Thursday, November 30, 2006
Blair May Ban Veils
The Mirror is reporting that Tony Blair has held meetings with Islamic leaders to discuss the possibilities of banning the full face veil in certain areas, like school, hospitals and courtrooms.The news comes a day after a BBC poll revealed large support for the proposals.
British terror suspects lose extradition battle
Two terrorist suspects today lost their High Court battle to avoid extradition to the U.S.. Lawyers for Haroon Rashid Aswat and Babar Ahmad argued that, despite U.S. assurances, there was 'a real risk' that the men would be mistreated, or tried and sentenced as enemy combatants if sent to America.
Dismissing their appeal, Lord Justice Laws, sitting in London with Mr Justice Walker, said the allegation that the US might violate undertakings given to the UK "would require proof of a quality entirely lacking here".
Ahmad, a computer expert from Tooting, south London, is accused of running websites inciting murder and urging Muslims to fight a holy war and also to raise money for the Taliban.
Aswat, a British man arrested in Africa, faces trial on charges of plotting to set up a camp in Bly, Oregon, to train fighters for war in Afghanistan. He has been fighting extradition to the US since being arrested in Zambia and held in the UK.
At a recent hearing, Edward Fitzgerald QC, appearing for both men, asked two senior judges to halt extradition, arguing there was a danger that their human rights would be abused, despite diplomatic assurances from the US Government.
The QC told Lord Justice Laws, sitting with Mr Justice Walker, that the men also faced the risk of extraordinary rendition - the process of removing terrorist suspects to third countries for interrogation - and being held in solitary confinement.
He said they were in danger of being indefinitely detained at Guantanamo Bay under a military order applying to foreign citizens, or tried and sentenced by a military commission as enemy combatants in what would amount to "a flagrant denial of justice" and European human rights laws.
Mr Fitzgerald told the judges they should not rely on assurances given by the Americans that the men would be treated fairly.
The judges said they would take time to consider whether both men should be given permission to take their case to the House of Lords, the highest court in the land, for a final ruling.
They will announce their decision at a later date. Mr Fitzgerald argued that the case raised human rights issues of public importance which should go before the Law Lords.
Later, Ashfaq Ahmad, the father of 32-year-old Babar Ahmad, said: "We are very disappointed with the High Court verdict today.
"We are hopeful that the High Court will certify that a point of law of public importance on military detention and rendition has been raised and recommend this matter should go to the House of Lords."
In his ruling, Lord Justice Laws said the court was "acting on the faith that the United States will be true to the spirit and the letter" of diplomatic exchanges with the UK Government and obligations under the 1972 UK - USA Extradition Treaty.
He said: "The terms of this judgment express the legal expectations and understanding of the United Kingdom court.
"I apprehend that these will be well fulfilled and honoured when the appellants are extradited."
Ahmad and Aswat feared that they might be subjected to extraordinary rendition "with at least a substantial risk of torture in a third state, particularly if they are acquitted in the federal civilian court".
Diplomatic notes provided no assurance against this happening. The judge warned that, if that were to happen, "that would in my view be a plain violation at least of the spirit, and I would have thought the letter, of the 1972 Treaty, and - whatever one makes of the precise terms of the diplomatic notes - a gross breach of the trust subsisting between the US and the UK."
The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" about the ramifications of today's decision.
The commission's chair, Massoud Shadjareh, stated: "Since Britain has some of the most comprehensive terrorism laws in the world, if there is any evidence against these men, they should be charged and tried in a British court.
"Without any evidence being produced, innocent British citizens will be subjected to an American criminal justice system which has done away with due process and legitimised torture in its war on terror."
Dismissing their appeal, Lord Justice Laws, sitting in London with Mr Justice Walker, said the allegation that the US might violate undertakings given to the UK "would require proof of a quality entirely lacking here".
Ahmad, a computer expert from Tooting, south London, is accused of running websites inciting murder and urging Muslims to fight a holy war and also to raise money for the Taliban.
Aswat, a British man arrested in Africa, faces trial on charges of plotting to set up a camp in Bly, Oregon, to train fighters for war in Afghanistan. He has been fighting extradition to the US since being arrested in Zambia and held in the UK.
At a recent hearing, Edward Fitzgerald QC, appearing for both men, asked two senior judges to halt extradition, arguing there was a danger that their human rights would be abused, despite diplomatic assurances from the US Government.
The QC told Lord Justice Laws, sitting with Mr Justice Walker, that the men also faced the risk of extraordinary rendition - the process of removing terrorist suspects to third countries for interrogation - and being held in solitary confinement.
He said they were in danger of being indefinitely detained at Guantanamo Bay under a military order applying to foreign citizens, or tried and sentenced by a military commission as enemy combatants in what would amount to "a flagrant denial of justice" and European human rights laws.
Mr Fitzgerald told the judges they should not rely on assurances given by the Americans that the men would be treated fairly.
The judges said they would take time to consider whether both men should be given permission to take their case to the House of Lords, the highest court in the land, for a final ruling.
They will announce their decision at a later date. Mr Fitzgerald argued that the case raised human rights issues of public importance which should go before the Law Lords.
Later, Ashfaq Ahmad, the father of 32-year-old Babar Ahmad, said: "We are very disappointed with the High Court verdict today.
"We are hopeful that the High Court will certify that a point of law of public importance on military detention and rendition has been raised and recommend this matter should go to the House of Lords."
In his ruling, Lord Justice Laws said the court was "acting on the faith that the United States will be true to the spirit and the letter" of diplomatic exchanges with the UK Government and obligations under the 1972 UK - USA Extradition Treaty.
He said: "The terms of this judgment express the legal expectations and understanding of the United Kingdom court.
"I apprehend that these will be well fulfilled and honoured when the appellants are extradited."
Ahmad and Aswat feared that they might be subjected to extraordinary rendition "with at least a substantial risk of torture in a third state, particularly if they are acquitted in the federal civilian court".
Diplomatic notes provided no assurance against this happening. The judge warned that, if that were to happen, "that would in my view be a plain violation at least of the spirit, and I would have thought the letter, of the 1972 Treaty, and - whatever one makes of the precise terms of the diplomatic notes - a gross breach of the trust subsisting between the US and the UK."
The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" about the ramifications of today's decision.
The commission's chair, Massoud Shadjareh, stated: "Since Britain has some of the most comprehensive terrorism laws in the world, if there is any evidence against these men, they should be charged and tried in a British court.
"Without any evidence being produced, innocent British citizens will be subjected to an American criminal justice system which has done away with due process and legitimised torture in its war on terror."
Muslims oppose building of huge mosque
More than 2,500 Muslims have signed a petition opposing plans to build Europe?s biggest mosque next to London?s 2012 Olympic Park.
The petition, organised by worshippers in the borough of Newham, has drawn the signatures in 10 days. The mosque scheme includes an Islamic garden, school and prayer space for 70,000.
It has been criticised by the Muslim community who fear the involvement of Tablighi Jamaat, an ultraorthodox sect, behind the proposal.
Moderate Muslims say allowing the sect to build the complex will stoke community tensions. The petition warns the mosque could provide a recruiting ground for terrorists.
The sect preaches a strict interpretation of Islam which has been adopted by extremists and terrorists.
Asif Shakoor, chairman of the Sunni Friends of Newham, said they wanted all Muslim groups to be equally represented at the proposed place of worship.
Ruth Kelly, the Communities and Local Government Secretary, is aware of the petition. She has the power to subject the scheme to a public inquiry.
Newham council signed a memorandum of agreement in 2001 with the charity behind Tablighi Jamaat, the Anjuman-E-Islahul Muslimmen, which stated there would be "no objection in principle to ... a major new, high-quality mosque".
But a leaked FBI document, obtained by the American news media in 2001, raised fears that al Qaeda was using membership of the Tablighi Jamaat "as cover... to network with other extremists in the US".
please sign the petition
The petition, organised by worshippers in the borough of Newham, has drawn the signatures in 10 days. The mosque scheme includes an Islamic garden, school and prayer space for 70,000.
It has been criticised by the Muslim community who fear the involvement of Tablighi Jamaat, an ultraorthodox sect, behind the proposal.
Moderate Muslims say allowing the sect to build the complex will stoke community tensions. The petition warns the mosque could provide a recruiting ground for terrorists.
The sect preaches a strict interpretation of Islam which has been adopted by extremists and terrorists.
Asif Shakoor, chairman of the Sunni Friends of Newham, said they wanted all Muslim groups to be equally represented at the proposed place of worship.
Ruth Kelly, the Communities and Local Government Secretary, is aware of the petition. She has the power to subject the scheme to a public inquiry.
Newham council signed a memorandum of agreement in 2001 with the charity behind Tablighi Jamaat, the Anjuman-E-Islahul Muslimmen, which stated there would be "no objection in principle to ... a major new, high-quality mosque".
But a leaked FBI document, obtained by the American news media in 2001, raised fears that al Qaeda was using membership of the Tablighi Jamaat "as cover... to network with other extremists in the US".
please sign the petition
Survey finds support for veil ban
One in three people would support a ban on the Muslim face-covering veil in public places, a survey suggests.
Asked if the veils should be prohibited in airports and at passport control, six out of 10 agreed. ICM surveyed 1,004 people for the BBC.
Muslim groups say the figures may reflect public unease because of how the media has presented the veil.
In October Leader of the Commons Jack Straw said he asked female constituents to remove their veils for interviews.
This sparked a national debate.
In the survey, a nationally representative sample of people were asked whether they would approve of the government banning Muslim women from wearing veils which cover their faces in public places.
Some 33% of respondents said they would approve of a ban and 56% said they would not. Just under one in 10 said they did not know.
Asked if they would support prohibition in specific circumstances, 61% said they would approve a ban in airports and at passport control, 53% in courtrooms and 53% in schools.
Some 41% said they would support a workplace ban - but 56% said they would oppose such a move for public transport.
Asked if the veils should be prohibited in airports and at passport control, six out of 10 agreed. ICM surveyed 1,004 people for the BBC.
Muslim groups say the figures may reflect public unease because of how the media has presented the veil.
In October Leader of the Commons Jack Straw said he asked female constituents to remove their veils for interviews.
This sparked a national debate.
In the survey, a nationally representative sample of people were asked whether they would approve of the government banning Muslim women from wearing veils which cover their faces in public places.
Some 33% of respondents said they would approve of a ban and 56% said they would not. Just under one in 10 said they did not know.
Asked if they would support prohibition in specific circumstances, 61% said they would approve a ban in airports and at passport control, 53% in courtrooms and 53% in schools.
Some 41% said they would support a workplace ban - but 56% said they would oppose such a move for public transport.
Race relations worker abused Pc
A race relations worker who called a policeman a "white pig" has narrowly escaped prison after admitting racial abuse and refusing a breathalyser.
Muzaffar Hussain Chowdhury, 63, who works for the Bridgend Community Cohesion Group, was sentenced to a 12-month community supervision order.
He was also given a five-year driving ban at Bridgend magistrates court.
The court heard how he had abused Pc Scott Howe of South Wales Police who had asked him to take a breath test.
Magistrates were told that there had been a dispute between Chowdhury and a father and daughter following a car accident near the Swan Inn, Porthcawl on 1 September.
'Aggravating'
When police arrived, the court heard they were met with abusive language.
Despite warning him about his language, Pc Howe was repeatedly racially abused by Chowdhury, the court was told.
Prosecuting solicitor David Roberts said: "There is an aggravating feature to this matter.
"The reason being is that Mr Chowdhury is a race relations officer for Bridgend Community Cohesion Group.
"Clearly he is a spokesman for racial issues in this area," Mr Roberts added.
"Quite frankly the behaviour is disgusting and language like that shouldn't be used."
But defence, solicitor Ciaran Gould said: "He (Chowdhury) is of Pakistani origin and knows what it is like to be abused.
"He has been beaten up in the past and that is why he finds it hard to accept he said those things.
"This was not an attempt to get out of a drink driving offence as there is no evidence to say that he had been drinking before the incident with the cars occurred.
"He believed because he had been drinking since the accident and had not been in the car, he thought he did not have to provide a sample."
Ms Gould added Chowdhury regretted the incident.
District Judge Anthony Smith said Chowdhury's comments had been disgusting and he had thought about sending him to prison.
Chowdhury, who had been convicted in 1986 for actual bodily harm and assaulting a police officer, also had convictions for drink driving.
He also received a caution in July 2003 for a public order offence.
On top of his driving ban and the community supervision order, Chowdhury must also pay £100 towards prosecution costs and complete a drink-impaired drivers' programme.
Muzaffar Hussain Chowdhury, 63, who works for the Bridgend Community Cohesion Group, was sentenced to a 12-month community supervision order.
He was also given a five-year driving ban at Bridgend magistrates court.
The court heard how he had abused Pc Scott Howe of South Wales Police who had asked him to take a breath test.
Magistrates were told that there had been a dispute between Chowdhury and a father and daughter following a car accident near the Swan Inn, Porthcawl on 1 September.
'Aggravating'
When police arrived, the court heard they were met with abusive language.
Despite warning him about his language, Pc Howe was repeatedly racially abused by Chowdhury, the court was told.
Prosecuting solicitor David Roberts said: "There is an aggravating feature to this matter.
"The reason being is that Mr Chowdhury is a race relations officer for Bridgend Community Cohesion Group.
"Clearly he is a spokesman for racial issues in this area," Mr Roberts added.
"Quite frankly the behaviour is disgusting and language like that shouldn't be used."
But defence, solicitor Ciaran Gould said: "He (Chowdhury) is of Pakistani origin and knows what it is like to be abused.
"He has been beaten up in the past and that is why he finds it hard to accept he said those things.
"This was not an attempt to get out of a drink driving offence as there is no evidence to say that he had been drinking before the incident with the cars occurred.
"He believed because he had been drinking since the accident and had not been in the car, he thought he did not have to provide a sample."
Ms Gould added Chowdhury regretted the incident.
District Judge Anthony Smith said Chowdhury's comments had been disgusting and he had thought about sending him to prison.
Chowdhury, who had been convicted in 1986 for actual bodily harm and assaulting a police officer, also had convictions for drink driving.
He also received a caution in July 2003 for a public order offence.
On top of his driving ban and the community supervision order, Chowdhury must also pay £100 towards prosecution costs and complete a drink-impaired drivers' programme.
Muslim law reaches Britain
SECRET courts imposing draconian Islamic justice are operating across Britain.Last night politicians and religious leaders expressed outrage that sharia law is gaining an increasing foothold in our society.
The hardline Islamic law allows people to be stoned to death, beheaded or have their limbs amputated.
Critics insisted Labour was allowing a chaotic two-tier legal system to flourish in the name of political correctness.And legal experts warned that it meant the authority of British justice was being undermined. Sharia law dates back to the 10th century.
In some countries women are stoned to death for adultery or giving birth out of wedlock and thieves can have both arms amputated.
In Saudi Arabia, murderers, rapists and drug traffickers are publicly beheaded with a sword. The Islamic law also deals in all aspects of daily life including marriage and divorce.
Yesterday experts insisted the Government had already allowed elements of sharia law to be introduced. The Treasury has brought in measures including interest-free loans and mortgages which comply with the Islamic law.But it was also alleged unofficial criminal courts are meting out their own justice.
The scandal was outlined on BBC Radio 4’s Law in Action programme which uncovered evidence that Muslims are using their own laws here.Youth worker Aydarus Yusuf, 29, told how he helped convene an unofficial court which uses Somalian law.He said a hearing was held in Woolwich, South-east London, after a group of youths were arrested on suspicion of attacking another Somali teenager.The victim’s family told police the matter would be settled out of court and the suspects were freed on bail.
The trial was conducted by community elders who ordered the attackers to pay compensation to the victim.Mr Yusuf said: "The accused men admitted their guilt and apologised. All their uncles and fathers were there.
They agreed compensation."He insisted he is more bound by the law of his country of birth than British justice, adding: "Somalis, wherever we live in the world, have our own law."The strength of sharia law was the strict punishments. Assailants were unlikely to re-offend as it would bring shame on their families, he said.A Scotland Yard source said it was common for the police not to proceed with assault cases if victims did not press charges.Dr Patrick Sookhdeo of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity said: "Sharia courts now operate in most larger cities, with different sectarian and ethnic groups operating their own courts that cater to their specific needs according to their tradition."The Government has not been straight about this. It has it’s own sharia advisers and it has already introduced measures that are compliant with sharia law. "Muslim communities are creating their own infrastructure based on sharia law.
A Muslim community can now function within its own society on every level."The Tory spokesman for homeland security Patrick Mercer said: "This is complete nonsense.
If you want to live under sharia law you should go to a country where it holds sway."Muslim and Christian groups were also outraged.The Rev Keith Osmund-Smith, from the Heart of England Baptist Association, said: "It is almost like a stealthy change in the law and I’m very very much against it." Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque, said: "Sharia law states that you respect the law of the land and therefore it cannot be enforced in this country."Faisal Aqtab Siddiqi, head of the Hijaz College Islamic University in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said: "We no longer have the bobby on the beat who will give somebody a slap on the wrist."So I think there is a case to be made under which the elders sit together and reprimand people, trying to get them to change." Some academic lawyers welcome alternative legal systems. Dr Prakesh Shah, law lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London, said: "Tribunals like the Somali court could be more effective than the formal legal system in maintaining social harmony."A spokeswoman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "Sharia law will not be introduced to the whole or any part of the UK.
We are absolutely clear that existing British law applies to everyone."
The hardline Islamic law allows people to be stoned to death, beheaded or have their limbs amputated.
Critics insisted Labour was allowing a chaotic two-tier legal system to flourish in the name of political correctness.And legal experts warned that it meant the authority of British justice was being undermined. Sharia law dates back to the 10th century.
In some countries women are stoned to death for adultery or giving birth out of wedlock and thieves can have both arms amputated.
In Saudi Arabia, murderers, rapists and drug traffickers are publicly beheaded with a sword. The Islamic law also deals in all aspects of daily life including marriage and divorce.
Yesterday experts insisted the Government had already allowed elements of sharia law to be introduced. The Treasury has brought in measures including interest-free loans and mortgages which comply with the Islamic law.But it was also alleged unofficial criminal courts are meting out their own justice.
The scandal was outlined on BBC Radio 4’s Law in Action programme which uncovered evidence that Muslims are using their own laws here.Youth worker Aydarus Yusuf, 29, told how he helped convene an unofficial court which uses Somalian law.He said a hearing was held in Woolwich, South-east London, after a group of youths were arrested on suspicion of attacking another Somali teenager.The victim’s family told police the matter would be settled out of court and the suspects were freed on bail.
The trial was conducted by community elders who ordered the attackers to pay compensation to the victim.Mr Yusuf said: "The accused men admitted their guilt and apologised. All their uncles and fathers were there.
They agreed compensation."He insisted he is more bound by the law of his country of birth than British justice, adding: "Somalis, wherever we live in the world, have our own law."The strength of sharia law was the strict punishments. Assailants were unlikely to re-offend as it would bring shame on their families, he said.A Scotland Yard source said it was common for the police not to proceed with assault cases if victims did not press charges.Dr Patrick Sookhdeo of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity said: "Sharia courts now operate in most larger cities, with different sectarian and ethnic groups operating their own courts that cater to their specific needs according to their tradition."The Government has not been straight about this. It has it’s own sharia advisers and it has already introduced measures that are compliant with sharia law. "Muslim communities are creating their own infrastructure based on sharia law.
A Muslim community can now function within its own society on every level."The Tory spokesman for homeland security Patrick Mercer said: "This is complete nonsense.
If you want to live under sharia law you should go to a country where it holds sway."Muslim and Christian groups were also outraged.The Rev Keith Osmund-Smith, from the Heart of England Baptist Association, said: "It is almost like a stealthy change in the law and I’m very very much against it." Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque, said: "Sharia law states that you respect the law of the land and therefore it cannot be enforced in this country."Faisal Aqtab Siddiqi, head of the Hijaz College Islamic University in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said: "We no longer have the bobby on the beat who will give somebody a slap on the wrist."So I think there is a case to be made under which the elders sit together and reprimand people, trying to get them to change." Some academic lawyers welcome alternative legal systems. Dr Prakesh Shah, law lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London, said: "Tribunals like the Somali court could be more effective than the formal legal system in maintaining social harmony."A spokeswoman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "Sharia law will not be introduced to the whole or any part of the UK.
We are absolutely clear that existing British law applies to everyone."
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Abu Hamza loses race-hate appeal
Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has lost his appeal against convictions for soliciting to murder and race-hate offences.
The London-based cleric, was jailed for seven years in February following a trial at the Old Bailey.
His lawyers had argued the case was prejudiced by "unique" world events and a media hate-campaign.
Abu Hamza's trial defence was funded by Legal Aid and officials say they will now seek to recover some of the costs.
Hearings are to be held after an investigation by the Legal Services Commission amid claims that Abu Hamza purchased a £220,000 property in Greenford, west London, while in jail.
'Recruiting sergeant'
Abu Hamza was not present for the ruling.
His lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald QC, had told the Appeal court it was "unfair" to put him on trial for speeches made as far back as 1997 which attracted no police action at the time.
ABU HAMZA VERDICTS
Guilty of 6 charges of soliciting to murder
Guilty of 3 charges related to "stirring up racial hatred"
Guilty of 1 charge of owning recordings related to "stirring up racial hatred"
Guilty of 1 charge of possessing "terrorist encyclopaedia"
Not guilty of 3 charges of soliciting to murder
Not guilty of 1 charge related to "stirring up racial hatred"
Events such as the September 2001 attacks on the US and the July 2005 bombings in London were said to have lessened the chances of a fair trial.
And Mr Fitzgerald argued that the legislation used to convict him should only apply to those who incite UK citizens to kill.
Dismissing the case, Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips said: "There is no reason to believe that the jury were not able to consider and resolve the relevant issues objectively and impartially."
During his original trial, the prosecution described Abu Hamza as a recruiting sergeant for global terrorism.
More than 3,000 audio cassettes and 600 videos of speeches intended for wider distribution were found after his arrest.
US authorities are seeking the Egyptian-born cleric's extradition on terror-related matters.
Muslims react to Hamza conviction
Three 'Muslim Boys' jailed after shooting at family home
THREE more members of the notorious Muslim Boys gang have been locked up after being caught with loaded guns.
Stefon Thomas, 23, Marlon Stubbs, 25, and Sanjit Webster, 20, were arrested during an investigation into a shooting outside a family home. Gunmen fired a hail of bullets at Marlon Crooks, his eight-year-old daughter,mum, grandmother,sister and brother on October 10 last year. Miraculously,they all escaped injury.
Thomas and Stubbs were picked out by an eyewitness but were cleared of attempted murder by an Old Bailey jury.
But a week after the shooting, Thomas was caught with a D-32 Derringer pistol and on November 3, Webster and Stubbs were arrested with a .44 calibre weapon.
All three were convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Stubbs, who has a previous conviction for raping two schoolgirls, had been cleared at the Old Bailey in September 2005 of conspiracy to murder a rival, Adrian Marriott.
It was claimed Mr Marriott had been shot in the head with a machine gun in Brixton by members of the Muslim Boys gang. Stubbs and Thomas will serve at least four years before being considered for parole while Webster will serve at least three-and-a-half years.
Thomas was also sentenced to six years concurrent for possession of a prohibited weapon and four years concurrent on two charges of possession of prohibited ammunition.
The Old Bailey heard Marlon Crooks was attacked by a gang wearing Muslim-style head-scarves while showing his family a new BMW convertible in Condell Road, Battersea. Thomas was caught with a loaded D-32 double Derringer pistol when police spotted him in his black Mercedes on October 16 last year.
Stubbs and Webster were caught in the back of a taxi while travelling from Brixton to Stratford to collect the .44 pistol on November 3 last year,the last day of the Muslim festival of Ramadan.
They were overheard saying, "When Ramadan ends the snake is going to strike,"the court heard.
Thomas, of no fixed address, and Stubbs, of Ward Point, Kennington, were cleared of two charges of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in relation to the shooting.
Stefon Thomas, 23, Marlon Stubbs, 25, and Sanjit Webster, 20, were arrested during an investigation into a shooting outside a family home. Gunmen fired a hail of bullets at Marlon Crooks, his eight-year-old daughter,mum, grandmother,sister and brother on October 10 last year. Miraculously,they all escaped injury.
Thomas and Stubbs were picked out by an eyewitness but were cleared of attempted murder by an Old Bailey jury.
But a week after the shooting, Thomas was caught with a D-32 Derringer pistol and on November 3, Webster and Stubbs were arrested with a .44 calibre weapon.
All three were convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Stubbs, who has a previous conviction for raping two schoolgirls, had been cleared at the Old Bailey in September 2005 of conspiracy to murder a rival, Adrian Marriott.
It was claimed Mr Marriott had been shot in the head with a machine gun in Brixton by members of the Muslim Boys gang. Stubbs and Thomas will serve at least four years before being considered for parole while Webster will serve at least three-and-a-half years.
Thomas was also sentenced to six years concurrent for possession of a prohibited weapon and four years concurrent on two charges of possession of prohibited ammunition.
The Old Bailey heard Marlon Crooks was attacked by a gang wearing Muslim-style head-scarves while showing his family a new BMW convertible in Condell Road, Battersea. Thomas was caught with a loaded D-32 double Derringer pistol when police spotted him in his black Mercedes on October 16 last year.
Stubbs and Webster were caught in the back of a taxi while travelling from Brixton to Stratford to collect the .44 pistol on November 3 last year,the last day of the Muslim festival of Ramadan.
They were overheard saying, "When Ramadan ends the snake is going to strike,"the court heard.
Thomas, of no fixed address, and Stubbs, of Ward Point, Kennington, were cleared of two charges of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in relation to the shooting.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Vote rigging councillors jailed
Two Liberal Democrat councillors from Lancashire have been jailed for trying to rig a local election.
Manzur Hussain, 58, and Mozaquir Ali, 44, defrauded dozens of voters during the 2004 local government elections.
The men, who were sitting on Burnley Council at the time, collected signed proxy vote forms door-to-door and filled them in themselves.
At Preston Crown Court they were each sentenced to 18 months for falsifying postal proxy votes.
Detectives in Lancashire were alerted by the returning officer at Burnley council, Gillian Taylor, after a massive increase in proxy applications in the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme ward.
Both councillors were arrested in October 2004.
'Exploited a loophole'
A total of 167 proxy votes had been submitted to Burnley town hall on behalf of people who were unaware of what was going on. Usually, the number of proxy votes submitted is about 10.
The court heard Mr Ali was declared the winner by 369 votes, and that the rigged votes had not made a difference to his victory.
Judge Andrew Gilbart QC said it was "ironic" that many of the voters who were duped said they would have voted Lib Dem anyway.
The judge went on to say the councillors had "exploited a loophole" in which the law did not require proxy vote applicants to complete the form themselves.
He urged the Electoral Commission and the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs to close the loophole.
Both men were convicted of conspiracy to defraud Burnley Council's returning officer following a three-week trial at Preston Crown Court last month.
Asylum seeker rapists sentenced
Two Sudanese asylum seekers who raped a young mother within four weeks of arriving in the UK have been jailed for a total of 10-and-a-half years.
Ahmed Mohammed, 30, and Osman Eltomme, 19, dragged the woman to the Nayland Rock Hotel in Margate where they were staying, Canterbury Crown Court heard.
They then raped the 20-year-old in the garden during the attack on 23 July.
Judge Anthony Webb said he would recommend they be deported after serving their sentences.
Both men pleaded guilty to rape in October.
The court heard the victim left the Escape nightclub after losing her girlfriends, and was walking towards a friend's home at about 0300 BST on the morning of the attack.
She told police Mohammed appeared to be giving the younger man instructions during the attack. Neither spoke English.
The pair were scared off by a male passer-by who was walking his dogs and heard screams of "no, please, no," said prosecutor Jonathan Higgs.
Christopher Sutton-Mattocks, defending Mohammed, said: "He's a man of good character in this country, which says little as he was only here for one month before this offence."
Eltomme, who had arrived in the UK 10 days prior to the attack, had asked that his "body be cut into 1,000 pieces and given to the victim, the police and the British public" to express his shame, said his defence, Sarah Plaschkes.
'Group safety'
Mr Webb told Eltomme he had no doubt he would also have raped the victim, who has a three-year-old daughter, had it not been for the intervention of the passer-by.
He told him he would serve half of a five year sentence in a young offenders' institution.
Mr Webb told Mohammed: "You have persisted in telling the probation officer that the victim in some way encouraged you to act in the way that you did."
Mohammed will serve a minimum of two-and-three-quarter years of a five-and-a-half-year jail sentence for public protection before being considered for parole.
The victim's statement read: "The memory of that night will be with me always. My life has been changed completely.
"If I can offer any advice to other women as a result of this, make sure that you don't get left alone if you go out in a group."
Friday, November 24, 2006
Is the uk waking up.
A Muslim classroom assistant suspended by a school for wearing a veil in lessons has been sacked.
Aishah Azmi, 23, was asked to remove the veil after the Church of England school in Dewsbury, West Yorks, said pupils found it hard to understand her.
Last month, an employment tribunal ruled Mrs Azmi had not been discriminated against, but awarded her £1,100 for "injury to feelings".
Kirklees Council confirmed the teaching assistant had been dismissed.
A spokesman said a staffing dismissals committee of the school's governing body had held a disciplinary hearing into "the circumstances that resulted in the suspension of a bilingual support worker at the school".
Test case
"As result of the hearing the committee decided to terminate the employment of the employee concerned," he said.
Mrs Azmi's lawyer Nick Whittingham, of the Kirklees Law Centre, said Mrs Azmi was told of her dismissal at a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, and had requested the written reasons behind it.
"Until we get those we can't make any further comment," he said.
In October, a tribunal dismissed her claims of religious discrimination and harassment on religious grounds.
Mrs Azmi had said she was willing to remove her veil in front of children, but not if male colleagues were present.
The dispute was brought as a test case under new religious discrimination regulations, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2004.
The married mother-of-one is still considering whether to appeal against the decision to dismiss her religious discrimination claims.
At the time of the tribunal, she criticised government ministers who had intervened in the case, saying it made her "fearful of the consequences for Muslim women in this country who want to work".
Necessary debate
Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik, who had urged to Mrs Azmi to accept the tribunal's decision, said the case was about the education of the children at the school and not about religion.
Speaking after the sacking, he said: "While I would absolutely defend her right to wear the veil in society, it's very clear that her wearing the veil in the classroom setting inhibits her ability to support children."
Mrs Azmi's case became a central part of a national debate on multiculturism in Britain.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said the veil row was part of a necessary debate about the way the Muslim community integrated into British society.
The veil was a "mark of separation" which made people of other ethnic backgrounds feel uncomfortable, he added.
His comments came after Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw, said wearing the full veil - or niqab - made community relations more difficult.
BA uniform review after cross row
British Airways is to review its policy on uniforms in the wake of a row over a worker ordered to stop wearing a cross.
On Monday, Nadia Eweida, 55, from London, lost her appeal against a decision saying she could not wear the cross visibly at the check-in counter.
The airline's chief executive Willie Walsh said it had become clear BA's uniform policy needed to change "in the light of the public debate".
He said BA would consider allowing religious symbols worn as lapel badges.
He said it was unfair that BA had been accused of being anti-Christian.
Ms Eweida said she was effectively forced to take unpaid leave after refusing to hide the cross symbol she wore round her neck when people of other faiths were allowed to wear visible religious symbols such as headscarves.
'Inexplicable ban'
She has been refusing to return to work since the ban and earlier this week lost an appeal against the decision.
After Mr Walsh's announcement of a policy review she said: "If they are going to review the policy and allow Christians their place in the workforce then that is a big relief."
She said she had been "overwhelmed" by the level of support she had received.
The criticism of British Airways has been misplaced and unjustified Willie Walsh, British Airways chief executive
Among those to criticise the airline's policy were the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, and the Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw, who said the ban on crosses was "inexplicable".
And on Friday the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said: "If BA is really saying or implying that the wearing of a cross in public is a source of offence, then I regard that as deeply offensive."
BA said Ms Eweida had been offered a non-uniformed post where she would be able openly to wear her cross but had refused to take it. The firm has told her to contact managers to arrange a second appeal.
'Proud of diversity'
Mr Walsh said: "The recent debate about our uniform policy has unfairly accused British Airways of being anti-Christian.
"British Airways is proud of its uniform and proud of the diversity of its staff.
"One of the fundamental aims of our uniform policy is to be fair and non-discriminatory.
"The criticism of British Airways has been misplaced and unjustified. I am proud to lead an airline that has a track record on diversity and inclusion which is second to none."
Brendan Gold, national officer of the Transport and General Workers Union, said: "We are pleased that BA has decided to review its uniform policy, a move that vindicates our support for Nadia Eweida's case.
"We trust this will bring closure to the issue and that she can return to work as soon as possible."
Parents halt school mosque trip
Parents have forced a school trip to a mosque to be abandoned because they did not want their children exposed to a religion that was not their own.
A class of 10-year-olds at Atwood Primary, Croydon, south London, were due to tour Croydon Mosque as part of their religious education lessons.
But a number of parents withdrew their support saying their children were too young to learn about other faiths.
The school said as a result the trip was no longer financially viable.
Head teacher Alex Clark said some parents did not want their children to experience a religion that was not their own, others thought the pupils were too young and some preferred them to spend time on other subjects.
It is important that children have a range of knowledge about cultures and religions to develop understanding and respect for each other Head teacher Alex Clark
He added: "We very much regret having to cancel one of our Year 5 class's educational trips to the Croydon Mosque.
"It is important that children have a range of knowledge about cultures and religions to develop understanding and respect for each other."
Mr Clark said: "The withdrawal of a significant minority of pupils unfortunately made continuation of the visit unviable. This was done wholly on financial grounds."
Leaders of Croydon Mosque were featured speaking out against the radicalisation of young Muslims on BBC's Newsnight programme on 14 November.
Media attention
Shuaib Yusaf, a spokesman for the Croydon Mosque & Islamic Centre, said it has hosted a number of school trips in the past.
He went on: "It is therefore regretful that one school has cancelled a prearranged visit in light of the media attention currently focussed upon the mosque.
"Amongst the reasons cited to the mosque is that some parents do not wish their children to visit a mosque at the centre of "radical" activities.
"Croydon Mosque & Islamic Centre is an old established mosque that provides a range of community based services to 18,000 Muslims in the London Borough of Croydon amongst others, and is not engaged in any 'radical' activities.
"This is acknowledged by all concerned and the mosque is liaising with schools and the local education authorities to recommence school visits."
Thursday, November 23, 2006
So hungry I stabbed swan
A MUSLIM stabbed a swan to death at a boating lake because he was so hungry from the Ramadan fast, a court heard.
Ravenous Shamshu Miah, 52, plunged a kitchen knife into the bird leaving it bleeding to death.
Cops arrived to find him with feathers in his beard and blood on his face.
Magistrates heard how he told officers: "I was so hungry."
Miah was yesterday in custody awaiting sentence after magistrates ordered psychiatric reports. The court in Llandudno, North Wales, was told at an earlier hearing how hungry Miah had been fasting during the month of Ramadan.
But following the religious instruction of going without food during daylight hours had affected his mental state.
Miah was seen acting suspiciously at Llandudno’s boating pool — home to a flock of swans often fed by children.
Prosecutor David Mainstone said police found the wild swan, "the property of the Queen", in a carrier bag. His solicitor Elen Parry said: "He hadn’t appreciated swans shouldn’t be killed."
"The officers told him the swan was the property of the Queen and he replied, 'I hate the Queen, I hate this country'."
Miah, of Llandudno, admitted possessing a knife and killing a wild bird. Magistrates’ chairman James Barry told him: "We need reports for your own interest."
Two Months' Jail For Swan-Killer
Ravenous Shamshu Miah, 52, plunged a kitchen knife into the bird leaving it bleeding to death.
Cops arrived to find him with feathers in his beard and blood on his face.
Magistrates heard how he told officers: "I was so hungry."
Miah was yesterday in custody awaiting sentence after magistrates ordered psychiatric reports. The court in Llandudno, North Wales, was told at an earlier hearing how hungry Miah had been fasting during the month of Ramadan.
But following the religious instruction of going without food during daylight hours had affected his mental state.
Miah was seen acting suspiciously at Llandudno’s boating pool — home to a flock of swans often fed by children.
Prosecutor David Mainstone said police found the wild swan, "the property of the Queen", in a carrier bag. His solicitor Elen Parry said: "He hadn’t appreciated swans shouldn’t be killed."
"The officers told him the swan was the property of the Queen and he replied, 'I hate the Queen, I hate this country'."
Miah, of Llandudno, admitted possessing a knife and killing a wild bird. Magistrates’ chairman James Barry told him: "We need reports for your own interest."
Two Months' Jail For Swan-Killer
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
BOMBER'S PLOT TO HIT TOWER BRIDGE
POLICE believe jailed terror mastermind Dhiren Barot planned to blow up Tower Bridge and London Bridge, sending hundreds plunging to the deaths.
Notes written by the 34-year-old Hindu convert to Islam (below), who had also planned to blow up Tube trains under the Thames, reveal he was assessing the effectiveness of explosives under water.
A table of explosives, including dynamite and TNT, was ticked off for their strength and effectiveness.
A security source said: "A coordinated attack on bridges over the Thames would have been one of his obvious targets. It would cause dramatic destruction with massive loss of life. Blowing up several bridges at once would be seen as a major coup by a madman like Barot."
Barot also had a recipe book of chemicals to be used for a terror attack.
Top of his list of horror "ingredients" was botulinum toxin, the deadliest chemical known. Just 100 grams of it would kill everyone on Earth.
Notes written by the 34-year-old Hindu convert to Islam (below), who had also planned to blow up Tube trains under the Thames, reveal he was assessing the effectiveness of explosives under water.
A table of explosives, including dynamite and TNT, was ticked off for their strength and effectiveness.
A security source said: "A coordinated attack on bridges over the Thames would have been one of his obvious targets. It would cause dramatic destruction with massive loss of life. Blowing up several bridges at once would be seen as a major coup by a madman like Barot."
Barot also had a recipe book of chemicals to be used for a terror attack.
Top of his list of horror "ingredients" was botulinum toxin, the deadliest chemical known. Just 100 grams of it would kill everyone on Earth.
New iman sparks 'potentially dangerous' Muslim prison stand-off
A "potentially explosive" stand-off between two rival groups of Muslims has developed in Britain's largest jail, independent watchdogs warned today.
The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at Wandsworth jail in south London said there was a "schism" among Muslim prisoners over the prison's newly-appointed imam.
The board's annual report said there was evidence some Muslim inmates were applying "pressure" on fellow inmates to "adopt more militant lifestyles and belief systems".
There were also "very worrying" implications of rocketing use of illegal mobile phones by prisoners, it went on.
The report said: "There is a schism existing amongst Muslims in the prison about the imam. "There have been petitions from two opposing sides on this subject to the governor.
"We are concerned that unless sensitively managed this issue could become even more emotional and potentially explosive."
It added: "The issues surrounding the current imam should be resolved as quickly as possible."
IMB chairman David Jamieson said: "It is an issue of how the current imam interprets the Koran.
"There is a difference of views between the Asian Muslims and the North African and Afro-Caribbean Muslims."
The document also reflected recent Press reports that attendance at religious services had increased because inmates were using them as venues for drug dealing and trading in illegal mobile phones.
"We believe it is essential that there are adequate numbers of officers present at all religious services to discourage illegal activities," the study said.
Board members raised a series of concerns about a "major influx" of drugs and mobiles in Wandsworth, which holds 1,456 inmates.
Drugs were "slipping through the net" when new inmates arrived at the jail, especially remand prisoners, it said.
Use of passive drugs dogs was "almost non-existent" and the visitors asked why more was not being done to tackle the drugs problem.
The number of prisoners using mobile phones was "widespread and growing", it added.
"Unless there is an effective preventative blanket introduced to curb the use of mobile phones, the situation is likely to get worse and the possible implications for security, drugs usage and bullying are very worrying," the report said.
"Surely it is time to introduce effective jamming of mobile phones' use in all prisons?"
Last month Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers raised concerns about staff attitudes to inmates at Wandsworth, reporting twice the average claims of staff victimisation.
A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "Any signs of radicalisation at the prison are firmly dealt with by a pro-active chaplaincy team.
"The recent Eid meal at Wandsworth was attended by 240 prisoners, representing virtually every Muslim prisoner and a number of non-Muslims, during which the imam was personally praised."
She added: "Wandsworth has a good record on both mobile phone and drug finds."
The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at Wandsworth jail in south London said there was a "schism" among Muslim prisoners over the prison's newly-appointed imam.
The board's annual report said there was evidence some Muslim inmates were applying "pressure" on fellow inmates to "adopt more militant lifestyles and belief systems".
There were also "very worrying" implications of rocketing use of illegal mobile phones by prisoners, it went on.
The report said: "There is a schism existing amongst Muslims in the prison about the imam. "There have been petitions from two opposing sides on this subject to the governor.
"We are concerned that unless sensitively managed this issue could become even more emotional and potentially explosive."
It added: "The issues surrounding the current imam should be resolved as quickly as possible."
IMB chairman David Jamieson said: "It is an issue of how the current imam interprets the Koran.
"There is a difference of views between the Asian Muslims and the North African and Afro-Caribbean Muslims."
The document also reflected recent Press reports that attendance at religious services had increased because inmates were using them as venues for drug dealing and trading in illegal mobile phones.
"We believe it is essential that there are adequate numbers of officers present at all religious services to discourage illegal activities," the study said.
Board members raised a series of concerns about a "major influx" of drugs and mobiles in Wandsworth, which holds 1,456 inmates.
Drugs were "slipping through the net" when new inmates arrived at the jail, especially remand prisoners, it said.
Use of passive drugs dogs was "almost non-existent" and the visitors asked why more was not being done to tackle the drugs problem.
The number of prisoners using mobile phones was "widespread and growing", it added.
"Unless there is an effective preventative blanket introduced to curb the use of mobile phones, the situation is likely to get worse and the possible implications for security, drugs usage and bullying are very worrying," the report said.
"Surely it is time to introduce effective jamming of mobile phones' use in all prisons?"
Last month Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers raised concerns about staff attitudes to inmates at Wandsworth, reporting twice the average claims of staff victimisation.
A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "Any signs of radicalisation at the prison are firmly dealt with by a pro-active chaplaincy team.
"The recent Eid meal at Wandsworth was attended by 240 prisoners, representing virtually every Muslim prisoner and a number of non-Muslims, during which the imam was personally praised."
She added: "Wandsworth has a good record on both mobile phone and drug finds."
Liar liar, your hands on fire!
JAILED hate cleric Abu Hamza lied about the way he lost his hands so he could pose as a hero, it emerged yesterday.
Hook-handed Hamza told his followers he’d been hurt defusing a landmine in Afghanistan
The truth is he failed to pay attention during a terror training class and BLASTED them off
Hamza later begged an al-Qaeda double-agent who knew the real story to hush it up.
It is one of a series of revelations from the spook recruited by Britain to track Osama Bin Laden’s London network.
Morocco-born Omar Nasri also told of meeting second hate preacher Abu Qatada, who he described as "really dangerous".
Nasri told how an al-Qaeda instructor, Assad Allah, said he had been learning to make nitroglycerine when someone let the materials get too hot.
Instead of dumping it in a sink of ice, the trainee dashed for the door with it.
He said: "The mixture exploded, blowing off both his hands and destroying an eye."
"Assad said the man was Abu Hamza and was now in London." Nasri later met him at Finsbury Park Mosque.
He said: "I told him, ‘I trained with Assad Allah. He told me how you lost your hands.’
Hamza whispered, ‘Please don’t share that story with anyone’."
Nasri told of meeting Qatada — now in a British jail fighting extradition.
He told him that fighting in a jihad or holy war was a Muslim’s "highest calling".
hamza probe leads to bomb manual
It started as a search for the answer to the riddle of how jailed Islamic cleric Abu Hamza lost his hands.
He has always claimed it was a landmine accident in Afghanistan.
"A mine exploded when I stuck a pole in the ground to mark the edge of what I thought was a safe path,'' he said back in 1998.
But a legal contact told me that an infamous jihadi explosives manual said something rather different. It is a document that has already been used in evidence in several terrorism court cases.
So the search began for a copy of the manual, which I am not naming because it can be easy to find on the internet.
It appears for a while before the authorities remove it. It then appears on a new site a few days later.
After two weeks of scouring the web, I tracked it down.
It has a comic appearance. There is a cartoon bomb on the first page, but the contents are much less amusing.
If you have got the desire to do some carnage, some killings, the book is very, very useful for you Reda Hassaine Former British Intelligence agent
Professionally produced and written in English, it is based on a course that used to be led in Afghanistan in the 1990s by Abu Khabaab, an al-Qaeda explosives trainer.
Sidney Alford, an explosives expert who examined the document for the BBC, told me it is full of scientific inaccuracies and mistakes. But he said that some of the formulae would definitely work, of which more later.
Reda Hassaine, a one-time agent for British intelligence, said this kind of online training is now very common among men who want to be terrorists.
"If you do not have a member of your group who went to Afghanistan or Pakistan, or maybe now Iraq, to do the training, you have to rely on the book. If you have got the desire to do some carnage, some killings, the book is very, very useful for you," he said.
If it had been in your hands, your hands would disappear and probably shatter the tissue in your forearms Sidney Alford Explosives expert
In the manual's introduction the author says: "You can be confident that all the explosive mixtures have been tested and do actually work very adequately. After finishing the course, I moved onto another unit for different training, where I met the original developer of this course.
"He informed me that it was several years old, completely out of date and I needed to be updated, which I have been in the process of ever since."
On page 58, I found the answer to the Abu Hamza question. In a section called "Special mixtures" there are instructions on how to make an acid-based explosive, which again I will not name.
At the end of the recipe the author writes: "This liquid is very dangerous. It will explode with a detonator. It exploded in the hands of Abu Hamza causing him to lose both of his hands. Nobody tries this one anymore as it is too powerful and dangerous."
Explosive test
We asked Sidney Alford to make a version of this explosive under safe conditions. An internationally-renowned expert, he was impressed by how powerful the explosive was. It blew a large hole in a steel plate.
"If it had been in your hands, your hands would disappear and probably shatter the tissue in your forearms. You may well be killed and it would not be good for your eyesight."
We cannot be certain that this is what happened to Hamza but a man who attended the training camps in Afghanistan has confirmed to the BBC that he was also told by a course leader that the cleric lost his hands making explosives.
He says that when he told Abu Hamza that he knew the truth, the hook-handed radical preacher told him never to repeat the story.
Hook-handed Hamza told his followers he’d been hurt defusing a landmine in Afghanistan
The truth is he failed to pay attention during a terror training class and BLASTED them off
Hamza later begged an al-Qaeda double-agent who knew the real story to hush it up.
It is one of a series of revelations from the spook recruited by Britain to track Osama Bin Laden’s London network.
Morocco-born Omar Nasri also told of meeting second hate preacher Abu Qatada, who he described as "really dangerous".
Nasri told how an al-Qaeda instructor, Assad Allah, said he had been learning to make nitroglycerine when someone let the materials get too hot.
Instead of dumping it in a sink of ice, the trainee dashed for the door with it.
He said: "The mixture exploded, blowing off both his hands and destroying an eye."
"Assad said the man was Abu Hamza and was now in London." Nasri later met him at Finsbury Park Mosque.
He said: "I told him, ‘I trained with Assad Allah. He told me how you lost your hands.’
Hamza whispered, ‘Please don’t share that story with anyone’."
Nasri told of meeting Qatada — now in a British jail fighting extradition.
He told him that fighting in a jihad or holy war was a Muslim’s "highest calling".
hamza probe leads to bomb manual
It started as a search for the answer to the riddle of how jailed Islamic cleric Abu Hamza lost his hands.
He has always claimed it was a landmine accident in Afghanistan.
"A mine exploded when I stuck a pole in the ground to mark the edge of what I thought was a safe path,'' he said back in 1998.
But a legal contact told me that an infamous jihadi explosives manual said something rather different. It is a document that has already been used in evidence in several terrorism court cases.
So the search began for a copy of the manual, which I am not naming because it can be easy to find on the internet.
It appears for a while before the authorities remove it. It then appears on a new site a few days later.
After two weeks of scouring the web, I tracked it down.
It has a comic appearance. There is a cartoon bomb on the first page, but the contents are much less amusing.
If you have got the desire to do some carnage, some killings, the book is very, very useful for you Reda Hassaine Former British Intelligence agent
Professionally produced and written in English, it is based on a course that used to be led in Afghanistan in the 1990s by Abu Khabaab, an al-Qaeda explosives trainer.
Sidney Alford, an explosives expert who examined the document for the BBC, told me it is full of scientific inaccuracies and mistakes. But he said that some of the formulae would definitely work, of which more later.
Reda Hassaine, a one-time agent for British intelligence, said this kind of online training is now very common among men who want to be terrorists.
"If you do not have a member of your group who went to Afghanistan or Pakistan, or maybe now Iraq, to do the training, you have to rely on the book. If you have got the desire to do some carnage, some killings, the book is very, very useful for you," he said.
If it had been in your hands, your hands would disappear and probably shatter the tissue in your forearms Sidney Alford Explosives expert
In the manual's introduction the author says: "You can be confident that all the explosive mixtures have been tested and do actually work very adequately. After finishing the course, I moved onto another unit for different training, where I met the original developer of this course.
"He informed me that it was several years old, completely out of date and I needed to be updated, which I have been in the process of ever since."
On page 58, I found the answer to the Abu Hamza question. In a section called "Special mixtures" there are instructions on how to make an acid-based explosive, which again I will not name.
At the end of the recipe the author writes: "This liquid is very dangerous. It will explode with a detonator. It exploded in the hands of Abu Hamza causing him to lose both of his hands. Nobody tries this one anymore as it is too powerful and dangerous."
Explosive test
We asked Sidney Alford to make a version of this explosive under safe conditions. An internationally-renowned expert, he was impressed by how powerful the explosive was. It blew a large hole in a steel plate.
"If it had been in your hands, your hands would disappear and probably shatter the tissue in your forearms. You may well be killed and it would not be good for your eyesight."
We cannot be certain that this is what happened to Hamza but a man who attended the training camps in Afghanistan has confirmed to the BBC that he was also told by a course leader that the cleric lost his hands making explosives.
He says that when he told Abu Hamza that he knew the truth, the hook-handed radical preacher told him never to repeat the story.
Pc murder accused 'wants reward'
A man accused of the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky has told a court he believes he is entitled to a reward for helping police catch her killers.
Raza Ul-Haq Aslam, from north London, rang Crimestoppers and passed on information after the officer was shot during a botched armed robbery.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Mr Aslam, 25, asked Crimestoppers about the £100,000 reward money during his call.
He has denied having any part in the robbery and murder in Bradford.
Mr Aslam insisted the first he knew of the officer's murder was when the gang returned to their base where he worked as a handyman.
The 25-year-old is one of four men accused of Pc Beshenivsky's murder at the Universal Express travel agents on 18 November last year.
I haven't done nothing wrong, why shouldn't I have it? Raza Ul-Haq Aslam
The court heard Mr Aslam, 25, of St Pancras Way, Kentish Town, rang Crimestoppers using the name Alex on 6 December.
He told officers an 8mm pistol with a silencer had been fired three times.
"It was this weapon that killed Sharon," he told Crimestoppers.
Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Aslam if he believed he was entitled to the £100,000 reward money.
He said: "I would like £100,000. I haven't done nothing wrong, why shouldn't I have it?"
The court also heard the defendant told Crimestoppers one of his co-accused, Muzzaker Shah, was in Wales, where he was later arrested.
When asked why he waited until 6 December to contact police about the raid, Mr Aslam said: "Someone had just shot a police officer.
"These are people that I know, they know where I live.
"They know where my family live. I was confused."
Mr Aslam, Faisal Razzaq, 25, and his 26-year-old brother Hassan, both of Sebert Road, Forest Gate, east London, all deny murder.
Yusuf Jamma, 20, of Whitmore Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, admits robbery and firearms offences but denies murder.
A fifth man, Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah, 25, has already pleaded guilty to murder but denies firing the shot that killed Pc Beshenivsky.
He was earlier cleared of the attempted murder of her colleague, Pc Teresa Milburn.
The trial has been adjourned until Wednesday.
Raza Ul-Haq Aslam, from north London, rang Crimestoppers and passed on information after the officer was shot during a botched armed robbery.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Mr Aslam, 25, asked Crimestoppers about the £100,000 reward money during his call.
He has denied having any part in the robbery and murder in Bradford.
Mr Aslam insisted the first he knew of the officer's murder was when the gang returned to their base where he worked as a handyman.
The 25-year-old is one of four men accused of Pc Beshenivsky's murder at the Universal Express travel agents on 18 November last year.
I haven't done nothing wrong, why shouldn't I have it? Raza Ul-Haq Aslam
The court heard Mr Aslam, 25, of St Pancras Way, Kentish Town, rang Crimestoppers using the name Alex on 6 December.
He told officers an 8mm pistol with a silencer had been fired three times.
"It was this weapon that killed Sharon," he told Crimestoppers.
Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Aslam if he believed he was entitled to the £100,000 reward money.
He said: "I would like £100,000. I haven't done nothing wrong, why shouldn't I have it?"
The court also heard the defendant told Crimestoppers one of his co-accused, Muzzaker Shah, was in Wales, where he was later arrested.
When asked why he waited until 6 December to contact police about the raid, Mr Aslam said: "Someone had just shot a police officer.
"These are people that I know, they know where I live.
"They know where my family live. I was confused."
Mr Aslam, Faisal Razzaq, 25, and his 26-year-old brother Hassan, both of Sebert Road, Forest Gate, east London, all deny murder.
Yusuf Jamma, 20, of Whitmore Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, admits robbery and firearms offences but denies murder.
A fifth man, Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah, 25, has already pleaded guilty to murder but denies firing the shot that killed Pc Beshenivsky.
He was earlier cleared of the attempted murder of her colleague, Pc Teresa Milburn.
The trial has been adjourned until Wednesday.
muslim Husband stabbed his wife 20 times
A Coventry man has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his wife who was stabbed 20 times in an alleyway near the city centre.
Mohammed Islam, 30, from Lower Ford Street, admitted attacking his wife Nasima, 23, in a passage way near the city's Pool Meadow bus station in June.
Birmingham Crown Court heard Islam carried out the attack due to a dispute with his wife's father over money.
He is due to reappear in court for sentencing in December.
Mrs Islam was still receiving counselling after spending weeks in hospital following the attack, the court was told.
Mohammed Islam, 30, from Lower Ford Street, admitted attacking his wife Nasima, 23, in a passage way near the city's Pool Meadow bus station in June.
Birmingham Crown Court heard Islam carried out the attack due to a dispute with his wife's father over money.
He is due to reappear in court for sentencing in December.
Mrs Islam was still receiving counselling after spending weeks in hospital following the attack, the court was told.
Monday, November 20, 2006
DIY missile fear
AL-QAEDA terror chiefs have produced DIY missile-making guides for fanatics to download from the internet, it emerged yesterday.
Security experts fear the home-made weapons could be built in Britain — and fired at London.
The discovery follows a chilling warning about the terrorist threat from MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller. She highlighted the danger posed by extremist websites.
Al-Qaeda recently said missiles are “a top priority”. The guides show a six-mile range missile and thirty-mile version.
Terrorism expert Neil Doyle said: “The warhead could easily be chemical rather than conventional explosive.
“But a major challenge for any group planning to use these is testing them without being noticed.”
Brit's £40k Oz cash mystery
A BRITISH tourist has been locked up in Australia while police probe why he was carrying more than £40,000 in cash.
Mohammod Azizul Islam, 22, was arrested in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, after trying to pay a bus driver to take him to Sydney.
A court heard he had a mobile phone covered in a substance which led cops to believe he had hidden it inside his body.
Police said he had claimed he was a multi-millionaire travelling from London on holiday.
A prosecutor said Mr Islam had a criminal history in the UK which included fraud, theft, drugs and public disorder.
He was remanded in custody until Friday.
Security experts fear the home-made weapons could be built in Britain — and fired at London.
The discovery follows a chilling warning about the terrorist threat from MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller. She highlighted the danger posed by extremist websites.
Al-Qaeda recently said missiles are “a top priority”. The guides show a six-mile range missile and thirty-mile version.
Terrorism expert Neil Doyle said: “The warhead could easily be chemical rather than conventional explosive.
“But a major challenge for any group planning to use these is testing them without being noticed.”
Brit's £40k Oz cash mystery
A BRITISH tourist has been locked up in Australia while police probe why he was carrying more than £40,000 in cash.
Mohammod Azizul Islam, 22, was arrested in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, after trying to pay a bus driver to take him to Sydney.
A court heard he had a mobile phone covered in a substance which led cops to believe he had hidden it inside his body.
Police said he had claimed he was a multi-millionaire travelling from London on holiday.
A prosecutor said Mr Islam had a criminal history in the UK which included fraud, theft, drugs and public disorder.
He was remanded in custody until Friday.
UK 7/7 Bombing Suspect's Anonymity Protected
It’s political correctness run amok with a chainsaw: Terror farce over refusal to unmask 7/7 suspect.The war on terror has descended into farce after the Government refused to identify a July 7 suspect on the run from the security services.
The Home Office insists the British Muslim, who describes himself as a ‘Holy warrior’, is such a grave threat to national security he must be under a control order.
But, despite the 25-year-old committing a serious crime by repeatedly breaching the order and making himself a fugitive, John Reid will not take steps to lift his veil of secrecy.
The Home Secretary’s refusal to act is in spite of fears the man is a possible ‘missing link’ to the London plot.
Investigators have linked him to two of the four bombers who claimed 52 innocent lives last year - ringleader Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer.
The Daily Mail knows his identity, his shocking links to terrorists and has a photograph, but is unable to publish.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
The Hatred Connection
A founder of Britain’s Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC UK) is exposed as a financial supporter of Holocaust denier David Irving tonight by, of all media outlets, the Grauniad: Muslim leader sent funds to Irving.
One of Britain’s most prominent speakers on Muslim issues is today exposed as a supporter of David Irving, the controversial historian who for years denied the Holocaust took place.
Asghar Bukhari, a founder member of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC), which describes itself as Britain’s largest Muslim civil rights group, sent money to Irving and urged Islamic websites to ask visitors to make donations to his fighting fund.
Bukhari contacted the discredited historian, sentenced this year to three years in an Austrian prison for Holocaust denial, after reading his website. He headed his mail to Irving with a quotation attributed to the philosopher John Locke: ‘All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good people to stand idle.’
In one email Bukhari tells Irving: ‘You may feel like you are on your own but rest assured many people are with you in your fight for the Truth.’ Bukhari pledges to make a donation of £60 to Irving’s fighting fund and says that he has asked ‘a few of my colleagues to send some in too’. He also offers to send Irving a book, They Dare to Speak Out, by Paul Findley, a former US Senator, who has attacked his country’s close relationship with Israel. Bukhari says Findley ‘has suffered like you in trying to expose certain falsehoods perpetrated by the Jews’.
In a follow-up letter, Bukhari writes: ‘Here is the cheque I promised. Good luck, if there is any other way I can help please don’t hestitate to call me. I have also asked many Muslim websites to create links to your own and ask for donations.’
One of Britain’s most prominent speakers on Muslim issues is today exposed as a supporter of David Irving, the controversial historian who for years denied the Holocaust took place.
Asghar Bukhari, a founder member of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC), which describes itself as Britain’s largest Muslim civil rights group, sent money to Irving and urged Islamic websites to ask visitors to make donations to his fighting fund.
Bukhari contacted the discredited historian, sentenced this year to three years in an Austrian prison for Holocaust denial, after reading his website. He headed his mail to Irving with a quotation attributed to the philosopher John Locke: ‘All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good people to stand idle.’
In one email Bukhari tells Irving: ‘You may feel like you are on your own but rest assured many people are with you in your fight for the Truth.’ Bukhari pledges to make a donation of £60 to Irving’s fighting fund and says that he has asked ‘a few of my colleagues to send some in too’. He also offers to send Irving a book, They Dare to Speak Out, by Paul Findley, a former US Senator, who has attacked his country’s close relationship with Israel. Bukhari says Findley ‘has suffered like you in trying to expose certain falsehoods perpetrated by the Jews’.
In a follow-up letter, Bukhari writes: ‘Here is the cheque I promised. Good luck, if there is any other way I can help please don’t hestitate to call me. I have also asked many Muslim websites to create links to your own and ask for donations.’
Al-Qaeda's ‘best assets’ prime UK timebomb
British Muslims volunteering to fight against coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are being sent back to Britain to become al-Qaeda "sleeper" agents, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.
MI5 agents believe that young Asian men, who have been trained to take part in the so-called "global jihad" in al-Qaeda camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, are now regarded as too valuable an asset to be used fighting British and American troops.
MI5 and MI6 are working on the assumption that they are being ordered to return to their communities in Britain with instructions to establish secret, autonomous cells and to conduct independent terrorists operations without any direct input from al-Qaeda's high command.
British Muslims volunteering to fight against coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are being sent back to Britain to become al-Qaeda "sleeper" agents, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.
MI5 agents believe that young Asian men, who have been trained to take part in the so-called "global jihad" in al-Qaeda camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, are now regarded as too valuable an asset to be used fighting British and American troops.
MI5 and MI6 are working on the assumption that they are being ordered to return to their communities in Britain with instructions to establish secret, autonomous cells and to conduct independent terrorists operations without any direct input from al-Qaeda's high command.
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Security sources claim that al-Qaeda is unlikely to send a British passport holder to his death as a suicide bomber in Iraq when he would be far more valuable as a "sleeper" in Britain.
MI5 fears that it is impossible to estimate how many British Muslims have attended training camps over the past decade or how many are back in the UK planning attacks.
Hundreds of thousands of people travel from Britain to Pakistan every year, mostly to visit relatives or do business. The challenge facing the intelligence services, say security sources, is to discover which among them are travelling for "nefarious" reasons.
The warning was made as the Prime Minister is visiting Pakistan, where British terrorists are known to have undergone training.
Security sources have also warned of the danger facing Britain from radicalised Muslims who are currently fighting as part of the insurgency in Iraq.
MI5 assumes that a "backwash" of violence may be unleashed in the UK by British-born Muslims who have been involved the fighting in Iraq.
A security source said: "We may see people who have been ‘blooded’ in Iraq, who are experienced in weapons handling and bomb making, arriving back in this country and they may cause a problem."
Andrew Rowe, a Jamaican convert to Islam who is known to have visited Bosnia in the 1990s, is often cited as an example of a militant Muslim who fought a jihad abroad and returned to Britain to conduct a campaign of terrorism.
Rowe, a drug dealer before his conversion to Islam, became known as the "sock bomber" after he was arrested for carrying socks with traces of high explosives, which police believe had come from mortars. He was jailed for 15 years for possessing material which might be of use to terrorists.
It emerged earlier this month that Dhiren Barot, a Muslim convert who was jailed for 40 years for plotting to kill thousands of people in Britain and America, had attended a training camp in Pakistan and was subsequently recruited as a sleeper agent by al-Qaeda. Whitehall sources said he typified the threat now facing Britain.
At least two of the bombers involved in the attacks on London on July 7 last year are also known to have visited terrorist training camps in Pakistan.
Last week Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, the head of MI5, gave warning that it was just a matter of time before Britain was attacked with a chemical, biological or radiological weapon.
She said that up to 1,600 terrorists in the UK were involved in 30 "priority one" plots. Whitehall sources have admitted that it was impossible for MI5, given its current level of resources — it has 2,800 staff — to disrupt every terrorist plot being hatched against Britain.
The source said: "MI5 would have to be the size of the Stasi (the 100,000-strong East German secret state police during the Cold War) to have a chance of stopping every possible attack and, even then, it would be unlikely that it would succeed."
MI5 agents believe that young Asian men, who have been trained to take part in the so-called "global jihad" in al-Qaeda camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, are now regarded as too valuable an asset to be used fighting British and American troops.
MI5 and MI6 are working on the assumption that they are being ordered to return to their communities in Britain with instructions to establish secret, autonomous cells and to conduct independent terrorists operations without any direct input from al-Qaeda's high command.
British Muslims volunteering to fight against coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are being sent back to Britain to become al-Qaeda "sleeper" agents, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.
MI5 agents believe that young Asian men, who have been trained to take part in the so-called "global jihad" in al-Qaeda camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, are now regarded as too valuable an asset to be used fighting British and American troops.
MI5 and MI6 are working on the assumption that they are being ordered to return to their communities in Britain with instructions to establish secret, autonomous cells and to conduct independent terrorists operations without any direct input from al-Qaeda's high command.
advertisement
Security sources claim that al-Qaeda is unlikely to send a British passport holder to his death as a suicide bomber in Iraq when he would be far more valuable as a "sleeper" in Britain.
MI5 fears that it is impossible to estimate how many British Muslims have attended training camps over the past decade or how many are back in the UK planning attacks.
Hundreds of thousands of people travel from Britain to Pakistan every year, mostly to visit relatives or do business. The challenge facing the intelligence services, say security sources, is to discover which among them are travelling for "nefarious" reasons.
The warning was made as the Prime Minister is visiting Pakistan, where British terrorists are known to have undergone training.
Security sources have also warned of the danger facing Britain from radicalised Muslims who are currently fighting as part of the insurgency in Iraq.
MI5 assumes that a "backwash" of violence may be unleashed in the UK by British-born Muslims who have been involved the fighting in Iraq.
A security source said: "We may see people who have been ‘blooded’ in Iraq, who are experienced in weapons handling and bomb making, arriving back in this country and they may cause a problem."
Andrew Rowe, a Jamaican convert to Islam who is known to have visited Bosnia in the 1990s, is often cited as an example of a militant Muslim who fought a jihad abroad and returned to Britain to conduct a campaign of terrorism.
Rowe, a drug dealer before his conversion to Islam, became known as the "sock bomber" after he was arrested for carrying socks with traces of high explosives, which police believe had come from mortars. He was jailed for 15 years for possessing material which might be of use to terrorists.
It emerged earlier this month that Dhiren Barot, a Muslim convert who was jailed for 40 years for plotting to kill thousands of people in Britain and America, had attended a training camp in Pakistan and was subsequently recruited as a sleeper agent by al-Qaeda. Whitehall sources said he typified the threat now facing Britain.
At least two of the bombers involved in the attacks on London on July 7 last year are also known to have visited terrorist training camps in Pakistan.
Last week Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, the head of MI5, gave warning that it was just a matter of time before Britain was attacked with a chemical, biological or radiological weapon.
She said that up to 1,600 terrorists in the UK were involved in 30 "priority one" plots. Whitehall sources have admitted that it was impossible for MI5, given its current level of resources — it has 2,800 staff — to disrupt every terrorist plot being hatched against Britain.
The source said: "MI5 would have to be the size of the Stasi (the 100,000-strong East German secret state police during the Cold War) to have a chance of stopping every possible attack and, even then, it would be unlikely that it would succeed."
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Fury over Halal Christmas dinner
PARENTS expressed outrage last night over a school’s plans to serve pupils a Muslim Christmas dinner.The headteacher announced that she intended to replace the children’s traditional turkey meal with halal chicken.
She explained that eating poultry which had been slaughtered in the Muslim way would create an "integrated Christmas".But furious parents accused the school of undermining the Christian faith.They were backed by Labour MP Denis MacShane who demanded to know why the children were not being offered a choice.Mr MacShane said: "No child should be obliged to eat food that is contrary to their personal convictions or religion. Schools should offer a choice and not allow the joyous celebrations of a Christmas dinner to become a divisive issue. "I hope all the children can join in this fun and if I am invited I would be delighted to sit down with all the children for a Christmas dinner, halal, non halal or the healthy option, vegetarian."After Mr MacShane’s intervention, Jan Charters, head of Oakwood School in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, backed down and youngsters will now be offered a choice of halal chicken or a traditional turkey dinner, costing £1.75.Campaigners and religious organisations said the ban on traditional Christmas celebrations was making Britain a more divided society.John Midgley, of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: "It seems as though the parents have made the school see sense."Until common sense prevailed the school was creating a problem when there was no problem."Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: "Headteachers and school governors should not make this sort of mistake in the first place. There are a lot of these silly people around who undermine British culture."This is a victory for common sense. It is good these mad politically correct people have been made to think again."Abdul Dean, ethnic minorities officer for the Christian People’s Alliance, said: "There is a political agenda here. Who are these people speaking on behalf of Muslims? "Muslim parents themselves would not have objected to children being offered a choice. The teachers should have taken this on board especially in this time of tension."Ms Charters said: "This was an attempt to extend the spirit of inclusion which would allow Muslim children to sit down and enjoy a meal together."It is very frustrating that people find motives which are not present and we will not now be doing this."Halal meat is slaughtered in accordance with strict Muslim laws with a single cut to the throat. It is also important that the animal does not have any blood as Muslims are banned from drinking it. This places a great importance on the method of slaughter, in which a sharp knife is used to sever all the vessels in the animal’s neck, causing blood to drain completely.The practice has been criticised as inhumane by The Farm Animal Welfare Council which has called for it to be banned.Ms Charters added: "We secured assurances that the slaughterhouse was certified to be killing humanely and all animals were stunned. "When we discussed the Christmas dinner we said that there was nothing to stop anyone from eating the main course because it was halal although the Muslim pupils will not eat the sausage and bacon rolls. Chicken is chicken as far as I am concerned but there will also be other choices on the menu apart from a Christmas meal."Outraged mother Rachel Johnson, from Kimberworth, said: "This is not a racial issue. Why can’t the non-Muslim kids enjoy traditional Christmas fare?"Why can’t we have a choice of chicken which suits everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims. "We bend over backwards at Eid (an Islamic festival) to eat traditional Muslim food so why should we have to change our Christmas tradition?" Mrs Johnson added: "I feel my culture is being stolen away from me. I have no objections to halal meat being on the menu so long as there is a choice of traditional Christian Christmas fare. "A lot of parents have been in touch to support my views. Our culture and religion are being trampled on and it is not right. It is almost as stupid as serving up pork on Eid."Her 15-year-old daughter, who did not want to be named, added: "I have no objections to including Muslims in celebrating Christmas but it is quite wrong to offer us only halal meat. A lot of my friends feel the same and say there should be a choice and they were thinking of boycotting the Christmas meal."I also think a lot of people will be horrified to know that halal meat is often served at school without a choice. I will not be staying for any more school dinners "I think the people who make these decisions are adding to the conflict." A Rotherham Council spokesman said: "Out of 16 comprehensive schools in the borough only two use private school suppliers. The rest use in-house council caterers. Of those 14 all offer a choice between halal meat and conventionally slaughtered meat".Local councillor Mahroof Hussain said: "Christmas is an important time in everybody’s life in Britain and we should celebrate it. If we are talking about food maybe we should have choice but that is a decision for the school governing body."
McDONALD'S latest bid to attract more customers -- Muslim fast-food lovers -- has caused uproar among customers.
She explained that eating poultry which had been slaughtered in the Muslim way would create an "integrated Christmas".But furious parents accused the school of undermining the Christian faith.They were backed by Labour MP Denis MacShane who demanded to know why the children were not being offered a choice.Mr MacShane said: "No child should be obliged to eat food that is contrary to their personal convictions or religion. Schools should offer a choice and not allow the joyous celebrations of a Christmas dinner to become a divisive issue. "I hope all the children can join in this fun and if I am invited I would be delighted to sit down with all the children for a Christmas dinner, halal, non halal or the healthy option, vegetarian."After Mr MacShane’s intervention, Jan Charters, head of Oakwood School in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, backed down and youngsters will now be offered a choice of halal chicken or a traditional turkey dinner, costing £1.75.Campaigners and religious organisations said the ban on traditional Christmas celebrations was making Britain a more divided society.John Midgley, of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: "It seems as though the parents have made the school see sense."Until common sense prevailed the school was creating a problem when there was no problem."Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: "Headteachers and school governors should not make this sort of mistake in the first place. There are a lot of these silly people around who undermine British culture."This is a victory for common sense. It is good these mad politically correct people have been made to think again."Abdul Dean, ethnic minorities officer for the Christian People’s Alliance, said: "There is a political agenda here. Who are these people speaking on behalf of Muslims? "Muslim parents themselves would not have objected to children being offered a choice. The teachers should have taken this on board especially in this time of tension."Ms Charters said: "This was an attempt to extend the spirit of inclusion which would allow Muslim children to sit down and enjoy a meal together."It is very frustrating that people find motives which are not present and we will not now be doing this."Halal meat is slaughtered in accordance with strict Muslim laws with a single cut to the throat. It is also important that the animal does not have any blood as Muslims are banned from drinking it. This places a great importance on the method of slaughter, in which a sharp knife is used to sever all the vessels in the animal’s neck, causing blood to drain completely.The practice has been criticised as inhumane by The Farm Animal Welfare Council which has called for it to be banned.Ms Charters added: "We secured assurances that the slaughterhouse was certified to be killing humanely and all animals were stunned. "When we discussed the Christmas dinner we said that there was nothing to stop anyone from eating the main course because it was halal although the Muslim pupils will not eat the sausage and bacon rolls. Chicken is chicken as far as I am concerned but there will also be other choices on the menu apart from a Christmas meal."Outraged mother Rachel Johnson, from Kimberworth, said: "This is not a racial issue. Why can’t the non-Muslim kids enjoy traditional Christmas fare?"Why can’t we have a choice of chicken which suits everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims. "We bend over backwards at Eid (an Islamic festival) to eat traditional Muslim food so why should we have to change our Christmas tradition?" Mrs Johnson added: "I feel my culture is being stolen away from me. I have no objections to halal meat being on the menu so long as there is a choice of traditional Christian Christmas fare. "A lot of parents have been in touch to support my views. Our culture and religion are being trampled on and it is not right. It is almost as stupid as serving up pork on Eid."Her 15-year-old daughter, who did not want to be named, added: "I have no objections to including Muslims in celebrating Christmas but it is quite wrong to offer us only halal meat. A lot of my friends feel the same and say there should be a choice and they were thinking of boycotting the Christmas meal."I also think a lot of people will be horrified to know that halal meat is often served at school without a choice. I will not be staying for any more school dinners "I think the people who make these decisions are adding to the conflict." A Rotherham Council spokesman said: "Out of 16 comprehensive schools in the borough only two use private school suppliers. The rest use in-house council caterers. Of those 14 all offer a choice between halal meat and conventionally slaughtered meat".Local councillor Mahroof Hussain said: "Christmas is an important time in everybody’s life in Britain and we should celebrate it. If we are talking about food maybe we should have choice but that is a decision for the school governing body."
McDONALD'S latest bid to attract more customers -- Muslim fast-food lovers -- has caused uproar among customers.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Islamists infiltrate four universities
ISLAMIC extremists have infiltrated at least four British universities to radicalise Muslim students, says a "troubleshooting" imam who sends teams to campuses to tackle indoctrination.
Omar Khan Sharif, left, who was radicalised on campus and became the first British suicide bomber recruit in the Israel-Palestine conflict, along with Asif Hanif, right
read more
Universities given 'how-to' guide for fighting violent Islam
The Government today issued explicit guidelines aimed at tackling violent Islamist extremism on Britain's university campuses.
A 20-page booklet aimed at university Vice Chancellors and principals of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) advises campus administrators how best to resist extremist groups and preachers attempting to radicalise their students and commit themselves to violent jihad.
The document, following general guidelines issued last year to tackle all forms of extremism among students, contains several "real life" scenarios specifically aimed at targeting Islamism.
As well a definition of "violent extremism in the name of Islam", the guidelines describe various pieces of anti-terrorism legislation that might be relevant to controlling extremist groups.
The specific nature of the advice drew a rebuke from Universities UK (UUK), the association of universities that helped prepare the last guidelines, while a coalition of Muslim students said the document contained little to improve campus relations.
Universities UK praised the guidelines for offering "practical and useful information for staff and students alike on recent legislation" but observed: "UUK’s earlier document focused on all kinds of extremism, not just on extremism in the name of Islam.
"Universities are some of the most diverse communities in the UK, and work hard to ensure community cohesion on campus across all faiths and racial groups. Universities have a duty of care to protect vulnerable groups, and they also have a responsibility to assure all their constituent communities that they are party to fundamental values of free enquiry and free expression within the law."
The scenarios described in the booklet include the invitation of a preacher suspected of justifying terrorist attacks against British civilians; the taking over of an Islamic prayer room; and the radicalising of an Islamic students group, in which moderate members are frozen out and bullied into electing hardline leaders.
In another case, "a member of teaching staff has raised concerns with university authorities about some literature that was left lying around in a university room in which she took a tutorial group.
"Some leaflets were written in English, and others appeared to be in Arabic. She reported that the literature in English had titles such as ‘Who is a legitimate target?’ and ‘From Jihad to a new world order.’"
A separate scenario describes a member of the college library staff watching students using the internet. "She reported that two males were looking at some kind of home-made images of other men dressed in military and civilian clothing holding guns," the guidance says.
"The two men were joined by two others and she could see that they were watching shots being fired and explosions on the computer. The images then appeared to show somebody making a home made explosive device."
In this case, the booklet advises: "The HE provider will have a policy on internet use and internet security... If it is alleged that these policies are breached then what is the process for sensitively investigating allegations, and if necessary who should decide whether to inform the police?"
According to the Department of Education Skills (DfES), today's document is the product of 18 months of consultations between colleges, the police and Muslim students and leaders.
Launching the guide this morning, Bill Rammell, the Minister for Higher Education, said: "The guidance provides a recognition - that I believe must be faced squarely - that violent extremism in the name of Islam is a real, credible and sustained threat to the UK. And that there is evidence of serious, but not widespread Islamist extremist activity in HEIs."
"This guidance is not about targeting one particular community."
The document was welcomed by the British Muslim Forum today, although the group said it would like to see similar guidelines issued to help confront "the anti-Muslim extremism of the far right".
But the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis), an umbrella grup that represents around 90,000 Muslim students in the UK, joined the National Union of Students and other bodies, issuing a statement saying there was a need for positive proposals.
"Demonising Muslims is unacceptable and dangerous, whether in educational institutions or in communities," the joint statement said. "Students and staff should be assured by their institutions that there is no intention of adding to a climate of Islamophobia."
The busy life of university campuses and the fluid nature of student organisations have for years enabled Islamic extremist groups to organise addresses by radical preachers and to target young Muslims amenable to violent interpretations of Islam.
Members of proscribed groups such as Hizb-ut Tahrir and al-Muhajiroun have been reported giving speeches and forming new student associations.
The sentencing of Dhiren Barot, the most senior al-Qaeda operative to be prosecuted in Britain, last week revealed that he had a fake research pass for Brunel University, allowing him access to the campus.
The Sunday Times reported last weekend that fundamentalists had been recently reported at least four British universities: Brunel University, west London, Bedfordshire University, Luton, Sheffield Hallam University and Manchester Metropolitan University.
The newspaper quoted Sheikh Musa Admani, an imam who helps moderate the views of radical young Muslims and is one of Mr Rammell's advisers, saying that extremist groups were adept at avoiding campus bans and joining mainstream organisations with the aim of turning a few members to their cause.
why Islamic hate on campus needs to be tackled
Omar Khan Sharif, left, who was radicalised on campus and became the first British suicide bomber recruit in the Israel-Palestine conflict, along with Asif Hanif, right
read more
Universities given 'how-to' guide for fighting violent Islam
The Government today issued explicit guidelines aimed at tackling violent Islamist extremism on Britain's university campuses.
A 20-page booklet aimed at university Vice Chancellors and principals of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) advises campus administrators how best to resist extremist groups and preachers attempting to radicalise their students and commit themselves to violent jihad.
The document, following general guidelines issued last year to tackle all forms of extremism among students, contains several "real life" scenarios specifically aimed at targeting Islamism.
As well a definition of "violent extremism in the name of Islam", the guidelines describe various pieces of anti-terrorism legislation that might be relevant to controlling extremist groups.
The specific nature of the advice drew a rebuke from Universities UK (UUK), the association of universities that helped prepare the last guidelines, while a coalition of Muslim students said the document contained little to improve campus relations.
Universities UK praised the guidelines for offering "practical and useful information for staff and students alike on recent legislation" but observed: "UUK’s earlier document focused on all kinds of extremism, not just on extremism in the name of Islam.
"Universities are some of the most diverse communities in the UK, and work hard to ensure community cohesion on campus across all faiths and racial groups. Universities have a duty of care to protect vulnerable groups, and they also have a responsibility to assure all their constituent communities that they are party to fundamental values of free enquiry and free expression within the law."
The scenarios described in the booklet include the invitation of a preacher suspected of justifying terrorist attacks against British civilians; the taking over of an Islamic prayer room; and the radicalising of an Islamic students group, in which moderate members are frozen out and bullied into electing hardline leaders.
In another case, "a member of teaching staff has raised concerns with university authorities about some literature that was left lying around in a university room in which she took a tutorial group.
"Some leaflets were written in English, and others appeared to be in Arabic. She reported that the literature in English had titles such as ‘Who is a legitimate target?’ and ‘From Jihad to a new world order.’"
A separate scenario describes a member of the college library staff watching students using the internet. "She reported that two males were looking at some kind of home-made images of other men dressed in military and civilian clothing holding guns," the guidance says.
"The two men were joined by two others and she could see that they were watching shots being fired and explosions on the computer. The images then appeared to show somebody making a home made explosive device."
In this case, the booklet advises: "The HE provider will have a policy on internet use and internet security... If it is alleged that these policies are breached then what is the process for sensitively investigating allegations, and if necessary who should decide whether to inform the police?"
According to the Department of Education Skills (DfES), today's document is the product of 18 months of consultations between colleges, the police and Muslim students and leaders.
Launching the guide this morning, Bill Rammell, the Minister for Higher Education, said: "The guidance provides a recognition - that I believe must be faced squarely - that violent extremism in the name of Islam is a real, credible and sustained threat to the UK. And that there is evidence of serious, but not widespread Islamist extremist activity in HEIs."
"This guidance is not about targeting one particular community."
The document was welcomed by the British Muslim Forum today, although the group said it would like to see similar guidelines issued to help confront "the anti-Muslim extremism of the far right".
But the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis), an umbrella grup that represents around 90,000 Muslim students in the UK, joined the National Union of Students and other bodies, issuing a statement saying there was a need for positive proposals.
"Demonising Muslims is unacceptable and dangerous, whether in educational institutions or in communities," the joint statement said. "Students and staff should be assured by their institutions that there is no intention of adding to a climate of Islamophobia."
The busy life of university campuses and the fluid nature of student organisations have for years enabled Islamic extremist groups to organise addresses by radical preachers and to target young Muslims amenable to violent interpretations of Islam.
Members of proscribed groups such as Hizb-ut Tahrir and al-Muhajiroun have been reported giving speeches and forming new student associations.
The sentencing of Dhiren Barot, the most senior al-Qaeda operative to be prosecuted in Britain, last week revealed that he had a fake research pass for Brunel University, allowing him access to the campus.
The Sunday Times reported last weekend that fundamentalists had been recently reported at least four British universities: Brunel University, west London, Bedfordshire University, Luton, Sheffield Hallam University and Manchester Metropolitan University.
The newspaper quoted Sheikh Musa Admani, an imam who helps moderate the views of radical young Muslims and is one of Mr Rammell's advisers, saying that extremist groups were adept at avoiding campus bans and joining mainstream organisations with the aim of turning a few members to their cause.
why Islamic hate on campus needs to be tackled
Thursday, November 16, 2006
muslims get special police meeting.
Representatives of all 43 mosques in South Yorkshire are gathering for the first Muslim community conference hosted by the county's police force.
"This conference is not just about any one topic though, it's more about furthering neighbourhood policing, our partnership work and reducing crime and the fear of crime."
Well that's handy.
Once the Muslims get neighbourhood policing, partnership with the police,reduced crime and less worry about getting mugged or burgled the rest of us might get some of it as well.Have Old Bill EVER had or needed a special conference for the Jewish, Christian,Sikh, Buddhists, Old Uncle Tom Cobbley and All communities?Noooooooo
"This conference is not just about any one topic though, it's more about furthering neighbourhood policing, our partnership work and reducing crime and the fear of crime."
Well that's handy.
Once the Muslims get neighbourhood policing, partnership with the police,reduced crime and less worry about getting mugged or burgled the rest of us might get some of it as well.Have Old Bill EVER had or needed a special conference for the Jewish, Christian,Sikh, Buddhists, Old Uncle Tom Cobbley and All communities?Noooooooo
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Man admits firing fatal Pc shot
One of the five men accused of the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky after an armed robbery in Bradford last year has said he fired the fatal shot.
But Yusuf Abdillh Jamma, 20, of Whitmore Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, denies murder, saying he did not fire the 9mm pistol intentionally.
He admitted at Newcastle Crown Court two firearms offences and robbery.
Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah, 25, was cleared of attempting to murder Pc Teresa Milburn, Mrs Beshenivsky's colleague.
Shah has already pleaded guilty to the murder of Pc Beshenivsky outside the Universal Express travel agents on 18 November 2005, but denies firing the gun that killed her.
The judge, Mr Justice Andrew Smith, told the jury he had no case to answer over the attempted murder of Pc Milburn and directed them to return a not guilty verdict.
Earlier in the trial, Pc Milburn sobbed in the witness box as she recalled seeing Pc Beshenivsky's head "flop" to the side before she collapsed in a heap in front of her.
She recalled seeing an Asian man and a black man in the doorway of the premises, with the Asian man pointing a gun towards them.
The mother-of-one told the court the Asian man was responsible for injuring her and shooting dead her colleague.
Giving evidence in the witness box, Jamma admitted the gun which killed Pc Beshenivsky was discharged while it was in his possession.
He repeatedly denied the prosecution's suggestions that his version of events was a lie "to try to help Muzzaker Shah get off the attempted murder of Pc Milburn."
Peter Griffiths, QC, defending Jamma, asked his client if he "accepted that when the gun was discharged, fatally injuring Pc Beshenivsky, that that gun was in your possession at that time?"
Jamma replied: "Yes."
He told the court the three robbers inside the travel agents were his brother Mustaf, who remains on the run, Shah, and himself.
He said they all "started to panic" when two community wardens, who they thought were police officers, approached the locked door of the premises.
He said that everything happened "in a split second" when they left the travel agents.
Jamma, who was carrying a 9mm pistol fitted with a silencer, said what happened next was a "blur".
"I just remember hearing me pulling the trigger, sort of thing," he said.
"It wasn't a loud bang. It wasn't as loud as the bang we heard inside. It was sort of muzzled."
Asked by Mr Griffiths if he intentionally discharged the gun, he said: "No, I didn't."
Asked if he knew the gun he had was real and loaded, he said: "No, I didn't."
Asked if he remembered a second discharge of the gun, Jamma said: "I recall nothing at all from that point on. I carried on running away."
Asked if he recalled a third discharge of the gun, Jamma said: "No, not at all."
The three other accused, Raza Ul-Haq Aslam, 25, of St Pancras Way, Kentish Town, north London; Faisal Razzaq, 25, and his 26-year-old brother Hassan, both of Sebert Road, Forest Gate, east London, all deny murder.
The trial continues.
'Robbers had tried to pray at mosque' before PC was shot
killer spent £10k in 9 days
Er, no. Birmingham might be where he was arrested, but he's from Somalia, the same Somalia that was his apparent reason for being given refuge in our country, and the same Somalia to which his brother Mustaf Jama, is believed to have fled to avoid British justice.
I guess when the chips were down he figured that Somalia wasn't so
bad after all.
Leading member of Muslim extremist group working at the Home Office
Abid Javaid is a 'senior executive officer' in the IT department at the scandal-hit Immigration and Nationality Directorate which processes tens of thousands of asylum and visa applications every year.But he is also an activist in the fundamentalist Islamic group Hizb-ut Tahrir which believes in a worldwide Islamic state under Shariah law.
This is despite Tony Blair calling for the group to be banned last year.
The group's smartly dressed spokesmen have caused repeated outrage over their refusal to condemn terrorist attacks including last year's London bombings.
One of their leaflets called for Jews to be murdered and for the destruction of Israel.
Another spokesman, Dr Imran Waheed, refused to condemn the July 7 suicide bombs, saying he would only do so after Western leaders apologise for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last night the Tories described Javaid's employment as a 'disgrace' and said it was further proof that both the Home Office and the IND remained 'unfit for purpose'.
Patrick Mercer, the party's Homeland Security spokesman, said: 'I am amazed that this man has managed to infiltrate such a sensitive government department.
'I find it deeply worrying. This is an insidious and dangerous organisation that is clearly trying to worm its way into as many government organisations as possible.
'In August 2005, the Prime Minister said that these people should be banned.
'Now, less than 18 months later, they are, to all intents and purposes, legal. This is a clandestine organisation which seeks to infiltrate wherever it can.
'This is further proof, if any were needed, that both the IND and the Home Office are unfit for purpose.'
Javaid works at Lunar House in Croydon, South London.
The tower block processes many of the tens of thousands of claims for asylum which are made to this country every year.
The IND has been at the centre of a series of recent scandals including the failure to deport foreign prisoners and claims that case workers offered a premium service to migrants if they agreed to perform sexual favours.
In another case, one senior official was sacked after being caught on camera offering to help a Zimbabwean rape victim with her claim in return for having sex with him.
Hundreds of thousands of claims for visas and asylum are stacked in cardboard boxes and the IND has been accused of losing track of applicants.
Javaid's dual role was revealed by a joint investigation by BBC2's Newsnight and File on 4 into 'Islamic infiltration' in to everyday UK life.
The probe reveals that the civil servant is a prominent Hizb-ut Tahrir activist in South London.
He has represented the group in talks with the Croydon Mosque - which has been trying to kick out radical influences.
Tony Blair made his pledge to ban the group in a tough talking speech after the July 7 bombings in London last year.
He vowed to outlaw extremist groups and said: 'Let no one be in any doubt that the rules of the game are changing. People can't come here and abuse our good nature and our tolerance.
'They can't come here and start inciting our young people in communities to take up violence against British people here.'
Last year, the group said suicide bombers were no worse than moderate Muslims. Their articulate spokesmen frequently appear on TV as the 'respectable' face of Islamic extremism.
But critics point out that the group has been particularly effective at radicalising young students on university campuses.
The investigation also revealed that exiled Islamic cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed is allegedly using a variety of pseudonyms to broadcast support for terrorism in the UK via the Internet.
Bakri, who was banned from the UK last August, apparently praised the July 7 bombers and, in a chatroom conversation, appeared to advocate an attack on Dublin airport.
In one recent broadcast, he said the 7/7 suicide bombers were 'in paradise'.
He also reportedly said: 'How can you condemn those great men - it's not something so bad, something so good.
'Something so good to be involved in.'
The BBC said Bakri's chatroom had been infiltrated by a group called Vigil, including former police and security service personnel, which aims to disrupt extremist activity.
Asked by one of its undercover operatives whether Dublin Airport should be a terrorist target because US troops transit there on the way to Iraq, Bakri allegedly said in response: 'Hit the target and hit it very hard, that issue should be understood. Your situation there is quite difficult therefore the answer lies in your question.'
One academic, who is a member of Vigil, said he went to the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist hotline with more than 100 hours of material from the chatroom only to be told to contact his local police station.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: 'The Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command is working closely with Vigil, and in particular its director and spokesman who has made officers aware of chatroom material.
'This material will be considered and appropriate action taken.'
Bakri was barred from Britain last August after the then Home Secretary Charles Clarke ruled his presence was 'not conducive to the public good'.
He founded the now-disbanded radical Islamic group Al Muhajiroun, which was based in Tottenham, North London.
Last night a Home Office spokesman said: 'Home Office civil servants are expected to abide by Home Office rules governing their conduct. They are also subject to the Civil Service code.'
'I was forced to rob for Allah'
Q&A: Hizb ut-Tahrir
Reid to examine extremist claims
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Muslim MP's son in bomb attack
It appears that Muslims in Scotland are angry at Glasgow Labour MP, Mohammed Sarwar, for his assistance in helping to bring to justice the Muslims who killed 15-year old white schoolboy Kriss Donald.
It appears that Muslims in Scotland are angry at Glasgow Labour MP, Mohammed Sarwar, for his assistance in helping to bring to justice the Muslims who killed 15-year old white schoolboy Kriss Donald.
Kriss Donald was snatched from a Glasgow street on March 15, 2004. He was then beaten, stabbed, and finally set on fire while still alive. His attackers were Daanish Zahid, who was convicted in 2004. Another man who admitted to abducting and beating Kriss, but who claimed he was not present when the schoolboy was killed, was Zahid Mohammed. He had been sentenced in 2004 to five years' jail, but was released early, in a deal which saw him giving evidence against the other three Muslims.
On November 8, Imran "Baldy" Shahid, Mohammed "Beck" Mushtaq and Zeeshan "Crazy" Shahid were found guilty of Kriss' murder, and were sentenced to life terms which should be for no less than 22 years for Mushtaq, 23 years for Zeeshan Shahid, and 25 years for Imran Shahid.
The Sunday Times yesterday revealed that a BMW car was blown up in the car park of the Sarwar family's cash-and-carry (wholesale distribution) business. This event happened five days before the three men convicted last week were extradited back to Britain from Pakistan in late 2005.
The BMW was similar to the one driven by Sarwar's 28-year old son Athif. Earlier, a plot to kidnap Sarwar's youngest son, 23-year old Anas, was thwarted by detectives. The south Glasgow constituency office of Mohammed Sarwar was vandalised, and the MP received numerous death threats on his landline and on his mobile phone.
The attacks and threats were believed to have been carried out by associates of the men who were extradited in 2005 and given life sentences last week. The three men were part of a gang called "The Shielders" which was headed by Imran Shahid.
The men had fled to Pakistan because it has no extradition treaty with Britain. Numerous criminals and perpetrators of hit-and-run accidents have fled to Pakistan, confident that they would not be returned to face justice.
The MP Mohammed Sarwar, however, insisted on persuading the Pakistani authorities extraditing the three murderers. He made four visits to Pakistan, where he met president Musharraf and the interior minister Aftab Sherpao, arguing for the men to be returned to face justice. The three men were arrested, and were returned to Britain on October 5, 2005.
The Sun newspaper reported on Saturday that a jail source has said that the three killers are currently targeted for prison "justice" by other convicts. Apparently drugs barons have also put up a bounty on their heads, with some prisoners on life sentences being paid in advance with high quality drugs.
The press makes much of incidents where white people commit racist attacks, but is relatively silent when white people are victims. Last month, data obtained from the Home Office under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that of 58 racially motivated killings which took place over the past decade, 24 of these (nearly half of the total) involved white victims.
In the charged atmosphere of political correctness, one of the first casualties is objective truth.
The British Crime Survey, states the Sunday Times showed that in 2004, 87,000 people of an ethnic group other than white were victims of what they described "racially motivated crime", with 49,000 violent attacks and with 4,000 being wounded.
In the same period, 92,000 white people suffered "racially motivated crime", with 77,000 violent attacks and 20,000 being wounded.
It seems that the media would prefer to peddle the patronising myth that ethnic minorities are always the underdogs and the victims. An attack upon a black or Asian victim is seen as a horrific crime, where the racism of the attack is amplified and condemned by the press. Statistically, as ethnic minorities are fewer in number than whites, yet are committing more attacks than their white counterparts, a member of an ethnic minority is more likely to commit a racist crime than a member of the white majority.
If this is the truth, why is it so hard for the media to acknowedge?
It appears that Muslims in Scotland are angry at Glasgow Labour MP, Mohammed Sarwar, for his assistance in helping to bring to justice the Muslims who killed 15-year old white schoolboy Kriss Donald.
Kriss Donald was snatched from a Glasgow street on March 15, 2004. He was then beaten, stabbed, and finally set on fire while still alive. His attackers were Daanish Zahid, who was convicted in 2004. Another man who admitted to abducting and beating Kriss, but who claimed he was not present when the schoolboy was killed, was Zahid Mohammed. He had been sentenced in 2004 to five years' jail, but was released early, in a deal which saw him giving evidence against the other three Muslims.
On November 8, Imran "Baldy" Shahid, Mohammed "Beck" Mushtaq and Zeeshan "Crazy" Shahid were found guilty of Kriss' murder, and were sentenced to life terms which should be for no less than 22 years for Mushtaq, 23 years for Zeeshan Shahid, and 25 years for Imran Shahid.
The Sunday Times yesterday revealed that a BMW car was blown up in the car park of the Sarwar family's cash-and-carry (wholesale distribution) business. This event happened five days before the three men convicted last week were extradited back to Britain from Pakistan in late 2005.
The BMW was similar to the one driven by Sarwar's 28-year old son Athif. Earlier, a plot to kidnap Sarwar's youngest son, 23-year old Anas, was thwarted by detectives. The south Glasgow constituency office of Mohammed Sarwar was vandalised, and the MP received numerous death threats on his landline and on his mobile phone.
The attacks and threats were believed to have been carried out by associates of the men who were extradited in 2005 and given life sentences last week. The three men were part of a gang called "The Shielders" which was headed by Imran Shahid.
The men had fled to Pakistan because it has no extradition treaty with Britain. Numerous criminals and perpetrators of hit-and-run accidents have fled to Pakistan, confident that they would not be returned to face justice.
The MP Mohammed Sarwar, however, insisted on persuading the Pakistani authorities extraditing the three murderers. He made four visits to Pakistan, where he met president Musharraf and the interior minister Aftab Sherpao, arguing for the men to be returned to face justice. The three men were arrested, and were returned to Britain on October 5, 2005.
The Sun newspaper reported on Saturday that a jail source has said that the three killers are currently targeted for prison "justice" by other convicts. Apparently drugs barons have also put up a bounty on their heads, with some prisoners on life sentences being paid in advance with high quality drugs.
The press makes much of incidents where white people commit racist attacks, but is relatively silent when white people are victims. Last month, data obtained from the Home Office under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that of 58 racially motivated killings which took place over the past decade, 24 of these (nearly half of the total) involved white victims.
In the charged atmosphere of political correctness, one of the first casualties is objective truth.
The British Crime Survey, states the Sunday Times showed that in 2004, 87,000 people of an ethnic group other than white were victims of what they described "racially motivated crime", with 49,000 violent attacks and with 4,000 being wounded.
In the same period, 92,000 white people suffered "racially motivated crime", with 77,000 violent attacks and 20,000 being wounded.
It seems that the media would prefer to peddle the patronising myth that ethnic minorities are always the underdogs and the victims. An attack upon a black or Asian victim is seen as a horrific crime, where the racism of the attack is amplified and condemned by the press. Statistically, as ethnic minorities are fewer in number than whites, yet are committing more attacks than their white counterparts, a member of an ethnic minority is more likely to commit a racist crime than a member of the white majority.
If this is the truth, why is it so hard for the media to acknowedge?
Covert preaching of banned cleric
A banned cleric is still preaching support for terrorism to young British Muslims by appearing incognito on the internet, the BBC has learned.
The joint investigation by File on 4 and Newsnight has found Omar Bakri Mohammed broadcasts hatred for the UK using a variety of pseudonyms.
He was excluded from the UK last August on the grounds that his presence was "not conducive to the public good."
On a recent broadcast he said the 7/7 London bombers were "in paradise."
The BBC investigation has also revealed how young British Muslims are being radicalised by extremists on university campuses and in street gangs.
Omar Bakri Mohammed ran the radical al-Muhajiroun group from Tottenham, north London, until it was proscribed last year.
Glorifying terrorism on the internet is an offence and we are trying to deal with it Tony McNulty, Home Office minister
The then Home Secretary Charles Clarke barred him from returning to Britain while he was out of the country in August 2005.
But the BBC has learned that he broadcasts online most evenings - a voice recognition expert confirmed that the voice was that of the radical preacher.
In one broadcast he praised the 2005 London bombers by saying: "How can you condemn those great men - it's not something so bad, something so good. Something so good to be involved in."
A chatroom has been infiltrated by a group called Vigil, which aims to disrupt radical groups and report back to police and security services.
During an online question and answer session a Vigil member asked Omar Bakri Mohammed if Dublin Airport should be a terrorist target because US troops transit there on the way to Iraq.
The cleric replied: "Hit the target and hit it very hard, that issue should be understood. Your situation there is quite difficult therefore the answer lies in your question."
Terror hotline
Vigil claims the UK authorities have been slow to deal with the broadcasts.
One academic, who is a member of Vigil, contacted the Metropolitan Police's anti-terrorist hotline saying he had more than 100 hours of material from the chatroom only to be told to contact his local police station.
"The anti-terrorist office showed no sense of urgency to get this information," he said.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said he would examine the details of the claim.
He also said: "Glorifying terrorism on the internet is an offence and we are trying to deal with it and keep up with it.
Mr McNulty added: "We do have to keep these things under review."
BBC frightened of criticising Islam, says archbishop
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has accused the BBC of bias against Christianity and says the broadcaster fears a terrorist backlash if it is critical of Islam. The archbishop, the second most senior figure in the Church of England's hierarchy, said Christians took "more knocks" than other faiths at the hands of the BBC. "They can do to us what they dare not do to the Muslims," he said. "We are fair game because they can get away with it. We don't go down there and say, 'We are going to bomb your place.' That is not in our nature." The Ugandan-born archbishop nevertheless said Christians must be more forceful in promoting their beliefs. Blaming the "chattering classes" for undermining trad-itional Christian culture, he said: "They see themselves as holding the flag for Britain and that Britain is definitely secular and atheist. I want them to have their say but not to lord it over the rest of us." In an interview with the Daily Mail, he called for a return to family values and an end to the tyranny of materialism, especially at Christmas. We have become a society where we all gather around the microwave or the television. Even while you are eating, the television is blaring. Come on! "Parents should spend more time talking to children because that is where behaviour is learned, in the home." Dr Sentamu rejected the idea of the Church severing its remaining ties with the state. "People of other faiths say to me that the Church establishment is critical because it is a bulwark against a secularising agenda," he said. "The Church of England reminds the nation that in this country the Queen is Defender of the Faith, head of the Commonwealth and head of state." The Queen, he added, was the "real uniting force" and no politician "could ever rise to her level". Dr Sentamu also questioned whether Muslim women were required to wear the veil by the Koran, and argued that those who did should not expect British society to be reordered to accommodate them. He said Muslim scholars would say three things about the veil. "First, does it conform to norms of decency? Secondly, does it render you more secure? And thirdly, what kind of Islam are you projecting by wearing it? "I think in the British context it renders you less secure because you stick out and it brings unwelcome attention. "On the first question (of whether the veil conforms to norms of decency) I don't think it does conform." The archbishop said he never wore a cross when visiting a synagogue or mosque, explaining: "Because I am going into someone else's home. And I can't simply say, 'Take me as I am, whether you like it or not.' "I think the thing is in British society you can wear what you want, but you can't expect British society to be reconfigured around you. No minority can expect to impose this on the public or civic life." A BBC spokesman declined to comment but referred to a newspaper article by Mark Thompson, the director general, which denied that the BBC was systematically biased against Christianity and in favour of Islam, saying that it did not square with the facts. The Muslim Council of Britain said that if women chose to wear the veil on religious grounds it was "their business and no one else's" as long as it did not conflict with the rights of others. |
Monday, November 13, 2006
Al Qaeda seeking nuclear kit for attacks: UK official
Al Qaeda is trying to acquire the technology that would enable it to use a nuclear device to attack Western targets including Britain, a senior British official said on Monday.
"We know the aspiration is there. We know attempts to gather materials are there, we know that attempts to gather technology are there," the senior Foreign Office official told reporters.
The comments at a briefing came days after the head of Britain's domestic spy agency said Muslim extremists were plotting at least 30 major terrorist attacks in Britain which could involve chemical and nuclear devices.
The Foreign Office official, asked whether there was any doubt that Al Qaeda wants to gather nuclear material for use against Western targets, said: "No doubt at all."
Eliza Manningham-Buller, head of intelligence agency MI5, said last week young British Muslims were being groomed to become suicide bombers and her agents were tracking some 1,600 suspects, most of whom were British-born and linked to al Qaeda in Pakistan.
Britain suffered its worst peacetime attack in July 2005 when four British Islamists blew themselves up on London's transport network, killing 52 commuters and wounding hundreds.
Earlier this month Dhiren Barot, 34, was jailed for a minimum of 40 years for plotting to blow up the New York Stock Exchange and carry out attacks in Britain with gas-filled limousines and a "dirty bomb."
Evidence against him included copious research into explosives, chemicals and radioactive materials.
In a separate ongoing terrorism trial, prosecutors say one of the suspects had told police in an interview that his superior in a Pakistan training camp had asked him to help contact the Russian mafia about buying a nuclear bomb.
However Salahuddin Amin, who is accused of plotting conventional bomb attacks in the UK using ammonium nitrate fertilizer, said he did not believe it was a genuine plot and nothing appeared to have developed from the plan.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will focus on the fight against terrorism when he unveils the last package of laws of his premiership in a program to be read to Wednesday by Queen Elizabeth.
Seizures of radioactive materials fuel 'dirty bomb' fears
"We know the aspiration is there. We know attempts to gather materials are there, we know that attempts to gather technology are there," the senior Foreign Office official told reporters.
The comments at a briefing came days after the head of Britain's domestic spy agency said Muslim extremists were plotting at least 30 major terrorist attacks in Britain which could involve chemical and nuclear devices.
The Foreign Office official, asked whether there was any doubt that Al Qaeda wants to gather nuclear material for use against Western targets, said: "No doubt at all."
Eliza Manningham-Buller, head of intelligence agency MI5, said last week young British Muslims were being groomed to become suicide bombers and her agents were tracking some 1,600 suspects, most of whom were British-born and linked to al Qaeda in Pakistan.
Britain suffered its worst peacetime attack in July 2005 when four British Islamists blew themselves up on London's transport network, killing 52 commuters and wounding hundreds.
Earlier this month Dhiren Barot, 34, was jailed for a minimum of 40 years for plotting to blow up the New York Stock Exchange and carry out attacks in Britain with gas-filled limousines and a "dirty bomb."
Evidence against him included copious research into explosives, chemicals and radioactive materials.
In a separate ongoing terrorism trial, prosecutors say one of the suspects had told police in an interview that his superior in a Pakistan training camp had asked him to help contact the Russian mafia about buying a nuclear bomb.
However Salahuddin Amin, who is accused of plotting conventional bomb attacks in the UK using ammonium nitrate fertilizer, said he did not believe it was a genuine plot and nothing appeared to have developed from the plan.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will focus on the fight against terrorism when he unveils the last package of laws of his premiership in a program to be read to Wednesday by Queen Elizabeth.
Seizures of radioactive materials fuel 'dirty bomb' fears
Parents fly in African village elders to circumcise their young daughters
HUNDREDS of young girls in Britain are suffering genital mutilation at the hands of women paid to come to Britain by their families.
African immigrants are clubbing together to pay for practitioners to fly to Britain and circumcise their daughters in highly secretive rituals.
Police believe that the trend has developed among parents who do not have passports or cannot afford to return to their home countries to have their daughters circumcised, a brutal practice that remains commonplace throughout Africa.
The procedure is generally performed by elderly women, in unsterilised conditions with no anaesthetic. Children as young as five have parts or all of their clitoris or labia removed. Some have their vaginas sewn up or the flesh shrunk with corrosives.
Last week, Esther Fornah, 19, was granted asylum because she faced being forced to undergo female genital mutiliation if she were returned to her home country of Sierra Leone.
In an interview with The Times, Esther said: "If I’d been sent back to Sierra Leone I would have been forced to have it done and they would have punished me more for exposing it and made it even more painful. I would rather have killed myself than go back."
In Britain, female circumcision — or female genital mutilation (FGM) — is illegal, and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment. The penalty has, however, failed to halt the practice, with thousands of young girls taken abroad each year for that purpose. There has never been a prosecution, although it has been an offence since 1985 with the introduction of the FGM Act. Since 2003, taking a child to another country to have it done has also been an offence.
Female circumcision among the African community in Britain has been commonplace for years but the wider population has been unaware of it. Now, however, police, social services and health workers have become concerned. They believe it to be widespread, with about 25,000 young girls remaining at risk in Britain, according to the Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (Forward).
A specialist unit has been set up by Metropolitan Police child abuse investigation detectives to tackle the problem in tandem with other agencies. Over the past year they have monitored schools and airports and advised minority communities that sending their daughters abroad for genital mutilation is illegal. This has resulted in about 20 successful interventions.
Detective Inspector Carol Hamilton, an expert in the field, said: "One primary school child was overheard telling her friends that she was going to be taken to her home country and there would be a party, a ceremony, because she was becoming a woman. Police and social services visited the girl’s home. They said they were not stopping the family from going away, but wanted the parents to know that FGM was against the law, that their daughter would be monitored on her return, and they could be arrested if she had had it done.
"This particular family didn’t know that it was against the law and took the advice fully on board — many people still think it’s OK if you go abroad."
However, she said there had been a worrying development. "The information we’re now getting is that people who don’t have passports or who can’t afford to go abroad are clubbing together to pay for someone to come in. But getting the details is a problem. People always say it doesn’t happen in their area, but they’ve heard it takes place elsewhere."
The procedure is highly dangerous and leaves many of its victims with health problems throughout their lives. Infections and cysts are commonplace, as are complications during childbirth, endangering both mother and baby. Women who have suffered genital mutilation are twice as likely to die in childbirth and three times as likely to give birth to a stillborn child.
Despite the dangers, many African Muslim communities prize the ritual and ostracise women who are not circumcised. It is common in a band stretching from Senegal in West Africa to Somalia on the East coast and in many areas uncircumcised women cannot find a husband.
One health worker who helps the Somali community in Sheffield said: "At 12 or 13, some girls are pressured by their peer group if they haven’t had it done. They will be ostracised or seen as unclean."
Over the summer, police ran a poster campaign aimed at parents taking their daughters on "holiday" for the procedure, produced a DVD for community leaders and are negotiating with BAA to show a rolling 30-second video at airport departure lounges reminding people of the penalty.
But there has been frustration at the lack of prosecutions. Ann Clwyd, the Labour MP who brought the Bill that became the 2003 Act, voiced her dissatisfaction in the Commons last year, saying: "When I introduced the legislation, I expected some prosecutions to follow.
"Acts that have been in force for 20 years without any prosecutions mean that 7,000 young girls in this country are estimated to be at risk of being taken abroad for those procedures."
Agencies working with those at risk say that victims will not admit that they have been forced to undergo mutilation because they fear their family or community elders could be investigated.
Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital runs an African well women’s clinic that treats about 400 victims of female genital mutilation every year.
A BARBARIC BUT COMMON RITUAL
Female genital mutilation has been illegal in Britain since 1985
The law now criminalises the practice outside Britain on British citizens or permanent residents. Aiding and abetting it is an offence
The maximum penalty for committing or assisting is 14 years’ imprisonment
A claim for asylum by a girl facing mutilation was refused because, it was said, she was not in a social group fearing persecution — a Refugee Convention requisite. Five law lords have just overturned that decision
The practice is common in 28 African countries and some Asian and Middle Eastern communities
It is usually done to girls aged 4 to 13, but is sometimes inflicted on babies
Reasons given include custom and tradition, religious demand, family honour, hygiene, a belief that it enhances fertility, and to control women’s sexuality
It is thought to have been carried out on about 75,000 first-generation female African immigrants in Britain
Afterwards women are twice as likely to die in childbirth and three times as likely to have a stillborn child
Unicef estimates that 100 million to 130 million women have had the procedure, often performed with a basic cutting instrument under little or no anaesthetic
The practice contravenes the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
see also.
African immigrants are clubbing together to pay for practitioners to fly to Britain and circumcise their daughters in highly secretive rituals.
Police believe that the trend has developed among parents who do not have passports or cannot afford to return to their home countries to have their daughters circumcised, a brutal practice that remains commonplace throughout Africa.
The procedure is generally performed by elderly women, in unsterilised conditions with no anaesthetic. Children as young as five have parts or all of their clitoris or labia removed. Some have their vaginas sewn up or the flesh shrunk with corrosives.
Last week, Esther Fornah, 19, was granted asylum because she faced being forced to undergo female genital mutiliation if she were returned to her home country of Sierra Leone.
In an interview with The Times, Esther said: "If I’d been sent back to Sierra Leone I would have been forced to have it done and they would have punished me more for exposing it and made it even more painful. I would rather have killed myself than go back."
In Britain, female circumcision — or female genital mutilation (FGM) — is illegal, and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment. The penalty has, however, failed to halt the practice, with thousands of young girls taken abroad each year for that purpose. There has never been a prosecution, although it has been an offence since 1985 with the introduction of the FGM Act. Since 2003, taking a child to another country to have it done has also been an offence.
Female circumcision among the African community in Britain has been commonplace for years but the wider population has been unaware of it. Now, however, police, social services and health workers have become concerned. They believe it to be widespread, with about 25,000 young girls remaining at risk in Britain, according to the Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (Forward).
A specialist unit has been set up by Metropolitan Police child abuse investigation detectives to tackle the problem in tandem with other agencies. Over the past year they have monitored schools and airports and advised minority communities that sending their daughters abroad for genital mutilation is illegal. This has resulted in about 20 successful interventions.
Detective Inspector Carol Hamilton, an expert in the field, said: "One primary school child was overheard telling her friends that she was going to be taken to her home country and there would be a party, a ceremony, because she was becoming a woman. Police and social services visited the girl’s home. They said they were not stopping the family from going away, but wanted the parents to know that FGM was against the law, that their daughter would be monitored on her return, and they could be arrested if she had had it done.
"This particular family didn’t know that it was against the law and took the advice fully on board — many people still think it’s OK if you go abroad."
However, she said there had been a worrying development. "The information we’re now getting is that people who don’t have passports or who can’t afford to go abroad are clubbing together to pay for someone to come in. But getting the details is a problem. People always say it doesn’t happen in their area, but they’ve heard it takes place elsewhere."
The procedure is highly dangerous and leaves many of its victims with health problems throughout their lives. Infections and cysts are commonplace, as are complications during childbirth, endangering both mother and baby. Women who have suffered genital mutilation are twice as likely to die in childbirth and three times as likely to give birth to a stillborn child.
Despite the dangers, many African Muslim communities prize the ritual and ostracise women who are not circumcised. It is common in a band stretching from Senegal in West Africa to Somalia on the East coast and in many areas uncircumcised women cannot find a husband.
One health worker who helps the Somali community in Sheffield said: "At 12 or 13, some girls are pressured by their peer group if they haven’t had it done. They will be ostracised or seen as unclean."
Over the summer, police ran a poster campaign aimed at parents taking their daughters on "holiday" for the procedure, produced a DVD for community leaders and are negotiating with BAA to show a rolling 30-second video at airport departure lounges reminding people of the penalty.
But there has been frustration at the lack of prosecutions. Ann Clwyd, the Labour MP who brought the Bill that became the 2003 Act, voiced her dissatisfaction in the Commons last year, saying: "When I introduced the legislation, I expected some prosecutions to follow.
"Acts that have been in force for 20 years without any prosecutions mean that 7,000 young girls in this country are estimated to be at risk of being taken abroad for those procedures."
Agencies working with those at risk say that victims will not admit that they have been forced to undergo mutilation because they fear their family or community elders could be investigated.
Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital runs an African well women’s clinic that treats about 400 victims of female genital mutilation every year.
A BARBARIC BUT COMMON RITUAL
Female genital mutilation has been illegal in Britain since 1985
The law now criminalises the practice outside Britain on British citizens or permanent residents. Aiding and abetting it is an offence
The maximum penalty for committing or assisting is 14 years’ imprisonment
A claim for asylum by a girl facing mutilation was refused because, it was said, she was not in a social group fearing persecution — a Refugee Convention requisite. Five law lords have just overturned that decision
The practice is common in 28 African countries and some Asian and Middle Eastern communities
It is usually done to girls aged 4 to 13, but is sometimes inflicted on babies
Reasons given include custom and tradition, religious demand, family honour, hygiene, a belief that it enhances fertility, and to control women’s sexuality
It is thought to have been carried out on about 75,000 first-generation female African immigrants in Britain
Afterwards women are twice as likely to die in childbirth and three times as likely to have a stillborn child
Unicef estimates that 100 million to 130 million women have had the procedure, often performed with a basic cutting instrument under little or no anaesthetic
The practice contravenes the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
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