Sunday, February 12, 2006

The fake rally

The BBC report on the "United against Incitement and Islamophobia" rally planned for Trafalgar Square
"The rally ... wasx organised by the Muslim Council of Britain, the Muslim Association of Britain and a number of Christian organisations."
Well, yes. Two minor inaccuracies and a curious omission. According to main organisers the Muslim Association of Britain and the Islamic Forum of Europe, the MCB are 'supporters', not organisers.
Secondly the 'number of Christian organisations' appears to be one - Pax Christi, a 'peace group' wholly focused on Palestine and the Middle East. (UPDATE - I'm sure their presence is nothing to do with the fact that a trustee of their educational arm, Norman Kember, is currently an enforced guest of the Swords of Truth Brigade in Iraq. Hat-tip to Rick in the comments).
The curious omission? The appearance of the Socialist Workers Party front the Stop the War Coalition, or the state-funded Operation Black Vote is not unexpected. But surely the fact that the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament considers the suppression of cartoons of Mohammmed a part of its campaigning work is newsworthy? I'd have asked them for an interview.
UPDATE - just a thought. Has the BBC website not realised yet that the cartoons were published in Egypt last October? I can't see the story anywhere.

thanks Laban

1 comment:

Tis' Me said...

EK, just a suggestion, but could you or someone you know talk about how things have changed in the UK in the last twenty to thirty years? Not just the laws, but life in general.