Latest on UAF Wembley Mobilisation against EDL

Following Theresa May's decision to ban the entry of Zakir Naik, one of the main speakers at next Saturday's Peace Convention, it is not clear whether the Convention will go ahead. It may be postponed until Naik's entry is secured or may go ahead with a video link.

Meanwhile the EDL have claimed the ban as a victory and said they are switching their action on the 26th to Barking where there is a council by-election.

The Muslim Council of Britain and the Convention organisers have issued statements condemning the Home Secretary's ban on Naik who has been pilloried for being a 'hate preacher' on various blogs using various quotations attributed to him. The Islamic Research Foundation today issued a long press release taking each quotation in turn and giving the full context. I have reprinted this as a page on this site so that readers can make their own judgement.

However, for me the main issue is that whatever the pretext, it is important that we make it clear that the English Defence League are not welcome in Wembley. We have a successful multicultural community that of course is not perfect, but where people get along with friends, neighbours and work colleagues of all sorts of backgrounds. We do not want to see that community disrupted and divided by people who thrive on feeding prejudice, stereotypes and discontent.

Brent and Harrow UAF will be holding an organising meeting next week to discuss developments and I will post any further news on this site.

Labour councillors back UAF Statement on EDL

 Cllr Ann John, leader of Brent Council, has written to Brent and Harrow UAF in support of the statement below which is being circulated throughout the borough:

I am writing on behalf of all of Brent Council’s 40 Labour councillors to support the statement you have made in opposition to the English Defence League’s planned demonstration in Brent.

Brent is Britain’s most diverse multi-cultural and multi-faith borough and our diversity is our strength. The planned demonstration is a deliberate provocation aimed at creating fear amongst the Muslim community and undermining community relations.

The EDL is not welcome here.

UNITE AGAINST FASCISM STATEMENT

●No to Racism
●No to Islamophobia
●EDL not welcome here

 

The English Defence League is threatening to demonstrate in Wembley on Saturday June 26th against a Peace Conference, organised by a Muslim charitable foundation and aimed at building understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. The EDL is an organisation of violent, bigoted thugs with proven links to the Nazi BNP. They should be condemned everywhere, but will be particularly unwelcome if they come to Wembley, part of this country’s most diverse borough. We are proud of our diversity. In the London Borough of Brent, people live and work together, children study, play and grow up together in peace and mutual respect, regardless of faith or skin colour. As residents and workers in the borough, we will not tolerate attempts to divide us or stir up hatred. We stood united to show that there was no place for racism and Islamophobia in the neighbouring borough of Harrow. We stand prepared to do the same in Brent.

This statement was initiated by UAF Brent & Harrow and national Unite Against Fascism. For further information or to add your name to the statement, contact: uafbrentandharrow@gmail.com