A 60-year-old lawyer ripped a Muslim woman's Islamic veil off in a row in a clothing shop in what police say is France's first case of "burka rage".
The astonishing scene unfolded during a weekend shopping trip after the woman lawyer took offence at the attire of a fellow shopper resulting in argument during which the pair came to blows before being arrested. It came as racial tensions grow in the country as it prepares to introduce a total ban on burkas and other forms of religious dress which cover the face. A 26-year-old Muslim convert was walking through the store in Trignac, near Nantes, in the western Loire-Atlantique region, when she overhead the woman lawyer making "snide remarks about her black burka". A police officer close to the case said: "The lawyer said she was not happy seeing a fellow shopper wearing a veil and wanted the ban introduced as soon as possible." At one point the lawyer, who was out with her daughter, is said to have likened the Muslim woman to Belphegor, a horror demon character well known to French TV viewers. Belphegor is said to haunt the Louvre museum in Paris and frequently covers up his hideous features using a mask. An argument started before the older woman is said to have ripped the other woman's veil off. As they came to blows, the lawyer's daughter joined in. "The shop manager and the husband of the Muslim woman moved to break up the fighting," the officer said. All three were arrested and taken to the local gendarmerie for questioning.
A spokesman for Trignac police said that two complaints had been received, with the Muslim woman accusing the lawyer of racial and religious assault. The latter, in turn, had accused her opponent of common assault. The French parliament has adopted a formal motion declaring burkas and other forms of Islamic dress to be "an affront to the nation's values." Some have accused criminals, from terrorists to shoplifters, of wearing veils to disguise themselves. A ban, which could be introduced as early as the autumn, would make France the second country after Belgium to outlaw the Islamic veil in public places. But many have criticised the anti-burka lobby, which includes the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, for stigmatising Muslim housewives. Many French woman from council estates are forced to wear the veils because of pressure from authoritarian husbands. The promise of a ban has prompted warnings of racial tensions in a country which is home to some five million Muslims – one of the religion's largest communities in Europe. Mr Sarkozy's cabinet is to examine a draft bill which will impose one-year prison sentences and fines of up to £14,000 on men who force their wives to wear a burka. Women themselves will face a smaller fine of just over £100 because they are "often victims with no choice in the matter", says the draft. The law would create a new offence of "incitement to cover the face for reasons of gender". And it would state: "No one may wear in public places clothes that are aimed at hiding the face."
The Telegraph
The astonishing scene unfolded during a weekend shopping trip after the woman lawyer took offence at the attire of a fellow shopper resulting in argument during which the pair came to blows before being arrested. It came as racial tensions grow in the country as it prepares to introduce a total ban on burkas and other forms of religious dress which cover the face. A 26-year-old Muslim convert was walking through the store in Trignac, near Nantes, in the western Loire-Atlantique region, when she overhead the woman lawyer making "snide remarks about her black burka". A police officer close to the case said: "The lawyer said she was not happy seeing a fellow shopper wearing a veil and wanted the ban introduced as soon as possible." At one point the lawyer, who was out with her daughter, is said to have likened the Muslim woman to Belphegor, a horror demon character well known to French TV viewers. Belphegor is said to haunt the Louvre museum in Paris and frequently covers up his hideous features using a mask. An argument started before the older woman is said to have ripped the other woman's veil off. As they came to blows, the lawyer's daughter joined in. "The shop manager and the husband of the Muslim woman moved to break up the fighting," the officer said. All three were arrested and taken to the local gendarmerie for questioning.
A spokesman for Trignac police said that two complaints had been received, with the Muslim woman accusing the lawyer of racial and religious assault. The latter, in turn, had accused her opponent of common assault. The French parliament has adopted a formal motion declaring burkas and other forms of Islamic dress to be "an affront to the nation's values." Some have accused criminals, from terrorists to shoplifters, of wearing veils to disguise themselves. A ban, which could be introduced as early as the autumn, would make France the second country after Belgium to outlaw the Islamic veil in public places. But many have criticised the anti-burka lobby, which includes the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, for stigmatising Muslim housewives. Many French woman from council estates are forced to wear the veils because of pressure from authoritarian husbands. The promise of a ban has prompted warnings of racial tensions in a country which is home to some five million Muslims – one of the religion's largest communities in Europe. Mr Sarkozy's cabinet is to examine a draft bill which will impose one-year prison sentences and fines of up to £14,000 on men who force their wives to wear a burka. Women themselves will face a smaller fine of just over £100 because they are "often victims with no choice in the matter", says the draft. The law would create a new offence of "incitement to cover the face for reasons of gender". And it would state: "No one may wear in public places clothes that are aimed at hiding the face."
The Telegraph
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
POLICE CRACKDOWN ON HATE CRIME ACROSS LONDON (uk)
Raids across London have been carried out by the Metropolitan Police as part of an operation to crackdown on hate crime. A number of officers simultaneously raided properties across the city at about 0000 BST on Tuesday. Seventy-seven people have been arrested for a range of offences including serious assault and harassment. More arrests are expected to be made later. The action comes a day after the International Day Against Homophobia. The raids are aimed at bringing hate crime offenders to justice. Police are particularly focusing their attentions on homophobic and domestic violence within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.
'Gain trust'
Between March 2009 and April 2010 there were 51,839 domestic violence offences, 9,914 racial offences and 1,336 homophobic offences committed in London. To crack down on such offences the Met has about 230 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Liaison officers supporting police work. Det Supt Darren Williams said: "Today's operations represent part of the proactive approach the MPS take to bring those responsible to justice. "We know that all hate crime is under reported and this remains a challenge for us. We will continue to work hard to gain the trust and confidence of all communities so that victims feel that they can come forward and tell police. "My message to all victims is that if you feel you can't tell the police - tell someone."
BBC News
'Gain trust'
Between March 2009 and April 2010 there were 51,839 domestic violence offences, 9,914 racial offences and 1,336 homophobic offences committed in London. To crack down on such offences the Met has about 230 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Liaison officers supporting police work. Det Supt Darren Williams said: "Today's operations represent part of the proactive approach the MPS take to bring those responsible to justice. "We know that all hate crime is under reported and this remains a challenge for us. We will continue to work hard to gain the trust and confidence of all communities so that victims feel that they can come forward and tell police. "My message to all victims is that if you feel you can't tell the police - tell someone."
BBC News
GERMAN SYNAGOGUE ATTACKED BY ARSONISTS
Levi Salomon, who heads a task force combating anti-Semitism for the 12,000-member Berlin Jewish community, told The Jerusalem Post it could not be ruled out that German-Palestinians set the synagogue afire. While there are no current statistics on the rise of Islamic anti-Semitism in Germany, Salomon said he had observed an increase in expressions of Muslim-based anti-Semitism. Observers said the attackers could be from the extreme Left, neo-Nazis or radical Islamists, because what unites these groups is their hatred of Israel. Stella Schindler-Siegreich, the head of the Jewish community in Mainz, traveled to Worms and told the *Kurier, “We are a small minority in Germany and we have a such a history.”
Germans destroyed the synagogue in Worms in 1938 and it was rebuilt in 1961. In contrast to many Jewish institutions in Germany, the Worms synagogue does not have a police presence or barricades, according to Schindler-Siegreich. The synagogue was built in 1034. The Jewish Cemetery in Worms, dating from the 11th century, is believed to be the oldest in Europe. The Rashi Shul, a synagogue dating from 1175 and carefully reconstructed after its desecration on Kristallnacht, is the oldest in Germany. Prominent rabbis from Worms include Shlomo Yitzhaki (Rashi), Elazar Rokeach and Yair Bacharach. At the Rabbinical Synod held at Worms in the 11th century, rabbis for the first time explicitly prohibited polygamy.
J Post
Neo-Nazi's attempted murder charge dropped (Canada)
Prosecutor Rajbir Dhillon said alibi evidence provided by the suspect’s co-accused cast doubt on the eye witness statement of the woman.
“Police investigated that alibi and determined it was a valid alibi ... (the other suspect) likely was not present,” Dhillon told Calgary provincial court Judge Peter Barley.
“The Crown determined that there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction on either accused,” he said, in withdrawing attempted murder and other charges against Kyle Robert McKee.
“In the end the Crown is not alleging that Mr. McKee was involved in that there is insufficient evidence tying him to that.”
McKee, through defence lawyer Adriano Iovinelli, did admit a single charge of making explosives after a police search of his northeast home following the attempted firebombing found a Molotov cocktail.
Barley accepted a joint submission for a one-day sentence followed by 12 months’ probation, since McKee has already served the equivalent of a 10-month jail term.
He was arrested Dec. 16, in Winnipeg, nearly a month after two explosive devices were left outside a Rundlehorn Dr. N.E. apartment on Nov. 21, occupied by Carolyne Kwiatek and her boyfriend, Tyler Sturrup.
Kwiatek said she looked out to see McKee and a youth on the balcony of her ground floor suite, Dhillon said.
“She saw two males, one of whom she identified as this offender, and a youth,” Dhillon told court.
He said Kwiatek believes the devices were placed there as a result of her relationship with McKee, “which had gone sour.”
Kwiatek woke up Sturrup, who went out on the balcony and tossed the two items into the parking lot, where one exploded.
When police arrived, they found the remnants of the detonated bomb and a second device consisting of a glass jar with coins, screws, nails and ratchet bits inside, Dhillon said.
He said both Kwiatek and Sturrup were reluctant to talk to police.
He earlier withdrew charges against the youth.
Iovinelli told Barley his client maintains his innocence on the bombing-related charges and was prepared to go to trial.
Calgary Sun
Neo-Nazi permit approved (USA)
A permit was granted late Monday afternoon for the neo-Nazi group Aryan Nations to hold a rally at the Gettysburg National Military Park, according to park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon.
Aryan Nations - which identifies itself as a white-supremacist organization and has been called a "continuing terrorist threat" by the FBI - will hold the rally on June 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. on the park's lawn west of the Cyclorama Center, according to the group's website.
"Because the land is publicly owned, we're obligated to make it publicly available for exercising First Amendment rights," Lawhon said last week when the permit request was received.
And Col. Gordon Young, who heads the Maryland chapter of Aryan Nations, said he never doubted the permit would be granted.
"I told them if you don't approve me then we'll be in court and that's a fight they don't want to have," he said.
The rally will include speeches from Aryan Nations members and discussions on current events and political issues, according to Young.
"We're going to talk about immigration and how these Mexicans are pouring over our borders and taking our jobs and putting white Americans out of work. We blame them for our downfall of the economy," he said. "And we'll talk about how homosexuality is wrong and 9/11 was an insiders deal. Today's world is so screwed up and we're just trying to teach our children the right ways of life."
In 2006, the World Knights of the Ku Klux Klan had a similar rally, and park officials have said the event proceeded without complications.
"In general, the event went smoothly in 2006 and there was a lot of coordination and we had a lot of excellent assistance from other law enforcement agencies," Lawhon said.
Young, who attended the 2006 rally, agreed and cited only minimal disturbances.
"It went great and the law enforcement did a really good job. One guy ran towards us with a rainbow flag, which stands for homosexuals, but the cops grabbed him," he said. "Some of the black and Hispanic officers tried to entice our guys to say things but I told them to shut up and we're not going to stoop that low."
In response, the YWCA plans to hold a "celebration of diversity" event to draw visitors away the rally.
"There are some people who feel it's better to ignore (Aryan Nations), but people around here aren't going to tolerate this," YWCA Missions Director Ashley Andyshak Hayes said last week. "It's important for us to speak out and send a positive."
Evening Sun
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Italy in Racial Crisis
Italian politics can seem bewildering and distant to many people in Britain, but yet the recent actions of Italian coalition government formed by “The Freedom Party” and led by the countries PM and financial tycoon Silvio Berlusconi needs to be examined and publicised.
Because fascism and extremism is returning to Italy, with the full knowledge of this government.
The Freedom Party gained power in 2008 with a coalition of far right extremist political parties, and these fringe extremist parties are now making their presence felt.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Milan, where they hold the majority in local government and municipal and county control.
This is how a member of an Italian anti-fascist organisation describes the situation:
“The Italian extreme right wing organisations involved are different groups; all have been recently officially admitted to be part or partner of the Berlusconi's party called PDL/Partito delle Liberta – so-called "freedom's party", the Italian national and local government of Berlusconi is doing nothing against those groups.
Their ideology and neo-Nazi symbols and Celtic crosses are spreading and so is their violence.
In the last 2 years Italy has experienced many dangerous attacks to its democratic process and has seen an escalation in the support of fascist ideology and xenophobic violence against minorities: migrants, Roma people, GLBT communities.
In recent times, both for economical and political reasons, Berlusconi's government has been showing signs of evolving into an authoritarian government which is causing growing alarm for the Italian people and their democracy.”
Already a number of neo-Nazi and fascist events have occurred this year which were full of neo-Nazi and white power symbolism and were openly supported by members of the local government. Even though they were widely publicised and persons of news worthy stature attended, no national media organisation reported on the events.
And there is more to come:
- there is a national Italian neo-fascist demonstration scheduled in Milan on 22nd May organized by Forza Nuova and its leader Roberto Fiore in which there will also be European delegations from Spanish and French neo-Nazis. Hungarian Nazi-extreme-right-wing Jobbik’s leader Laszlo Toroczkai will also be attending
- the European neo-Nazi convention, so-called "European Hammerfest 1990-2010, 20 years of European Brotherhood" is scheduled in Milan on 29th May, 2010.
The Italian anti-Racists/anti-Fascists organisations are calling out for international help and support to make people aware of what is occurring in their country with the full knowledge of their government.
It is already widely accepted that the Italian government is paying little attention to attacks on ethnic minorities and the situation appears to be getting a lot worse now that these extreme far right groups are in positions of power.
We urge everybody to contact their local MEPs about these alarming developments, and ask them to voice our/your concerns at what is occurring.
Find your MEP
In 2008 a event occurred that highlights the growing racism in that country. This video demonstrates Italy's racism and how the populous are now becoming indifferent to extremist acts..
Because fascism and extremism is returning to Italy, with the full knowledge of this government.
The Freedom Party gained power in 2008 with a coalition of far right extremist political parties, and these fringe extremist parties are now making their presence felt.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Milan, where they hold the majority in local government and municipal and county control.
This is how a member of an Italian anti-fascist organisation describes the situation:
“The Italian extreme right wing organisations involved are different groups; all have been recently officially admitted to be part or partner of the Berlusconi's party called PDL/Partito delle Liberta – so-called "freedom's party", the Italian national and local government of Berlusconi is doing nothing against those groups.
Their ideology and neo-Nazi symbols and Celtic crosses are spreading and so is their violence.
In the last 2 years Italy has experienced many dangerous attacks to its democratic process and has seen an escalation in the support of fascist ideology and xenophobic violence against minorities: migrants, Roma people, GLBT communities.
In recent times, both for economical and political reasons, Berlusconi's government has been showing signs of evolving into an authoritarian government which is causing growing alarm for the Italian people and their democracy.”
Already a number of neo-Nazi and fascist events have occurred this year which were full of neo-Nazi and white power symbolism and were openly supported by members of the local government. Even though they were widely publicised and persons of news worthy stature attended, no national media organisation reported on the events.
And there is more to come:
- there is a national Italian neo-fascist demonstration scheduled in Milan on 22nd May organized by Forza Nuova and its leader Roberto Fiore in which there will also be European delegations from Spanish and French neo-Nazis. Hungarian Nazi-extreme-right-wing Jobbik’s leader Laszlo Toroczkai will also be attending
- the European neo-Nazi convention, so-called "European Hammerfest 1990-2010, 20 years of European Brotherhood" is scheduled in Milan on 29th May, 2010.
The Italian anti-Racists/anti-Fascists organisations are calling out for international help and support to make people aware of what is occurring in their country with the full knowledge of their government.
It is already widely accepted that the Italian government is paying little attention to attacks on ethnic minorities and the situation appears to be getting a lot worse now that these extreme far right groups are in positions of power.
We urge everybody to contact their local MEPs about these alarming developments, and ask them to voice our/your concerns at what is occurring.
Find your MEP
In 2008 a event occurred that highlights the growing racism in that country. This video demonstrates Italy's racism and how the populous are now becoming indifferent to extremist acts..
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