Taxi driver subjected to tirade of racist abuse, court told (UK)

Daniel Miller

An Asian taxi driver was subjected to a tirade of racist abuse before being punched in the face by a customer.

Daniel Miller, 28, from Canberra Close in Stoke Hill, Exeter, launched the attack on the driver after a disagreement broke out over the fare.

Miller has just been sentenced after he pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault on Hackney Carriage driver Mohammad Numan at an earlier hearing.

The Echo has revealed a growing concern among taxi companies and police over a recent increase in the number of physical and verbal attacks on drivers.

Darren Pike, owner of Alpha Taxis, recently installed a CCTV camera in his vehicle in a bid to curb the abuse. Police and Exeter City Council, which licences vehicles, are also supporting the move after revealing that assaults are increasing.

Miller received a community order for 12 months, to include a 'thinking skills programme', and 150 hours of unpaid community service under the supervision of a probation officer.
He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to Mr Numan to cover the unpaid fare and injury, and £150 costs.
Prosecuting, Ed Canning told the court the victim was a taxi driver working off the rank in Sidwell Street who picked up Miller after a night out.

He said: "On arrival to his address Mr Miller said he didn't have enough money to pay and Mr Numan asked for something for security while he went inside to get the money.

"A disagreement started and Miller started to racially abuse Mr Numan and repeatedly punch him. Mr Numan put his hand up to protect himself and received bruising," Mr Canning continued.

"Mr Miller then issued more racist abuse and punched the left side of Mr Numan's forehead. He then kicked the wing mirror of his car. Neighbours were disturbed and the police were called."

Miller had previously told police he had been drinking and had a tendency to become abusive when drunk.
The court heard that Mr Numan had made a claim for compensation for the fare of £6.75 that was never paid.

In mitigation, Gareth Evans said: "Mr Miller is a seriously contrite 28-year-old and he is ashamed of his actions.

"Mr Miller reached for his wallet but had no money. The disagreement provoked an inappropriate response. This doesn't justify what happened and Mr Miller knows he cannot justify it. There was never any prospect that Mr Miller was not going to pay Mr Numan his fare.

"Mr Miller is not a racist person and does not hold racist views."

Miller told police he didn't remember much about the incident because of the drink.

Mr Evans added: "He accepts responsibility and recognises his behaviour was over the top and inappropriate. He had massively too much to drink that night but he is not an excessive drinker usually."

The court heard Miller is in full time work and lives with his mother and father.

In August, seven attacks against drivers in the city were reported to police in the space of just three weeks.
Among the incidents was a horrific attack which left a driver with serious head injuries.

As revealed in the Echo, a 36-year-old local man was assaulted at the side of a busy road in Beacon Heath and was knocked unconscious.

Taxi firms interested in working with the police on the installation of cameras can call Sergeant Beverley Weston on 01392 451585.

This is Exeter

Orkney racist killer appeals (Scotland, UK)

Michael Ross was found guilty of murdering Shamsuddin Mahmood in 1994 and he is now making a bid to clear his name.

The man convicted for the racist killing of an Orkney waiter 16 years ago is appearing at the High Court in Edinburgh in a bid to clear his name.

Michael Ross is appealing against his conviction.

In 2008, he was found guilty of murdering Shamsuddin Mahmood, who was shot while working at an Indian Restaurant in Kirkwall in 1994.

The murder remained unsolved for 12 years until Northern Constabulary re-opened the case in 2007 and brought Black Watch sniper Ross – who was just 15 at the time – to justice.

Four days of court time have been set aside to hear Ross’s arguments for his appeal.

The emergence of a potential new witness could be the key to his success. Aberdeen woman Amelia Swanney – came forward after Ross was convicted.

The 28-year-old environmental consultant claims she had been with Ross in another part of Kirkwall when Mr Mahmood was shot. However, court officials were unable to say whether Miss Swanney’s evidence was a part of the appeal.

Ross who tried to escape from court at the end of his trial has continued to maintain his innocence.

Jailing him for a minimum of 25 years, Lord Hardie told the 32-year-old it was “a vicious, evil, unprovoked murder”. But now the former Army Sergeant has launched an appeal against his conviction and sentence.

News STV

Tennis ace 'victim of racist barrage' (UK)

Three men have been arrested after tennis player Anne Keothavong was allegedly racially abused as she prepared for a tournament in Devon.

The 27-year-old, Britain's No3-ranked player, posted on Twitter that she was "disgusted" after being subjected to a "barrage" of abuse.

Police said the men were arrested for the abuse and a shoplifting offence.

This is London

Disbanding Gárda rally ruled illegal (Hungary)

Police acted unlawfully by dissolving a rally of the far-right militia the Magyar Gárda on Erzsébet tér on July 4, 2009, when Jobbik chairman Gábor Vona was detained, the Municipal Court ruled in a final verdict on Monday.

Jobbik MP Tamás Nagy-Gaudi said the verdict should represent a turnabout in the assessment of the group and end its "persecution". The court said the meeting should only have been dissolved if it had become violent.

Politics Hu

Judges decide today if Wilders' inciting hatred trial can continue (Netherlands)

A special court in Amsterdam will decide on Tuesday afternoon if new judges should be sworn in for the trial of anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders on charges of inciting hatred.

On Monday, Wilders’ lawyer Bram Moszkowicz challenged the legitimacy of the court after the presiding judge appeared to criticise Wilders’ decision not to answer any questions.

Jan Moors said Wilders had often been accused of avoiding discussion about his views on Islam and Muslims. ‘By remaining silent, it seems you're doing that today as well,’ he said.

Wilders evoked his right to silence at the start of the trial, saying he would not answer any questions and that his lawyer would answer on his behalf.

Wilders, a silent partner of the probable new government, is on trial in Amsterdam on charges of discrimination and inciting hatred against Muslims, Moroccans and non-Western immigrants.

Statements
The trial centres on a number of statements made by Wilders over the years. In one, he likened the Koran to Hitler's book Mein Kampf and called for it to be banned.

In another, he said: 'The borders will be closed that day for all non-western immigrants....We have to stop the tsunami of islamisation. It is affecting our heart, our identity, our culture.'

As each statement was read out in court, Moors asked Wilders if the quotation was accurate and if he had approved it before publication. In each case, Wilders refused to answer.

Dutch News

Vatican paper slams Berlusconi over ‘Jewish joke’

The official Vatican newspaper slammed Italy's prime minister for a joke that played on Jewish stereotypes and made fun of the Holocaust.

Silvio Berlusconi told "offensive" and "deplorable" jokes, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano said in an editorial published Sunday

Berlusconi was filmed telling the "Jewish joke" to well-wishers Oct. 2; the video clip was posted online by the anti-Berlusconi newspaper La Repubblica.

In the clip the prime minister recounts how a Jew charged another Jew about $4,000 a day for hiding him during World War II. The punchline of the joke states, "The Jew says, the question now is whether we should tell him Hitler is dead and the war is over."

Berlusconi has been filmed or quoted in recent years making a number of other jokes that include content seen as sexist or offensive.

In its editorial the L'Osservatore Romano said, "The head of the government's jokes appear more deplorable" and "offend indiscriminately the feeling of the faithful and the sacred memory of the six million victims" of the Holocaust.

JTA

Police act over Blackburn halal demos (UK)

Police have obtained an order to restrict a right-wing group's protests over the serving of halal meat at Blackburn's Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Officers acted after seven nights of demonstrations kicked off with scenes of disorder as 50 English Defence League protestors descended on the Haslingden Road restaurant.

Four men were arrested on suspected public order offences late on Sunday and a skip was set on fire.
The problems prompted police to obtain an order which limits the protests to no more than nine demonstrators and means they must end their action by 7.30 each night.

And last night there were signs the order was working, with only eight protestors on site who pledged to follow the police line.
The EDL, a right-wing group which says it is against the 'Islam-ification' of England', is protesting about KFC's decision to pilot the use of Halal meat at the Blackburn restaurant.

Activists had pledged to demonstrate for seven nights from Sunday.

Senior officers took advantage of a little-used piece of legislation called a Section 14 order to bring in the restrictions.
A police spokesman said: "Whilst the police are keen to respect the demonstrators' rights to lawful protest, restrictions have been deemed necessary to maintain public order and reassure the public in the Blackburn area, following minor incidents of disorder that occurred on Saturday."

Salim Mulla, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM), said he had spoken with police over the protests and backed officers' actions.

He said: "We don't want any confrontation. We have asked the youth to keep away from the area. That is the message we are sending out and to let the police do their job.

"The EDL are totally unrepresentative of British society. We don't want to give them any prominence.
"Most people are willing to work together for better understanding of each other."

However, despite the protests, Coun Mulla said the LCM did not accept that KFC's meat was halal.
He said to be granted the status by the LCM the killing needed to be taken in the name of God, be hand slaughter and ensure the three main veins are cut so death is instant.

Coun Mulla said: "This method is less cruel than other methods and that has been shown in evidence from scientists.

"KFC stun the animals first and use a mechanical slaughter device, so we cannot support that."

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said no-one had ever complained to him about the serving of halal meat.
He said: "I eat halal and I have never had any problems with it.

"The police action to me seems to be perfectly sensible.

"This seems to be an effort by these people are more right wing than the BNP to stir up problems which don't exist."
Last night eight people from EDL gathered to protest outside the KFC.

A spokesman for the EDL said: "We have agreed with the police their conditions are fair enough and we are happy to abide by them.

"We are here to stop the Islamification of England. There are quite a few issues which concern us, such as the welfare of the animals that are slaughtered."

A spokesperson for KFC said they were carrying out the halal trial due to demand from customers.

He said: "Overall response has been positive. Our halal chicken is still stunned before slaughter.

"However we have made sure that there is a non-halal restaurant nearby, to give customers a choice.

"Police advised us of these planned protests, which are the actions of a very small minority, and while we acknowledge the right to peaceful demonstration, we do not tolerate any anti-social behaviour at our stores."

Blackburn Citizen

Protester assaulted officer at EDL rally (UK)

An Anti-Fascist protester arrested at the EDL rally in Bolton town centre has been found guilty of assaulting a police officer.

Roger Cox denied assaulting PC Darren Calladineat the English Defence League rally and Unite Against Fascism counter-demonstration on March 20.

But yesterday magistrates found him guilty of the offence, and said his version of events were “not credible”.

Justice4Bolton, a campaign group which claimed police used heavy-handed tactics on the day, held a show of solidarity outside the court before the trial started. The court heard that PC Calladine, of the tactical aid unit, was trying to arrest a man who was kicking out, when Cox pulled the man back into the crowd. Cox then hit the officer in the chest and swore at him.

Cox, aged 28, was forced to the ground and was handcuffed, with assistance from PC Eugene Mole.
Andrew Fitzpatrick, defending, accused the police of pushing the demonstrators.

He said: “Is it not the case there was concerted effort by the police to move the demonstrators away from where they were in the square?”

PC Calladine replied: “No, the police were trying to hold the line.”

“I’m suggesting that pushing came from the police,” said Mr Fitzpatrick. PC Calladine repeated that the police were trying to hold the line.
Mr Fitzpatrick suggested that PC Calladine “made a beeline”
for Cox.
PC Calladine said: “That is not correct. He struck me on the chest and helped another male make good his escape.”

The court heard that Cox, of Croydon Road, Newcastle, has a previous conviction for resisting arrest at an immigration demonstration in 2008.

He tried to fasten himself to a steering wheel of a police van in dawn raids.

Cox said that he was not doing anything wrong when PC Calladine arrested him in Victoria Square.
He said: “I saw the officer come down to me and he did not come into contact with anyone else, and he grabbed me. I did not see any punching or kicking by protesters but I did see violence from the police.”
He told the court he did not hit the officer in the chest and he did not swear at him.

He said that a CCTV camera on top of the magistrates court was pointing in his direction and might have recorded the incident.

Mr Fitzpatrick asked for an adjournment before the trial to obtain more CCTV, but the application was rejected. The trial was supposed to be held in July but that was put back when the same request was made.
Magistrates said there had been ample time to request the CCTV.

Chairman of the bench Stephen Paine said: “PC Calladine gave credible evidence.

“Cox’s evidence was also consistent but the version of events did not seem credible.”

The case has been adjourned to November 1 for sentence.

After the case, Lindsay Bessell, a spokesman for Justice4Bolton, said: “It is a policeman’s word against a protester so it was obvious there would be guilty verdict.

“There is no justice in the legal system and that’s why Justice4Bolton has formed to ensure this sort of thing stops.

Hopefully this decision will be challenged and we will continue to support other defendants.”

Bolton News

BNP takes hate message to Larne with fake picture (Northern Ireland)

The BNP has taken its race hate message to Larne.
 Skinhead members of Nick Griffin's far-right party spent the last week leafleting homes in the Co Antrim seaside town.

They put scaremongering mail through doors warning about a new asylum seeker centre which is being built in Larne.

The BNP news-sheet includes a fake picture of two Muslim women dressed in burkas walking down the Glenarm Road.

The leaftlet states: “The good folk of Larne do not want their town being used as a dumping |ground, holding centre, or whatever name the liberal elite wish to call it.

“No matter how much sugar coating is applied to this foul tasting proposal, the Ulster BNP...will not have the wool pulled over their eyes.”

But what the BNP leaflet does not say is that the asylum centre is being built inside the local PSNI station.

The 25 immigrants held there ahead of deportation will not be able to leave the complex.

They will not be allowed enter the town and will be shielded from public view.

Larne Mayor Bobby McKee accused the BNP of whipping up racial tension.
He said: “I wouldn't give these BNP people the time of day.

They held a protest at a council meeting at the beginning of September and only 10 people showed up. They have no support.”

Bobby explained that the majority of refugees who will be held at the new detention centre will be children.

“They will be held within the grounds of the PSNI station before being deported. It's not like they will be running the streets,” he added. “Instead of moaning the BNP should recognise the contribution refugees have made to society.

“They come to Northern Ireland and gladly do the jobs no-one else will do.

“You've got to give them credit for that, they are only trying to escape poverty.”

The BNP Larne leaflet drop was the brainchild of its new Northern Ireland organiser Steve Moore — who was born in the town. On the BNP’s website, Moore said: “Local people are horrified by this news that their town has been earmarked as a dumping ground for illegal immigrants and bogus asylum seekers.

“We have seen that it is almost impossible to deport anyone from our country because of the insane Human Rights Act. Larne will undoubtedly become home to these economic migrants.”

Belfast Telegraph

Thousands demonstrate against racism (Sweden)

Over 4,000 people gathered in central Stockholm on Monday to demonstrate for diversity and against racism, with the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats in focus as the party took its place in parliament for the first time.

The demonstrators gathered on Sergels Torg in central Stockholm to listen to speeches and then began a march towards Sweden's parliament, the Riksdag, on Myntorget.

Behind the demonstration were the anti-racism groups the "September Alliance", Stockholm's anti-racist culture association, and various Facebook groups, with speeches held by, among others, Left Party leader Lars Ohly.

Similar, if smaller, demonstrations were held across the country on Monday evening.

The demonstration was a repeat of the massive spontaneous turnout on the day after the Swedish general election, which left the Sweden Democrats with 5.7 percent of the vote and 20 seats in parliament.

Monday was the first day the new members of parliament gathered in the chamber, for a roll-call and to vote on various officials, including the speaker and deputy speakers.

The Sweden Democrats had attempted to use the speaker election to push for negotiations with the major parties as the party stood to hold the balance of power, but neither the Moderates nor the Social Democrats took up the offer.

While the Sweden Democrats in the end elected to vote with the Alliance candidate, Per Westerberg, the party's 20 votes had no impact on the outcome as he was returned to the post by 194 votes to 153.

The Local Sweden

Geert Wilders trial halted as lawyer accuses judge of bias

Dutch far-right leader's advocate challenges presiding judge's comment on opening day of Wilders ' trial for inciting racial hatred.

Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch Freedom party and one of Europe's leading Islam-baiters, went on trial  today charged with hate speech and inciting racism, but the case was swiftly engulfed by uncertainty after a challenge over alleged judges' bias.

The opening of the trial, expected to last a month in Amsterdam, followed a successful weekend for the maverick Dutch politician, with his influence over a new rightwing government confirmed and a campaign speech in Germany aimed at establishing a trans-national European movement against Muslim immigration.
Wilders entered the dock amid heavy security and promptly affirmed his commitment to free speech, dismissing the charges against him while not entering a plea.

He faces a hefty fine or a year in jail if found guilty on five charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims and insulting their religion for likening, as he routinely does, the Qur'an to Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf and describing Islam as fascist.

"I am on trial, but on trial with me is the freedom of expression of many Dutch citizens," he told the Amsterdam district court. "I can assure you, I will continue proclaiming it."

Wilders then asserted his right to remain silent for the rest of the trial, prompting a comment from the presiding judge, Jan Moors, which was challenged by Wilders's lawyer.

Moors said Wilders was known for making bold statements but avoiding discussions, adding: "It appears you're doing so again."

Bram Moszkowicz, representing Wilders, said the comment gave the appearance that Moors was biased and moved to have him substituted.

The hearing was suspended while other judges consider the complaint. They are to rule tomorrow on Wilders's challenge, meaning that a new panel of three judges could be appointed, delaying the trial by several months.

"I thought I had a right to a fair trial, including the right to remain silent," said Wilders. "It is scandalous that the judge passes comment on that. A fair trial is not possible with judges like that."

At the weekend, rather than comparing Islam to fascism, Wilders argued that Islam was the new communism, paraphrasing Karl Marx to declare that Islam is now the spectre haunting Europe.

Relishing a role as a martyr for liberty and free speech, he stated: "I am standing trial … because of my opinions on Islam … and because the Dutch establishment – most of them non-Muslims – wants to silence me. I have been dragged to court because in my country freedom can no longer be fully enjoyed.
"In Europe the national state, and increasingly the EU, prescribes how citizens – including democratically elected politicians such as myself – should think and what we are allowed to say."

The attempt to bring Wilders to trial was initially dismissed, but an appeals court ruled he should face charges after he wrote an opinion piece in a Dutch newspaper stating: "I've had enough of Islam in the Netherlands; let not one more Muslim immigrate … I've had enough of the Qur'an in the Netherlands. Forbid that fascist book."

He makes such statements on a weekly basis and was banned from entering Britain for reasons of hate speech under the Brown government. The ban was later lifted.

Two years ago, in an interview with the Guardian, he said: "Islam is something we can't afford any more in the Netherlands. I want the fascist Qur'an banned. We need to stop the Islamisation of the Netherlands. That means no more mosques, no more Islamic schools, no more imams." He added that Islam was "the ideology of a retarded culture".

"Not all Muslims are terrorists, but almost all terrorists are Muslims," said Wilders.

In Berlin at the weekend he argued that Islam was bent on dominating the west, deliberately flooding Europe with migrants.

"We must realise that Islam expands in two ways. Historically, Islam expanded either by military conquest or by using the weapon of hijra, immigration. Muhammad conquered Medina through immigration. Hijra is also what we are experiencing today. The Islamisation of Europe continues all the time. But the west has no strategy for dealing with the Islamic ideology, because our elites say that we must adapt to them rather than the other way round."

While Wilders was delivering his call in Berlin for a new "international freedom alliance" targeting Muslim immigration in Europe, Dutch Christian Democrats held their noses and committed to a new minority government with the rightwing liberal VVD party, which will depend on the backing of Wilders's 24 seats in the Dutch parliament.

In return for his support, Wilders has gained a binding agreement to ban the burqa, crack down on immigration, and pursue more Eurosceptic policies.

"This is an historic event for the Netherlands," he said. "We will be able to rebuild our country, preserve our national identity and offer our children a better future."

The new government is expected to be sworn in next month, led by Mark Rutte, the VVD leader, as prime minister.

The Guardian

Elections Committee says public radio's modifying Jobbik ad unlawful (Hungary)

The National Elections Committee said on Sunday that Hungarian public radio MR acted unlawfully when it added comments to a political ad of radical nationalist party Jobbik. A complaint had been submitted on behalf of Jobbik stating that the radio violated the principle of equality of the political parties during an election and rules on elections procedures when it broadcasted an opinion and comment before airing a controversial Jobbik ad. MR and public television MTV had previously refused to air Jobbik ads which contained the expression "Gypsy crime" but Hungary's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the public media were obliged to broadcast the Jobbik party's ads. As a result, MR broadcast the ad but added its own comments to it. MR explained that they had previously refused to air the ad because "some of its statements violated constitutional principles," but since the National Elections Committee and the Supreme Court ruled that they were obliged to air the ad, MR had no other choice but to respect the court decision. According to the complaint, MR broadcast this comment before and after the Jobbik ad.

 Politics Hu

Dutch anti-Islamist MP Geert Wilders goes on trial

The Dutch anti-Islamist MP Geert Wilders has gone on trial in Amsterdam on charges of inciting hatred against Muslims. 

If found guilty, Mr Wilders could face up to a year in jail or a fine of up to 7,600 euros ($10,000).
The trial comes as Mr Wilders' political influence soars - he is set to be a shadow partner of the next coalition government.

He says the case against him a test of freedom of speech.

Mr Wilders will stand trial on five charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims.

His statements have included calling Islam fascist and likening the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.

Prosecutors say Mr Wilders committed the offences in his 17-minute film Fitna, which has sparked protests across the Muslim world.

He campaigns for a stop to Muslim immigration to the Netherlands, a ban on the construction of new mosques, and a tax on headscarves.

Mr Wilders was refused entry to Britain last year, after being invited to show his film in the House of Lords.
Due to numerous death threats, he is always surrounded by bodyguards.

Mr Wilders says his mission to stop the Islamisation of the Netherlands.

The judgement is expected on 4 November.

BBC News

Park51 drawings prove how far 'Ground Zero mosque' claims are from truth (USA)

Plans for $120m project suggest building will be a multifaith community centre, including gym and playground.

Judging by the criticism thrown at the Muslim centre planned for downtown Manhattan, you would think developers intended to build an Islamic citadel right on top of Ground Zero with "sponsored by al-Qaida" written on its front.

In fact, the proposed scheme for the much-slated "Ground Zero mosque" is neither a mosque nor at Ground Zero – it is a multifaith community centre with an Islamic prayer area, two blocks north of the site where the twin towers once stood. Now, conceptual drawings of the building have been released, revealing a planned structure that is strikingly modern and in keeping with the spirit of New York's most cutting-edge design.
Park51, named after its location on the site of an old coat factory in Park Place, would be a sleek 15-storey tower sandwiched between older buildings.

The most vivid element of the renderings, drawn by a New York-based design studio, Soma Architects, is the building's white frontage, which is broken up into a lattice of interlocking geometric shapes. At night, it would be lit up like a glistening honeycomb.

The device is a clear allusion to the intricate arabesque motifs found in Islamic architecture, and is reminiscent of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, which shot the architect Jean Nouvel to fame in the 1980s. But it also pays homage to other religions, with the Jewish Star of David being clearly visible among its patterns.
Contrary to the mass of bad publicity that has been heaped on it in recent weeks, the building is designed to be multifaith and also secular.

Sharif el-Gamal, the developer of the $120m (£76m) project, told Associated Press that nearly a quarter of its space would be devoted to a sports and fitness centre, which, it is hoped, would attract New York residents of any faith and ethnicity for a fee of up to $2,700 a year per family. Another floor would be given over to a playground and childcare area.

In addition, there would be a restaurant and exhibition space, and on the 12th floor a memorial and sanctuary remembering the events of 11 September 2001 that would again be multidenominational.

"I don't think that once this thing gets built, anyone will be picketing," Gamal told AP.
The most controversial aspect of the scheme – its Muslim prayer space, which would occupy two floors in the basement – will not be a mosque at all as the construction of the building does not satisfy the stringent requirements for a sanctified mosque.

Seen from the inside, the renderings show the lattice work casting intricate shadows across the white floors, another allusion to arabesque design with its emphasis on naturally lit interiors.

The drawings are only a vision of how the building might go. An official architect for the project has yet to be appointed, and ground breaking on the construction will not begin for at least three years.

By then, the developer and the charity behind the project, the Cordoba Initiative, hope that the furore will have died down.
Gamal said that he regretted the way things had gone. "I would have done things a lot differently during this process if I understood what we were up against. People have been calling this the 'Ground Zero mosque'. It's not at Ground Zero and it's not a mosque. Our identity has been stolen from us. It has been stolen by extremists."

The attack has been led by Christian evangelical and rightwing political groups, who say Park51 is a "victory mosque", revelling in the glory of 9/11. In the most extreme case, this September, Pastor Terry Jones threatened to burn 200 Qur'ans in protest at the centre.

Could a building be less militantly Islamic? 
First illustrations of the 15-storey Park51 development planned to house the Islamic centre reveal a decidedly upbeat and glamorous building, more festive than threatening. These preliminary renderings by Soma, however, should be thought of as what might be rather than what definitely will. An architect has yet to be officially appointed.
Even so, the interiors – a honeycomb structure awash with daylight – look as if they could be uplifting and special. But then, you would expect something glamorous and fresh from Soma, a New York firm founded by the Lebanese-born Michel Abboud, who has recently completed the enjoyably hip Tartinery Nolita brasserie in SoHo.

Equally, at least four floors of Park51 are to be given over to a gym and spa, and only two basement floors to a Muslim prayer hall. With a restaurant, artists' studios and a childcare centre, this $140m building clad in an abstract play of Islamic patterns could hardly be less militantly hardcore. As one young man attending the nearby Sufi al-Farah mosque in lower Manhattan told the New York Times: "Because this is a new country, it revolutionises everything. Food, industry, philosophy and even religion." He might have added: "Islamic architecture, too."

The Guardian 

Family Claims Noose Found In Front Yard (USA)

A family is afraid to let its children play outside after finding what they believe to be a noose in the front yard of their home.

Jerry and Tawanna Youree said they discovered the rope hanging from a tree Thursday, 6News' Tanya Spencer reported. "Yesterday, when I came home, I noticed it hanging from the tree," Jerry Youree said. "That sounds like a racial hate crime, and if that's true, I've got little ones."

The Youree family moved into the home about three weeks ago and said Friday's discovery wasn't the first sign that they aren't welcomed by some. Tawanna Youree said people who are driving by the home have yelled racial slurs at her and her children and that the children were called names at a park nearby. "They yell, 'White power,' calling them (n-word) and monkeys and things like that, and it's scary. You know, it's real scary," she said. "My son, right now he's scared to go walk the dog, because he's getting racial slurs and people running up to him talking about white power, you need to move out of the neighborhood. It's really sad, grown men." Though new to the neighborhood, the Yourees have lived in Noblesville for four years. Their children are involved in sports, and they want to stay in the community. "They shouldn't be able to run me out of Noblesville. I love it here. We have rights," Tawanna Youree said. "This is a good place to raise kids, and this is where I want to stay." The Yourees said they called Noblesville police Friday, but that an officer didn't take a report, saying that it was clear to him that the rope was part of an old swing that may have recently blown down.

The Indy Channel

Document shows ex-French leader's anti-Semitism

A famed Holocaust historian says a recently uncovered 1940 document provides written proof of the personal involvement by the wartime leader of Nazi-occupied France in persecuting Jews.

Serge Klarsfeld told The Associated Press on Sunday that the document was given a few days ago to France's Holocaust Memorial museum by a donor who wanted to remain anonymous.

Klarsfeld says the document includes personal notes by the leader of the collaborationist Vichy regime, Philippe Petain, describing how authorities should target Jews, notably by keeping them out of public office and bar them from working in schools.

Klarsfeld says the document is "important" because it confirms Petain's personal role in determining the status of Jews at the time.

Associated press

Swiss far-right behind anti-Roma poster

The far-right Swiss People’s Party has admitted it is behind an advertising campaign that likens Roma migrants and Italians to rats.
Some sixty posters went up in the southern canton of Tessin, which borders Italy.

They show a Roma thief, an Italian worker and Italy’s Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti as rats nibbling at Swiss cheese.

The Swiss People’s Party or SVP is the largest single political party in parliament and part of Switzerland’s ruling coalition government.

Party official Pierre Rusconi said he had commissioned the campaign but said they reflected the real concerns of local people.

The adverts first appeared on Monday, but for days nobody claimed responsibility.

Italian MP Franco Narducci said he would be ask authorities to shut down all Internet sites and Facebook pages which published the poster.

The SVP has a reputation for provocative political campaigns.

It initiated a referendum on banning minarets last year, publishing pictures of burka-clad Muslim women with rockets strapped to their backs.
 
Euro-News

Police hunting racist thug who abused and threatened 62-year-old Chilean man changing tyre (UK)

Police are hunting a racist thug who verbally abused and threatened a 62-year-old Chilean man while the victim was changing his car's flat tyre.

The victim was on the city-bound lane of Exeter Street, in a safe parking spot near HSS Tool Hire at around 11am on September 25.

Police say that without any provocation he was approached by a man who became extremely racially abusive towards him, first telling the victim he could not park there before repeatedly hurling obscenities and racially abusing him.

The tirade continued for some time, with the suspect shouting obscenities at the top of his voice.

When the terrified victim pulled out his mobile phone to contact police the thug ran forward and kicked the phone out of the victim's hand.

It was only when a female member of the public stepped in between the victim and the attacker that he finally broke off his tirade, but not before threatening the woman.

Investigators say there were several people in the area at the time of the offence who undoubtedly heard the loud shouts and saw the attacker.

The suspect finally walked off in the direction of Cattedown.

Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to call police on 08452 777444 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference number EC/10/9966.

This is Plymouth

Dutch politician Wilders draws protests in Berlin

Far-right Dutch populist politician Geert Wilders warned against the "Islamisation" of Europe and criticised  German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a speech in Berlin on Saturday that sparked public protests.

More than 500 people gathered to hear Wilders speak at the Hotel Berlin. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Berlin's police said over 100 people gathered for a protest against the anti-Islam politician's visit.

The demonstration, which was organised by the Social Democrats and an association opposed to extreme-right politics, passed off peacefully.

Protestors, outnumbered by around 250 police, brandished photos of the shock-blond Wilders that portrayed him with a moustache similar to that worn by Adolf Hitler.

In his speech at the Hotel Berlin, Wilders claimed Germany's national identity, democracy and prosperity were threatened by Islamic political ideology. "A Germany full of mosques and full of veiled women is no longer the Germany of Schiller and Heine, Bach and Mendelssohn," he said.

The 47-year-old politician also took aim at Chancellor Merkel and Germany's established parties, accusing them of accepting the "Islamisation" of Germany.

Wilders was invited to speak in Berlin by ousted former conservative politician René Stadtkewitz, who recently announced he was forming a new "Freedom" party in Germany.

In an interview with the Sonntag Aktuell newspaper, Green party parliamentary group leader Jürgen Trittin said Wilders' visit was an "affront to Berlin's cosmopolitan tradition," in a city that is home to hundreds of thousands of Muslims. "We must stop all attempts by smug right-wing populists and Islamophobic bigots to marginalise and vilify these fellow citizens," he said.

Wilders' anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV) won record support in the June election in the Netherlands, giving it the third highest vote and an unprecedented bargaining position.

At a special party congress in the Dutch city of Arnhem on Saturday, members of the Dutch Christian Democrats (CDA) agreed to a power deal with the Liberal party (VVD), which would rely on support from Wilders' PVV.

In the run-up to the decision, German politicians expressed concern over the pact.

Wilders is due to stand trial in Amsterdam on Monday on five charges of giving religious offence to Muslims and inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims and people of non-western immigrant origin, particularly Moroccans.

The target of death threats, Wilders enjoys 24-hour state-sponsored protection while pursuing his mission to "stop the Islamisation of the Netherlands."

The Local Germany

Veterans Against Jihad Takes on ‘Threat’ of Sharia Law (USA)

The latest fairy tale to emerge from the paranoid right is the idea that the United States legal system is haunted by the specter of Sharia law. Although strict Islamic legal codes are the rare exception even among Muslim-majority nations, anti-Muslim groups and individuals — including well-known politicians like Newt Gingrich — are now warning with straight faces that mullahs could soon be caning American schoolchildren if they get caught chewing gum.

Among the groups decrying this make-believe threat, a relatively new organization called Veterans Against Jihad (VAJ) seems particularly well positioned to benefit from the current Sharia hysteria. Founded last spring by two retired Marine Corps veterans, the goal of VAJ is to “to encourage Veterans to more actively respond to challenges threatening our Constitution [and] awaken American Citizens to Islam’s Jihadist religious mandate, which dictates the teaching of Shari’ah law, and how Shari’ah Law will impact our way of life.”

Toward this end, the group is asking all veterans to “renew and retake The Oath of Enlistment, reaffirming their loyalty to our Constitution, our Country and it’s [sic] citizens.” But the VAJ’s understanding of that loyalty is an unusual one; its manifesto specifies the kinds of orders its members can respect as well as what sort of authority it deems legitimate. The VAJ code promises only to cooperate with those officials “legally enforcing, and/or preserving our nation’s security.” Judging from the VAJ site, it is clear the group does not consider that the current Democratic White House fits the bill.

The VAJ’s distaste for religiously flavored law, however, is selective. Among the far-right groups and individuals linked to on its site is Reclaim America for Christ, which is on a mission to “educate our pastors, legislators, educators, students and all citizens as to the truth about America’s Christian Heritage and the role of fundamental, Biblical Christianity in the establishment and function of our legal, legislative and educational systems.”

While the VAJ works to protect America from Allah and reclaim it for Christ, it sees the menace of Sharia everywhere, including law firms that offer consultations on the (private) intricacies of Islamic estate planning. But as this article in the New Jersey Jewish News notes (referenced in this Eugene Robinson column), there has in the entire history of the republic been only one instance of an actual crime (domestic abuse) being forgiven by a U.S. judge on grounds of “Islamic practices” — and this ruling was swiftly overturned by another judge.

“Talk of Sharia law taking root in our country is just a way of stirring up nativist fears,” said Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center. “It would require throwing out the entire Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. Obviously, no such effort would have the remotest chance of success.”

SPLC Centre