The use of Biraderis - extended clan or tribal systems - by first generation Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslims as well as their political masters is helping fuel widespread rigging of postal votes and other electoral malpractices in Britain,
a report said. Although the majority of those booked for electoral malpractices in Britain have been white males, the report by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a national charity promoting democratic reform and constitutional change, says half of those convicted are Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.
The 94-page report, “Purity of Elections in Britain: Causes for Concern”, comes just three days ahead of elections to hundreds of local authorities across the provinces of England and Wales, including the city of London.
The report, published Monday, says that half of the 42 people convicted for electoral malpractice since 2000 are British Muslims, their religious identity assuming significance because of their disenchantment with the Labour party following Britain’s invasion of Iraq.
Convictions for electoral fraud have been brought against representatives of all three major parties, as well as minor parties such as the anti-immigrant British National Party.
“Significantly, these convictions of British Muslims have emerged alongside anecdotal evidence of more widespread, and long-run, practices associated with Pakistani, Kashmiri and Bangladeshi traditions of Biraderi (brotherhood) clans in influencing voting behaviour,” says the report written by Stuart Wilks-Heeg, a local democracy specialist at Liverpool University.
The report says extended family and kinship networks, frequently with their origins in settlement patterns in Pakistan and Bangladesh, are mobilised to secure the support of up to several hundred electors, effectively constituting a “block vote”.
In areas such as Tower Hamlets in eastern London, such practices are frequently referred to as “village politics”.
A report by the London police’s assistant commissioner for specialist operations noted in 2006: “Anecdotally, some community contacts have remarked on how such practices that are seen as acceptable outside the UK have been adopted in respect of UK elections - for example, the head of an extended family instructing family members to vote for a particular party or candidate. Postal voting increases the risk, as the safeguard of a truly secret ballot is removed.”
The report draws a link between the biraderi system, British political parties and recent history, indicating the anti-war Respect Party’s emergence in local elections some years ago was helped by Muslim biraderi support in the aftermath of Britain’s invasion of Iraq.
It says that while British Muslims overwhelmingly voted for the Labour Party before 2003, the Iraq war “fundamentally altered this relationship”.
Each of Britain’s three main political parties - Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats - had at some stage tried to gain political advantage through “the promise of a Muslim candidate claiming to be able to ‘guarantee’ a minimum number of votes arising from their support with a wider clan”.
“As a result, accusations of electoral malpractice associated with British Muslim candidates have been made against candidates from all three main parties.”
The Biraderi system is widely thought to disenfranchise voters, given the combination of a patriarchal clan system and widespread use of postal voting, in which ballot papers are completed within the family home or, in some cases, taken to a central facility - so called ‘voting factories’ - for completion by party representatives.
“Women in particular have been disenfranchised,” said Salma Yaqoob, a Birmingham counsellor and campaigner against postal votes.
“No one can interfere with the secrecy of the polling station. A secret ballot means that loyalties to family and friends can be maintained in public, but political arguments can still win out in the real privacy of the voting booth,” she said.
The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a progressive and anti-racist organisation, is demanding electoral reforms based on the system in Northern Ireland, where voters must produce photographic ID at polling stations and proof of identity when applying for a postal vote.
“The evidence continues to mount up and shows how we are desperately in need of an electoral system that robustly befits the 21st century without belying our 19th century democratic roots,” author Wilks-Heeg said.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Paperboy brothers in gang attack terror
A GANG of youths punched, kicked and robbed two paperboys as they delivered the Chronicle Weekend in Chadderton on Sunday afternoon.
The 13-year-old brothers were approached from behind by the 12-strong gang close to the Falcon Business Centre in Victoria Street at 5pm.One of the victims was forced against a wall and held by the throat while being kicked and punched. His brother was restrained while the gang searched his pockets and stole his wallet and mobile phone.
Neighbouring residents heard the commotion and called the police when they came outside and saw the attack taking place.The victims’ mother said the boys have been left extremely shaken and terrified at the thought of returning to their delivery route this weekend.She added: “My husband and I have tried to reassure them and told them that they can’t let these thugs put them off doing a job they love doing.“We will go with them for the next few weeks while they build their confidence up but I think it will be a long time before they feel secure.
“You really don’t expect your children to be attacked on a busy street in broad daylight and I’m really annoyed that this gang have done this to my sons when they were just going about their job and doing nobody any harm.“I’m very grateful to the man who came out of his house and called the police as the situation could have been a lot worse.“My sons wanted to call the police themselves and report the crime so I’m very proud of how mature and brave they have been.“We have spoken about what they should do in this situation in the past and we told them to just hand over their property if they were threatened because it’s just not worth getting attacked for a mobile phone and money which can be replaced.
“When one of my sons phoned me to tell me what had happened I was terrified about what state I would find them in — it’s every parents worst nightmare.“Luckily they didn’t need hospital treatment but this gang have really hurt them and taken away their self confidence.”The only description available so far is that the gang was made up of Asian teenagers.Police are currently investigating the incident.
Anyone with any information can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.
The 13-year-old brothers were approached from behind by the 12-strong gang close to the Falcon Business Centre in Victoria Street at 5pm.One of the victims was forced against a wall and held by the throat while being kicked and punched. His brother was restrained while the gang searched his pockets and stole his wallet and mobile phone.
Neighbouring residents heard the commotion and called the police when they came outside and saw the attack taking place.The victims’ mother said the boys have been left extremely shaken and terrified at the thought of returning to their delivery route this weekend.She added: “My husband and I have tried to reassure them and told them that they can’t let these thugs put them off doing a job they love doing.“We will go with them for the next few weeks while they build their confidence up but I think it will be a long time before they feel secure.
“You really don’t expect your children to be attacked on a busy street in broad daylight and I’m really annoyed that this gang have done this to my sons when they were just going about their job and doing nobody any harm.“I’m very grateful to the man who came out of his house and called the police as the situation could have been a lot worse.“My sons wanted to call the police themselves and report the crime so I’m very proud of how mature and brave they have been.“We have spoken about what they should do in this situation in the past and we told them to just hand over their property if they were threatened because it’s just not worth getting attacked for a mobile phone and money which can be replaced.
“When one of my sons phoned me to tell me what had happened I was terrified about what state I would find them in — it’s every parents worst nightmare.“Luckily they didn’t need hospital treatment but this gang have really hurt them and taken away their self confidence.”The only description available so far is that the gang was made up of Asian teenagers.Police are currently investigating the incident.
Anyone with any information can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.
British Teen Beaten with Bats by Muslim Gang...
A 15-STRONG gang attacked a young man after chasing him for almost half-a-mile.
The 19-year-old was walking down Manchester Road, Thornton Lodge, at 9.30pm on Saturday to meet his girlfriend when he saw the gang standing on a grass verge on St Thomas’ Road.
They started to chase him and he fled along Manchester Road and then up steps next to St Thomas’ Church at Longroyd Bridge to Water Street in Springwood.
The gang cornered him in a garden there and beat him with baseball bats and pieces of wood.
He was left badly bruised and needed treatment at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
Det Con Russ Conlon, from Kirklees CID intelligence unit, said: “This was a motiveless attack.
“We would urge anyone who saw this gang hanging around, chasing the victim or the attack itself to come forward.’’
All the attackers are young Asian men and there were about 15 of them.
The ringleader is aged about 20, 5ft 8in tall and slim.
He wore a plain grey hooded top.
Anyone with information should contact Pc James Bellhouse on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The 19-year-old was walking down Manchester Road, Thornton Lodge, at 9.30pm on Saturday to meet his girlfriend when he saw the gang standing on a grass verge on St Thomas’ Road.
They started to chase him and he fled along Manchester Road and then up steps next to St Thomas’ Church at Longroyd Bridge to Water Street in Springwood.
The gang cornered him in a garden there and beat him with baseball bats and pieces of wood.
He was left badly bruised and needed treatment at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
Det Con Russ Conlon, from Kirklees CID intelligence unit, said: “This was a motiveless attack.
“We would urge anyone who saw this gang hanging around, chasing the victim or the attack itself to come forward.’’
All the attackers are young Asian men and there were about 15 of them.
The ringleader is aged about 20, 5ft 8in tall and slim.
He wore a plain grey hooded top.
Anyone with information should contact Pc James Bellhouse on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
BBC censors criticism of jihad-linked group
The BBC is facing a High Court challenge over its decision to censor a party political broadcast in the run-up to Thursday’s local elections.
A Christian party has begun legal action after the corporation insisted on changes to a short film in which the party voiced opposition to the building of Europe’s biggest mosque next to the site of the 2012 Olympics.
Tablighi Jamaat, the Islamic missionary group behind the £75 million Abbey Mills mosque, opposes inter-faith dialogue and preaches that non-Muslims are an evil and corrupting influence. One of its British advocates has said that it aims to rescue Muslims from the culture and civilisation of Jews and Christians by creating “such hatred for their ways as human beings have for urine and excreta”.
The Christian Choice election broadcast would have described Tablighi Jamaat as “a separatist Islamic group” before welcoming that some “moderate Muslims” were opposed to the mosque complex.
Alan Craig, the party’s candidate in the London mayoral election, also on Thursday, said that he was forced to change the wording at the insistence of lawyers at the BBC and ITV, which will also feature in the court action.
The BBC refused to accept “separatist” — the corporation asked for “controversial” instead — and barred the use of “moderate Muslims” because the phrase implied that Tablighi Jamaat was less than moderate.
ITV went a step farther, demanding that the adjective “controversial” be used merely to describe the planned mosque and not the group itself....
read more
A Christian party has begun legal action after the corporation insisted on changes to a short film in which the party voiced opposition to the building of Europe’s biggest mosque next to the site of the 2012 Olympics.
Tablighi Jamaat, the Islamic missionary group behind the £75 million Abbey Mills mosque, opposes inter-faith dialogue and preaches that non-Muslims are an evil and corrupting influence. One of its British advocates has said that it aims to rescue Muslims from the culture and civilisation of Jews and Christians by creating “such hatred for their ways as human beings have for urine and excreta”.
The Christian Choice election broadcast would have described Tablighi Jamaat as “a separatist Islamic group” before welcoming that some “moderate Muslims” were opposed to the mosque complex.
Alan Craig, the party’s candidate in the London mayoral election, also on Thursday, said that he was forced to change the wording at the insistence of lawyers at the BBC and ITV, which will also feature in the court action.
The BBC refused to accept “separatist” — the corporation asked for “controversial” instead — and barred the use of “moderate Muslims” because the phrase implied that Tablighi Jamaat was less than moderate.
ITV went a step farther, demanding that the adjective “controversial” be used merely to describe the planned mosque and not the group itself....
read more
Multiculturalism triumphant: UK now the center of jihad terror in Europe
Britain has emerged as the focal point of Islamist terror in Europe, according to Europol, the European police force.
A report on terrorism by Europol has claimed that the UK reported a 30 per cent increase in arrest of terror suspects last year. Out of 203 persons arrested in 2007 in the UK, a majority were related to Islamist terrorism. In contrast, 201 were detained in the rest of Europe. French police made 91 arrests. The number of suspects under investigation in Britain has risen from 500 in 2004 to 2,000 last year.
What is worrying is that the number of arrests involved young, radicalised British muslims,
sparking fears that the threat of an attack is growing. The terrorist plots also linked to groups in Pakistan. The report comes following disclosure last week that 15 plots to attack British targets have been foiled in three years since the London bombings in which 56 people died and over 700 were injured. At the time of their arrest, all Islamist terrorism suspects were between 17 and 72 years of age. The average age was 35 years, with two-thirds of the arrested being between 23 and 43 years of age. Over the last five years, much of the command, control and inspiration for planning attacks came from Al Qaeda's remaining core leadership in the tribal areas of Pakistan, the report said.
A report on terrorism by Europol has claimed that the UK reported a 30 per cent increase in arrest of terror suspects last year. Out of 203 persons arrested in 2007 in the UK, a majority were related to Islamist terrorism. In contrast, 201 were detained in the rest of Europe. French police made 91 arrests. The number of suspects under investigation in Britain has risen from 500 in 2004 to 2,000 last year.
What is worrying is that the number of arrests involved young, radicalised British muslims,
sparking fears that the threat of an attack is growing. The terrorist plots also linked to groups in Pakistan. The report comes following disclosure last week that 15 plots to attack British targets have been foiled in three years since the London bombings in which 56 people died and over 700 were injured. At the time of their arrest, all Islamist terrorism suspects were between 17 and 72 years of age. The average age was 35 years, with two-thirds of the arrested being between 23 and 43 years of age. Over the last five years, much of the command, control and inspiration for planning attacks came from Al Qaeda's remaining core leadership in the tribal areas of Pakistan, the report said.
Tempers Flare over Paper Napkins at UK Mosque...
BORO born and bred Rasub Afzal’s passion is promoting understanding between Teessiders and his fellow Muslims.
So the taxi driver was shocked to be caught up in a furious religious row - over paper napkins printed with a brewery’s name.
They were on the tables at a Middlesbrough mosque lunch for local Muslims who are strictly forbidden to drink alcohol.
One guest was so offended by the Flying Firkin name, he started a stand-up row.
Now 41-year-old Rasub who tried to calm the row says it has made him fear for the future of good community relations.
“What hope have we over really important things when there is such anger at something like this,” he said.
The storm brewed at a no-alcohol lunch in Middlesbrough’s Waterloo Road Mosque. Dozens of Muslims were there to hear a speech on unity by the Bradford-based Commissioner for Pakistan.
Suddenly one guest from Stockton became infuriated at the sight of the name on the napkins and began to criticise organisers.
Rasub, who was on his table, said: “He made a remark about the napkins and I tried to calm the situation by saying, ‘it’s not such a big issue’.
“I apologised even though he was rude and abusive to me. I even poured him a glass of orange.
“But I was quite intimidated by his attitude, in fact I thought he might hit me. He said it was against Islam because the napkins had the name of a drinks company.
“I was appalled at this man’s behaviour. A lot of people came up to me afterwards and said it was totally unacceptable.”
Rasub, a 41-year-old dad of three who lives in Longlands, prays three times a day at the town’s Central Mosque in Southfield Road.
“I was born at the Carter Bequest and my children are at school and university here,” he said. “I am a British Muslim and involved in local community relations, if I can help someone I will.”
Recently Rasub has talked about human rights to government ministers and met with local judge Peter Fox.
He said: “Lots of drunks get into my taxi and I don’t turn them away. If they are young girls who have been drinking I make sure they get home and safe.
“There was even a drunk in our mosque, but he wasn’t abusive and we welcomed him to just sit there.
“But there is obviously a need to educate our own community who have businesses on Teesside.”
Rasub says the napkin incident has made him worry about attitudes which will not help foster good relations in the area.
Haji Jaber, secretary of the Islamic Society of Cleveland and the Middlesbrough Council of Faiths, said the man who complained about the napkins had created a “storm in a teacup.”
He said: “He went completely overboard. The event was open to all faiths and some of those do have alcohol.
“There are other Muslims who use the mosque who have shops that sell alcohol. Many were upset by his comments about it. If he didn’t like it he didn’t have to be there.”
What do you think of Rasub’s experience?
Do some Muslim people need to be more tolerant? Or was the man right to complain about the napkins?
So the taxi driver was shocked to be caught up in a furious religious row - over paper napkins printed with a brewery’s name.
They were on the tables at a Middlesbrough mosque lunch for local Muslims who are strictly forbidden to drink alcohol.
One guest was so offended by the Flying Firkin name, he started a stand-up row.
Now 41-year-old Rasub who tried to calm the row says it has made him fear for the future of good community relations.
“What hope have we over really important things when there is such anger at something like this,” he said.
The storm brewed at a no-alcohol lunch in Middlesbrough’s Waterloo Road Mosque. Dozens of Muslims were there to hear a speech on unity by the Bradford-based Commissioner for Pakistan.
Suddenly one guest from Stockton became infuriated at the sight of the name on the napkins and began to criticise organisers.
Rasub, who was on his table, said: “He made a remark about the napkins and I tried to calm the situation by saying, ‘it’s not such a big issue’.
“I apologised even though he was rude and abusive to me. I even poured him a glass of orange.
“But I was quite intimidated by his attitude, in fact I thought he might hit me. He said it was against Islam because the napkins had the name of a drinks company.
“I was appalled at this man’s behaviour. A lot of people came up to me afterwards and said it was totally unacceptable.”
Rasub, a 41-year-old dad of three who lives in Longlands, prays three times a day at the town’s Central Mosque in Southfield Road.
“I was born at the Carter Bequest and my children are at school and university here,” he said. “I am a British Muslim and involved in local community relations, if I can help someone I will.”
Recently Rasub has talked about human rights to government ministers and met with local judge Peter Fox.
He said: “Lots of drunks get into my taxi and I don’t turn them away. If they are young girls who have been drinking I make sure they get home and safe.
“There was even a drunk in our mosque, but he wasn’t abusive and we welcomed him to just sit there.
“But there is obviously a need to educate our own community who have businesses on Teesside.”
Rasub says the napkin incident has made him worry about attitudes which will not help foster good relations in the area.
Haji Jaber, secretary of the Islamic Society of Cleveland and the Middlesbrough Council of Faiths, said the man who complained about the napkins had created a “storm in a teacup.”
He said: “He went completely overboard. The event was open to all faiths and some of those do have alcohol.
“There are other Muslims who use the mosque who have shops that sell alcohol. Many were upset by his comments about it. If he didn’t like it he didn’t have to be there.”
What do you think of Rasub’s experience?
Do some Muslim people need to be more tolerant? Or was the man right to complain about the napkins?
Terror' teen in court
TEENAGER Andrew Ibrahim, who was arrested before three controlled explosions were carried out at his home, has been charged under the Terrorism Act, police said
Ibrahim, 19, who has also been charged with explosives offences, will appear before City of Westminster Magistrates tomorrow, Avon and Somerset police said.
Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Roberts told a press conference: "From our initial inquiries we are satisfied that he was working alone."
She called on the community to be "alert but not alarmed".
Ibrahim was arrested at his home in Bristol on April 17.
A SUICIDE bomb vest and chemicals which could be used to make explosives have been found at a teenage terror suspect’s home, The Sun can reveal.
Security chiefs believe doctor’s son Andrew Ibrahim was arrested “days” before he planned to blow himself and innocent victims up.
They think the 19-year-old was plotting to target a busy city centre.
Cops say they found the purpose-made vest and chemicals after raiding Ibrahim’s flat following his arrest earlier this month.
The chemicals could have been used to make a substance like acetone peroxide – dubbed Mother of Satan because of its devastating effects.
It is a favourite of al-Qaeda terrorists and was used in the July 7 attacks in London in 2005 in which 52 people died.
Detectives suspect the suicide vest pockets were going to be filled with explosives and set off with a crude homemade detonator.
A security source said: “We found everything necessary to carry out a suicide attack.
“If we hadn’t made the arrest we believe it could have happened in a few days.
“Many people could have been killed.”
The source said no target had been identified but Bristol – where Ibrahim lives – was thought to be at strong risk.
The source said the most likely target would have been a crowded city centre shopping area.
Former drug addict Ibrahim was arrested after police received two tip-offs – one from hospital medics after he turned up with suspected chemical burns and the second from Muslim elders.
They told cops they had heard the teenager using “extremist language”.
A police insider said: “We realised we could have a major problem.”
Ibrahim, 19, who has also been charged with explosives offences, will appear before City of Westminster Magistrates tomorrow, Avon and Somerset police said.
Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Roberts told a press conference: "From our initial inquiries we are satisfied that he was working alone."
She called on the community to be "alert but not alarmed".
Ibrahim was arrested at his home in Bristol on April 17.
A SUICIDE bomb vest and chemicals which could be used to make explosives have been found at a teenage terror suspect’s home, The Sun can reveal.
Security chiefs believe doctor’s son Andrew Ibrahim was arrested “days” before he planned to blow himself and innocent victims up.
They think the 19-year-old was plotting to target a busy city centre.
Cops say they found the purpose-made vest and chemicals after raiding Ibrahim’s flat following his arrest earlier this month.
The chemicals could have been used to make a substance like acetone peroxide – dubbed Mother of Satan because of its devastating effects.
It is a favourite of al-Qaeda terrorists and was used in the July 7 attacks in London in 2005 in which 52 people died.
Detectives suspect the suicide vest pockets were going to be filled with explosives and set off with a crude homemade detonator.
A security source said: “We found everything necessary to carry out a suicide attack.
“If we hadn’t made the arrest we believe it could have happened in a few days.
“Many people could have been killed.”
The source said no target had been identified but Bristol – where Ibrahim lives – was thought to be at strong risk.
The source said the most likely target would have been a crowded city centre shopping area.
Former drug addict Ibrahim was arrested after police received two tip-offs – one from hospital medics after he turned up with suspected chemical burns and the second from Muslim elders.
They told cops they had heard the teenager using “extremist language”.
A police insider said: “We realised we could have a major problem.”
Monday, April 28, 2008
BOY BEATEN TO A PULP & ROBBED BY MUSLIMS
A mother today condemned young thugs who robbed and beat her teenage son and left him naked in a park.David Procter, 16, was forced to strip and hand over jewellery and his mobile phone, before being viciously punched and kicked in the head and body.
His three attackers also set two dogs on him and he was bitten on the ear.
The youngster, who suffers from asthma, was left with serious facial injuries, including a broken nose, fractured cheekbone and broken teeth.
A passing motorist draped a blanket around him and took him to Bradford Royal Infirmary for treatment.
Detectives are investigating the "unusual" incident.
David's mother, Julie Procter, said she could not believe what the attackers had done to her son when she saw his injuries in hospital.
She said: "It was bad enough David being beaten up and robbed, but then to take all his clothes and leave him there was beyond belief. All they left him with was a little eye stud."
He had been treated at BRI for chest pains brought on by his asthma and had set off to walk to his father's home in Holme Wood when the attack happened, at around 1am last Sunday (April 20).
David said: "I was at the entrance to Lister Park. I saw a young Asian lad and asked him for directions. He whistled two others over and they offered to take me in a car. I thought something was a bit dodgy and I said I would walk. When I turned to go they started on me."
The teenager said he was forced to hand over his mobile phone and items of jewellery.
He was then made to strip off all his clothes.
But when he tried to hand over a gold chain he had to rip it from his neck to get it free.
"One of them said: I wanted it all together' and they started beating me up," said David. "One lad punched me twice in the face, knocking me to the ground. All three then just started kicking me in the side and the face.
"I was covering my face up. I was frightened and in pain. Then they set the dogs on me. I just wanted it to end and to go home. They didn't say anything while they were beating me. Then they just walked off and left me on the ground."
He added: "They need locking up. If it has happened to me, it will happen to somebody else. One of the nurses told me it happens quite often in that area."
Police took David back to the park so he could identify the place the attack happened. He has also given a statement and had his injuries photographed.
Detective Inspector Gerry O'Shea, of Bradford South CID, said it was a highly unusual type of crime.
"The stealing of the clothes is quite bizarre and using dogs in the crime is unusual in itself.
"It is being actively investigated and we are looking at a number of inquiries, which includes checking CCTV in the park.
"We urge anyone with information to contact the investigating officer, PC Louise Matthews, of Bradford South Police, on 0845 6060606, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."
One of the robbers was aged 16 or 17, slim, 5ft 9ins tall, with short dark hair and spoke with an English/Asian accent. Another was aged about 17 and 5ft 9ins tall. The third suspect was about 18, slightly taller than the others, slim, spoke with an English/Asian accent and wore an orange and black horizontally-striped jumper. He had the two Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type dogs on leads.
Mrs Procter said: "I want to thank the person who took David to hospital. These thugs had beaten him black and blue and left him without a stitch of clothing."
Ex-Muslim Assaulted, Police Tell Him to Move...
A British man who was attacked after converting to Christianity from Islam was told by police to "move to another place", it has emerged.
Nissar Hussein, 43, from Bradford, West Yorkshire converted from Islam to Christianity with his wife, Qubra, in 1996.
A report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, quoted in the Times, says he was subjected to a number of attacks and, after being told that his house would be burnt down if he did not return to Islam, alerted the police.
However, the report says Mr Hussein was told that such threats were rarely carried out and that he should “stop being a crusader and move to another place”.
A few days later an unoccupied property next door to Mr Hussein's house was set on fire.
The report, titled No Place to Call Home, claims that apostates from Islam are subject to “gross and wide-ranging human rights abuses”.
“When identities are precarious, their enforcement will take an aggressive form.”
Nissar Hussein, 43, from Bradford, West Yorkshire converted from Islam to Christianity with his wife, Qubra, in 1996.
A report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, quoted in the Times, says he was subjected to a number of attacks and, after being told that his house would be burnt down if he did not return to Islam, alerted the police.
However, the report says Mr Hussein was told that such threats were rarely carried out and that he should “stop being a crusader and move to another place”.
A few days later an unoccupied property next door to Mr Hussein's house was set on fire.
The report, titled No Place to Call Home, claims that apostates from Islam are subject to “gross and wide-ranging human rights abuses”.
“When identities are precarious, their enforcement will take an aggressive form.”
Pro-Ken Muslim group claims Boris 'would scrap the Koran'
Ken Livingstone supporters are claiming that Boris Johnson would ban the Koran in adverts in the capital's Bengali-language press.
The claim is one of a number of last-minute tactics - condemned by Mr Johnson today as
"poison" and "desperate" - being used by Mr Livingstone's backers to sway crucial votes. The "dirty tricks" were uncovered in a Standard investigation which also found that:
• Bengali-language leaflets are being handed out at mosques saying that Mr Johnson "hates Muslims" and it is a "moral duty" for Muslims to support Mr Livingstone.
• One of Mr Livingstone's key advisers has promised to give members of one ethnic community "well-paid jobs", with salaries of up to £80,000, if he is re-elected.
• TfL has embarked on a massive pre-election advertising blitz in parts of the ethnic press, which have then offered full support for Mr Livingstone's re-election.
The Bengali-language leaflet, a copy of which has been obtained by the Standard, was handed out at Friday prayers last week at mosques in Brick Lane and other Bengali parts of the East End. According to an independent translation, it says: "Boris has expressed his hatred against Islam, the Koran and the Muslims... It is Muslims' moral duty to support Ken." The other side of the leaflet is in English. It carries a less incendiary message and makes no attacks on Mr Johnson.
The leaflet was produced by the British Muslim Initiative, whose offshoot, Muslims 4 Ken, was recently exposed by the Standard as involving a declared supporter of suicide bombing. It carries no imprint for a printer as required by electoral law.
The BMI has also placed a large advert in the main London Bengali paper, Janomot, which misrepresents a quote of Johnson's to allege that he would ban the Koran. The advert quotes Mr Johnson as writing, on 21 July 2005: "The proposed ban on incitement to religious hatred makes no sense unless it involves a ban on the Koran itself." It fails to include the rest of Johnson's sentence, in which he describes such a ban as "absurd".
Mr Johnson said today: "This is more than sleazy. It is actually dangerous. It is misleading people about something of sacred importance."
Mr Livingstone's campaign refused to comment. It is also directly promising to appoint members of some ethnic communities to publiclyfunded jobs if he is re-elected. The current issue of Noticias Latin America, a Spanish-language newspaper serving London's South and Central American community, carries a large picture of the Mayor on its front page alongside the headline: "Well-paid jobs for London Latinos."
The story says that Redmond O'Neill, a senior mayoral adviser, has promised "labour benefits" to London Latinos if Mr Livingstone is re-elected. It says: "Ken Livingstone is to give the opportunity for many Latin American families in London to improve the quality of their lives by getting jobs driving black taxis and buses, with benefits, a pension and a future." Salaries are up to £80,000 a year - about three times that of an actual bus driver.
In the newspaper, otherwise totally devoted to events in Latin America, more than 50 per cent of the advertising space in the current issue has been paid for at public expense by City Hall, including two full-page adverts from TfL, a half-page from London Elects, the body running the election, urging Latinos to register to vote and another advert for an event funded by the LDA. There is also a full-page advert by the newspaper's own publisher, urging Latinos to back Mr Livingstone. In total, around three-quarters of the ad space in this month's issue is devoted to the mayoralty.
The same issue of Noticias includes a glowing endorsement of Mr Livingstone by the paper, which translates his pledge card into Spanish, and says: "There are some people, whether left or right, whose actions speak for themselves. You don't have to be an expert to know that. One of those people is Ken Livingstone."
TfL said: "It is simply not true to say that TfL resources have been used to 'buy' support in the ethnic press. TfL has a clear and perfectly legitimate policy of providing public information on transport issues to all of London's diverse communities."
The claim is one of a number of last-minute tactics - condemned by Mr Johnson today as
"poison" and "desperate" - being used by Mr Livingstone's backers to sway crucial votes. The "dirty tricks" were uncovered in a Standard investigation which also found that:
• Bengali-language leaflets are being handed out at mosques saying that Mr Johnson "hates Muslims" and it is a "moral duty" for Muslims to support Mr Livingstone.
• One of Mr Livingstone's key advisers has promised to give members of one ethnic community "well-paid jobs", with salaries of up to £80,000, if he is re-elected.
• TfL has embarked on a massive pre-election advertising blitz in parts of the ethnic press, which have then offered full support for Mr Livingstone's re-election.
The Bengali-language leaflet, a copy of which has been obtained by the Standard, was handed out at Friday prayers last week at mosques in Brick Lane and other Bengali parts of the East End. According to an independent translation, it says: "Boris has expressed his hatred against Islam, the Koran and the Muslims... It is Muslims' moral duty to support Ken." The other side of the leaflet is in English. It carries a less incendiary message and makes no attacks on Mr Johnson.
The leaflet was produced by the British Muslim Initiative, whose offshoot, Muslims 4 Ken, was recently exposed by the Standard as involving a declared supporter of suicide bombing. It carries no imprint for a printer as required by electoral law.
The BMI has also placed a large advert in the main London Bengali paper, Janomot, which misrepresents a quote of Johnson's to allege that he would ban the Koran. The advert quotes Mr Johnson as writing, on 21 July 2005: "The proposed ban on incitement to religious hatred makes no sense unless it involves a ban on the Koran itself." It fails to include the rest of Johnson's sentence, in which he describes such a ban as "absurd".
Mr Johnson said today: "This is more than sleazy. It is actually dangerous. It is misleading people about something of sacred importance."
Mr Livingstone's campaign refused to comment. It is also directly promising to appoint members of some ethnic communities to publiclyfunded jobs if he is re-elected. The current issue of Noticias Latin America, a Spanish-language newspaper serving London's South and Central American community, carries a large picture of the Mayor on its front page alongside the headline: "Well-paid jobs for London Latinos."
The story says that Redmond O'Neill, a senior mayoral adviser, has promised "labour benefits" to London Latinos if Mr Livingstone is re-elected. It says: "Ken Livingstone is to give the opportunity for many Latin American families in London to improve the quality of their lives by getting jobs driving black taxis and buses, with benefits, a pension and a future." Salaries are up to £80,000 a year - about three times that of an actual bus driver.
In the newspaper, otherwise totally devoted to events in Latin America, more than 50 per cent of the advertising space in the current issue has been paid for at public expense by City Hall, including two full-page adverts from TfL, a half-page from London Elects, the body running the election, urging Latinos to register to vote and another advert for an event funded by the LDA. There is also a full-page advert by the newspaper's own publisher, urging Latinos to back Mr Livingstone. In total, around three-quarters of the ad space in this month's issue is devoted to the mayoralty.
The same issue of Noticias includes a glowing endorsement of Mr Livingstone by the paper, which translates his pledge card into Spanish, and says: "There are some people, whether left or right, whose actions speak for themselves. You don't have to be an expert to know that. One of those people is Ken Livingstone."
TfL said: "It is simply not true to say that TfL resources have been used to 'buy' support in the ethnic press. TfL has a clear and perfectly legitimate policy of providing public information on transport issues to all of London's diverse communities."
Chelsea visit sparks Malaysia row
Malaysian Muslim groups have called for protests when Chelsea football club visits in July because the coach, Avram Grant, and a player are Israeli.An alliance of 21 Muslim groups is angry the Malaysian authorities have given permission for the Israelis to visit the country with the London club.
Malaysia has no diplomatic relations with Israel, and the Malay Muslim majority is strongly pro-Palestinian.
Malaysian citizens are banned by their government from visiting Israel.
The Muslim groups said allowing Mr Grant and midfielder Tal Ben Haim into Malaysia for the pre-season match would be "insensitive" to the Palestinian people.
"Malaysians should boycott the match," said spokesman Muhammad Azmi.
"We should unite with the Palestinian people and fight for an independent homeland for them."
Mr Azmi said the alliance of Muslim organisations would hold a protest at the stadium ahead of the game on 29 July.
It is not unusual for Premiership sides to visit Malaysia, to satisfy the state's huge hunger for English football, says the BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur.
While anti-Israeli sentiment is not uncommon in Malaysia, it would be embarrassing for the government if Chelsea were to cancel the visit and arrange an alternative fixture in a neighbouring country, our correspondent says.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Doctor Molests 13-Year-Old
A doctor obsessed with child pornography sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl to satisfy his urges a court heard this morning.
Rashid Sandhu is said to have assaulted the girl at the James Paget University Hospital last June as he carried out an authorised medical procedure.
Sandhu, 30, and who was an A&E doctor at the time is alleged to have told the girl that she was pregnant and needed an abortion.
Norwich Crown Court heard that Sandhu took the girl to a hospital office room, asked her to lie on a desk and take her clothes off, he then inserted tubes into her private parts and rub her breast with gel.
At the beginning of the trial the jury heard that Sandhu had pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing more than 170 images of child pornography on his home computer.
The trial heard that Sandhu asked the 13-year-old girl to get on all four during the alleged assault replicating a pose of one of the images that was found on his computer.
Matthew McNiff, prosecuting, said that Sandhu had an unhealthy obsession with child pornography and used the girl to sate his urges.
Mr McNiff said: “He saw an opportunity to pursue this obsession to another level. He chose to act on this deep, dark urge.”
The 13-year-old girl had gone to the James Paget after Sandhu had carried out some tests on her and a friend after they complained of having a urinary tract problem.
Mr McNiff said that Sandhu then rang the 13-year-old's friend and said that both girls needed to return the next day for further treatment and tests because they may be pregnant.
The court heard that official medical records at the time of the tests showed the girls were not pregnant and there was not need for them to return to the hospital the next day.
Sandhu, who lives in Welling, Kent, but formerly of Hopton, near Yarmouth, denies sexually assaulting the 13-year-old girl.
The trial continues.
Rashid Sandhu is said to have assaulted the girl at the James Paget University Hospital last June as he carried out an authorised medical procedure.
Sandhu, 30, and who was an A&E doctor at the time is alleged to have told the girl that she was pregnant and needed an abortion.
Norwich Crown Court heard that Sandhu took the girl to a hospital office room, asked her to lie on a desk and take her clothes off, he then inserted tubes into her private parts and rub her breast with gel.
At the beginning of the trial the jury heard that Sandhu had pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing more than 170 images of child pornography on his home computer.
The trial heard that Sandhu asked the 13-year-old girl to get on all four during the alleged assault replicating a pose of one of the images that was found on his computer.
Matthew McNiff, prosecuting, said that Sandhu had an unhealthy obsession with child pornography and used the girl to sate his urges.
Mr McNiff said: “He saw an opportunity to pursue this obsession to another level. He chose to act on this deep, dark urge.”
The 13-year-old girl had gone to the James Paget after Sandhu had carried out some tests on her and a friend after they complained of having a urinary tract problem.
Mr McNiff said that Sandhu then rang the 13-year-old's friend and said that both girls needed to return the next day for further treatment and tests because they may be pregnant.
The court heard that official medical records at the time of the tests showed the girls were not pregnant and there was not need for them to return to the hospital the next day.
Sandhu, who lives in Welling, Kent, but formerly of Hopton, near Yarmouth, denies sexually assaulting the 13-year-old girl.
The trial continues.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Police have foiled 15 terror plots since 2000,
with suspects continuing to emerge from unexpected quarters, senior officers said .
The figure emerged as police backed the Government's controversial proposals to hold terrorist suspects for more than 28 days without charge.
Gordon Brown is facing a huge revolt over plans to push the limit to 42 days.
Critics include the former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, who yesterday launched an extraordinary attack on the scheme, implying MPs should not "trust" the Home Secretary to implement safeguards.
But Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, told MPs the 28-day limit would be breached "sooner rather than later".
He said that suspects "suddenly emerge from left field" and have to be arrested at a very early stage, leaving officers with huge amounts of investigative work.
Sir Ian said: "We have reached a point where at 28 days we feel sooner or later - and maybe sooner - something is going to happen to make that insufficient."
Scotland Yard anti-terror chief, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, initially told the Commons Counter-Terrorism Bill standing committee that 15 plots had been foiled since the July 7 attacks in 2005.
This was later corrected to since 2000.
Several plots have already come to court and are known to the public.
They include plots to behead a British Muslim soldier and a fertiliser bomb attack on the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.
Sir Ian indicated that he believed police were better placed than lawyers to know if 28 days was still sufficient.
But his comments are unlikely to persuade Labour rebels, who rejected a similar plea by Sir Ian in 2005 for terror suspects to be held for 90 days without charge.
Pictured: The day alleged 7/7 plotter met with the bombers at McDonalds
Up to 50 Labour MPs are preparing to vote against the Government - and they are likely to seize on remarks made yesterday by prosecutors.
Sue Hemming, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's counter-terrorism division, said the need to hold suspected terrorists for longer than 14 days had only been necessary on three occasions since the introduction of the 28-day limit in 2005.
Sir Ken Macdonald, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said he believed 28 days was "sufficient".
He added: "We have managed comfortably with 28 days."
Lord Goldsmith, who sat in Tony Blair's Cabinet, dismissed the Government proposal.
It would involve MPs and peers being asked to back a decision by the Home Secretary to raise the limit to 42 days in individual cases.
Lord Goldsmith said this was "not a great deal of a safeguard".
He asked the standing committee: "Are you going to ask Parliament to simply trust the Secretary of State?"
Call for vigilance: The Met's chief Sir Ian Blair warns that Britain is being threatened by extremists
Earlier this week, a leaked list from Labour Whips showed they expect at least 50 of their MPs to vote against the proposal.
A further 44 are said to be undecided.
With both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats against the scheme, Mr Brown is thought to on course for defeat in the Commons by around 20 votes.
Among the former ministers expected to rebel are Glenda Jackson, Frank Dobson and Michael Meacher.
Even some members of the Government are unhappy.
The Whips say Joan Ruddock, junior environment minister, believes the figure of 42 days has been "plucked from thin air" but she will vote in favour.
A Home Office spokesman said the Commons vote will be held in mid-June.
The figure emerged as police backed the Government's controversial proposals to hold terrorist suspects for more than 28 days without charge.
Gordon Brown is facing a huge revolt over plans to push the limit to 42 days.
Critics include the former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, who yesterday launched an extraordinary attack on the scheme, implying MPs should not "trust" the Home Secretary to implement safeguards.
But Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, told MPs the 28-day limit would be breached "sooner rather than later".
He said that suspects "suddenly emerge from left field" and have to be arrested at a very early stage, leaving officers with huge amounts of investigative work.
Sir Ian said: "We have reached a point where at 28 days we feel sooner or later - and maybe sooner - something is going to happen to make that insufficient."
Scotland Yard anti-terror chief, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, initially told the Commons Counter-Terrorism Bill standing committee that 15 plots had been foiled since the July 7 attacks in 2005.
This was later corrected to since 2000.
Several plots have already come to court and are known to the public.
They include plots to behead a British Muslim soldier and a fertiliser bomb attack on the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.
Sir Ian indicated that he believed police were better placed than lawyers to know if 28 days was still sufficient.
But his comments are unlikely to persuade Labour rebels, who rejected a similar plea by Sir Ian in 2005 for terror suspects to be held for 90 days without charge.
Pictured: The day alleged 7/7 plotter met with the bombers at McDonalds
Up to 50 Labour MPs are preparing to vote against the Government - and they are likely to seize on remarks made yesterday by prosecutors.
Sue Hemming, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's counter-terrorism division, said the need to hold suspected terrorists for longer than 14 days had only been necessary on three occasions since the introduction of the 28-day limit in 2005.
Sir Ken Macdonald, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said he believed 28 days was "sufficient".
He added: "We have managed comfortably with 28 days."
Lord Goldsmith, who sat in Tony Blair's Cabinet, dismissed the Government proposal.
It would involve MPs and peers being asked to back a decision by the Home Secretary to raise the limit to 42 days in individual cases.
Lord Goldsmith said this was "not a great deal of a safeguard".
He asked the standing committee: "Are you going to ask Parliament to simply trust the Secretary of State?"
Call for vigilance: The Met's chief Sir Ian Blair warns that Britain is being threatened by extremists
Earlier this week, a leaked list from Labour Whips showed they expect at least 50 of their MPs to vote against the proposal.
A further 44 are said to be undecided.
With both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats against the scheme, Mr Brown is thought to on course for defeat in the Commons by around 20 votes.
Among the former ministers expected to rebel are Glenda Jackson, Frank Dobson and Michael Meacher.
Even some members of the Government are unhappy.
The Whips say Joan Ruddock, junior environment minister, believes the figure of 42 days has been "plucked from thin air" but she will vote in favour.
A Home Office spokesman said the Commons vote will be held in mid-June.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Ken Livingstone defends his extremist backer
Ken Livingstone defended his decision to share a platform with a homophobic Islamic preacher as he and his challenger, Boris Johnson, were neck and neck in the race for the capital yesterday.
Yusuf al-Qaradawi has described homosexuality as an "unnatural and evil practice" and said the Koran permitted wife-beating in certain circumstances.
Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone during a televised debate
The Qatar-based Egyptian cleric has also advocated the use of Palestinian children as suicide bombers and once claimed that Asian tsunami victims were punished by Allah because their countries were centres of perversion.But speaking on BBC1's Politics Show yesterday, the London Mayor insisted he was right to welcome the cleric to City Hall as an "honoured guest" in July 2004. He said that while he did not agree with some of his views, al-Qaradawi did not support terrorism against the West. "He is a man who is prepared to say al-Qa'eda is wrong and to be very strong in that condemnation," he said.
Mr Livingstone's liberal approach to controversial figures such as al-Qaradawi has won him a friend in Azzam Tamimi, a Palestinian supporter of Hamas, which is dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
Mr Tamimi is part of a group called Muslims 4 Ken, which is aiming to mobilise Muslim voters to help re-elect Mr Livingstone for a third term on May 1.
The group has accused Mr Johnson of being an Islamophobe and a racist. One article, written after the July 7 London bombings and entitled "Islam is the problem", has drawn particular criticism.
But Mr Johnson insisted yesterday that he believed Islam was a "religion of peace" and the problem was extremists taking the words of the Koran out of context.
"The problem is people who wrench out of context quotes from the holy book of Islam, the Koran, and use it to inspire evil in men's hearts," he said, during the Politics Show debate between the mayoral candidates.
Mr Johnson also used the opportunity to raise concerns about uncontrolled immigration to the capital.
Research commissioned by a Sunday newspaper now puts Mr Livingstone just one point ahead of Mr Johnson - on 45 per cent and 44 per cent respectively - but gives a dead heat, on 50 per cent each, when second preferences are considered.
haha wake up mr johnson...
Yusuf al-Qaradawi has described homosexuality as an "unnatural and evil practice" and said the Koran permitted wife-beating in certain circumstances.
Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone during a televised debate
The Qatar-based Egyptian cleric has also advocated the use of Palestinian children as suicide bombers and once claimed that Asian tsunami victims were punished by Allah because their countries were centres of perversion.But speaking on BBC1's Politics Show yesterday, the London Mayor insisted he was right to welcome the cleric to City Hall as an "honoured guest" in July 2004. He said that while he did not agree with some of his views, al-Qaradawi did not support terrorism against the West. "He is a man who is prepared to say al-Qa'eda is wrong and to be very strong in that condemnation," he said.
Mr Livingstone's liberal approach to controversial figures such as al-Qaradawi has won him a friend in Azzam Tamimi, a Palestinian supporter of Hamas, which is dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
Mr Tamimi is part of a group called Muslims 4 Ken, which is aiming to mobilise Muslim voters to help re-elect Mr Livingstone for a third term on May 1.
The group has accused Mr Johnson of being an Islamophobe and a racist. One article, written after the July 7 London bombings and entitled "Islam is the problem", has drawn particular criticism.
But Mr Johnson insisted yesterday that he believed Islam was a "religion of peace" and the problem was extremists taking the words of the Koran out of context.
"The problem is people who wrench out of context quotes from the holy book of Islam, the Koran, and use it to inspire evil in men's hearts," he said, during the Politics Show debate between the mayoral candidates.
Mr Johnson also used the opportunity to raise concerns about uncontrolled immigration to the capital.
Research commissioned by a Sunday newspaper now puts Mr Livingstone just one point ahead of Mr Johnson - on 45 per cent and 44 per cent respectively - but gives a dead heat, on 50 per cent each, when second preferences are considered.
haha wake up mr johnson...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Binmen in Muslim areas ordered by terror police to snoop in residents' rubbish bins
Police chiefs ordered binmen to act as spies by sifting through rubbish to look for pamphlets produced by Islamic terror groups.
Town halls responsible for areas with large Muslim populations were summoned to London and told to get their refuse collectors to search bins for discarded documents or material that might identify and incriminate Islamic extremists.
The Mail on Sunday understands that the instruction was issued at a secretive summit hosted by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), attended by Ministers and Andy Hayman, who at the time was Britain's top anti-terror policeman and an Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
The meeting was designed to encourage the chief executives of 17 local authorities – including Manchester, Oldham, Leicester, Bradford and four London boroughs – to get their employees to play a greater role in addressing extremism and the terror threat.
They were told that the meeting, held at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel in Central London, and its deliberations were to remain strictly confidential.
But the bin-searching instruction was deemed so potentially damaging to community relations that councils simply refused to carry out any sort of spying.
Police chief Andy Hayman hosted the secret summit with council officials
Bradford City Council leader Kris Hopkins said: "We were asked to snoop on our own residents by getting our binmen to rummage around people's rubbish.
"But the idea that our binmen should be rooting around a wheelie bin to see if they can spot dodgy bits of paper or funny wires is ridiculous.
"Our binmen aren't there to act like the secret police. They're there to empty our bins.
"It goes without saying that if any of our staff spotted something illegal they'd call the police.
"But our job is to bring communities together, to help our communities live side by side, not do the dirty work for MI5."
Robert Light, the leader of Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire, added: "I, and others, refused to do anything like this."
The DCLG stressed that the instruction had come from the police and attempted to distance the measure from Ministers, particularly Cabinet Minister Ruth Kelly, who was in charge of the department when the meeting took place.
A spokesman said: "It was the police. It did not come from Ruth Kelly or any of her officials. It is not policy."
Town halls responsible for areas with large Muslim populations were summoned to London and told to get their refuse collectors to search bins for discarded documents or material that might identify and incriminate Islamic extremists.
The Mail on Sunday understands that the instruction was issued at a secretive summit hosted by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), attended by Ministers and Andy Hayman, who at the time was Britain's top anti-terror policeman and an Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
The meeting was designed to encourage the chief executives of 17 local authorities – including Manchester, Oldham, Leicester, Bradford and four London boroughs – to get their employees to play a greater role in addressing extremism and the terror threat.
They were told that the meeting, held at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel in Central London, and its deliberations were to remain strictly confidential.
But the bin-searching instruction was deemed so potentially damaging to community relations that councils simply refused to carry out any sort of spying.
Police chief Andy Hayman hosted the secret summit with council officials
Bradford City Council leader Kris Hopkins said: "We were asked to snoop on our own residents by getting our binmen to rummage around people's rubbish.
"But the idea that our binmen should be rooting around a wheelie bin to see if they can spot dodgy bits of paper or funny wires is ridiculous.
"Our binmen aren't there to act like the secret police. They're there to empty our bins.
"It goes without saying that if any of our staff spotted something illegal they'd call the police.
"But our job is to bring communities together, to help our communities live side by side, not do the dirty work for MI5."
Robert Light, the leader of Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire, added: "I, and others, refused to do anything like this."
The DCLG stressed that the instruction had come from the police and attempted to distance the measure from Ministers, particularly Cabinet Minister Ruth Kelly, who was in charge of the department when the meeting took place.
A spokesman said: "It was the police. It did not come from Ruth Kelly or any of her officials. It is not policy."
St George Day parade cancelled over fear of offending Muslims
A St George’s Day parade through an inner-city area hit by race riots has been cancelled following police advice.
Community groups had planned to stage the multi-cultural event in Bradford and 1,500 schoolchildren were due to take part.
Many of the youngsters had already made flags of St George to carry on the parade on April 23, which was designed to boost community cohesion.
But last week police and council chiefs told the organisers that the event could not go ahead as planned for ‘health and safety’ reasons. At a meeting, police demanded a shorter route which avoided two streets at the centre of the race riots in 2001.
As a result, organisers have decided to call off the event, which was due to attract more than 10,000 people.
“The police and council just kept telling us that the reason for their objection was ‘health and safety’. They proposed another route which was ridiculously short. The march would have been over before it began.
“Unfortunately, there’s a fear that someone may have used it to cause violence.
“The day seems to have been taken away from us because of fears of thugs. “The council and police say something could go ahead on July 1, but it won’t be a St George’s Day celebration.’
The Bradford riots in July, 2001, were sparked by the stabbing of a local Asian youth by National Front supporters. They ended with more than 300 police injured and 297 people arrested.
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Community groups had planned to stage the multi-cultural event in Bradford and 1,500 schoolchildren were due to take part.
Many of the youngsters had already made flags of St George to carry on the parade on April 23, which was designed to boost community cohesion.
But last week police and council chiefs told the organisers that the event could not go ahead as planned for ‘health and safety’ reasons. At a meeting, police demanded a shorter route which avoided two streets at the centre of the race riots in 2001.
As a result, organisers have decided to call off the event, which was due to attract more than 10,000 people.
“The police and council just kept telling us that the reason for their objection was ‘health and safety’. They proposed another route which was ridiculously short. The march would have been over before it began.
“Unfortunately, there’s a fear that someone may have used it to cause violence.
“The day seems to have been taken away from us because of fears of thugs. “The council and police say something could go ahead on July 1, but it won’t be a St George’s Day celebration.’
The Bradford riots in July, 2001, were sparked by the stabbing of a local Asian youth by National Front supporters. They ended with more than 300 police injured and 297 people arrested.
Related Posts
Main street parade to honor Muhammad
Netherlands bank drops “piglet” mascot to attract Muslims
Iran shows off new missile; taunts US and Israel
Iran: We Should Build Army to Defend all of Islam
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Scotland Government Allots 270,000 Pounds to Aid Abused Muslim Women
Amina, the only group specialising in helping female victims of violence from Islamic communities in Scotland, will receive a share of a total of 22-million-pounds government payout announced to organisations involved in tackling domestic abuse.
The women-help group plans to train more groups, including the police and prosecutors, on specific issues that affect Muslim women, and encourage more victims to come forward. Nughmana Mirza, of the Glasgow-based project, said that the money would also be used partly to "explode the myth" that Muslim women are more likely to suffer violence due to their faith.
"A lot of the problems are cultural. There is a strong sense of shame about coming forward to report domestic violence, as women feel their community will disapprove. We need to get over that," the Scotsman.com quoted Ms Mirza as saying. The project has received more than 100 calls from women in the past six months, Ms Mirza said, adding: "There's a need to make other support groups aware of the issues affecting Muslim women. For example, lots of people don't know the difference between arranged marriage and forced marriage."
The women-help group plans to train more groups, including the police and prosecutors, on specific issues that affect Muslim women, and encourage more victims to come forward. Nughmana Mirza, of the Glasgow-based project, said that the money would also be used partly to "explode the myth" that Muslim women are more likely to suffer violence due to their faith.
"A lot of the problems are cultural. There is a strong sense of shame about coming forward to report domestic violence, as women feel their community will disapprove. We need to get over that," the Scotsman.com quoted Ms Mirza as saying. The project has received more than 100 calls from women in the past six months, Ms Mirza said, adding: "There's a need to make other support groups aware of the issues affecting Muslim women. For example, lots of people don't know the difference between arranged marriage and forced marriage."
Friday, April 18, 2008
Controlled blast after man held
POLICE are questioning a teenage terror suspect after carrying out a controlled explosion at his home this morning.
The suspect was named as Andrew Ibrahim, a British Muslim convert.
Around 30 people were evacuated from houses in Comb Paddock, a quiet cul-de-sac in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, as officers searched the property after a “covert” operation prompted by intelligence.
A bomb disposal team carried out a controlled explosion in the property at a 1950s red brick terraced house, at around 2am.
Neighbours who were not evacuated said they heard a loud blast like a gas boiler blowing up during the night.
But they got up this morning to find letters on their doormats from Avon and Somerset Police telling them of the arrest in connection with a “potentially serious criminal matter”, although it did not mention terrorism.
Police described the arrest as “a preventative measure” adding that the search was “critical”.
Locals said the man under arrest had not been in the house long but described him as polite.
One said he was heavily built and often seen wearing traditional Muslim dress and carrying a satchel.
The 19-year-old is being held at an undisclosed police station in the area under theTerrorism Act 2000.
Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Roberts said today: “It was a controlled explosion and the materials will be sent off for analysis.
“We responded to intelligence given to us in the last 24 hours.”
She warned: “This is likely to be a prolonged, complex and sensitive inquiry which may take some time... We would like to reassure people that this arrest has been made to prevent harm."
She added: “It is unlikely that those who have been evacuated will be able to return to their homes until much later today at the earliest.”
Neighbour Sheila Cook was among those who heard the explosion.
She said: “I went outside and found the whole police force there and they just told me to get back inside. When I woke up this morning there was a letter telling me they had arrested someone and it was part of an ongoing investigation and that is all I know.”
Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Roberts said a covert operation got under way after the police received intelligence.
Bomb disposal experts in Bristol are to carry out a second controlled explosion at a terror suspect's home after discovering more "suspect" materials.
Bomb disposal experts in Bristol have carried out a third controlled explosion at the home of a man arrested under the Terrorism Act.
The suspect was named as Andrew Ibrahim, a British Muslim convert.
Around 30 people were evacuated from houses in Comb Paddock, a quiet cul-de-sac in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, as officers searched the property after a “covert” operation prompted by intelligence.
A bomb disposal team carried out a controlled explosion in the property at a 1950s red brick terraced house, at around 2am.
Neighbours who were not evacuated said they heard a loud blast like a gas boiler blowing up during the night.
But they got up this morning to find letters on their doormats from Avon and Somerset Police telling them of the arrest in connection with a “potentially serious criminal matter”, although it did not mention terrorism.
Police described the arrest as “a preventative measure” adding that the search was “critical”.
Locals said the man under arrest had not been in the house long but described him as polite.
One said he was heavily built and often seen wearing traditional Muslim dress and carrying a satchel.
The 19-year-old is being held at an undisclosed police station in the area under theTerrorism Act 2000.
Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Roberts said today: “It was a controlled explosion and the materials will be sent off for analysis.
“We responded to intelligence given to us in the last 24 hours.”
She warned: “This is likely to be a prolonged, complex and sensitive inquiry which may take some time... We would like to reassure people that this arrest has been made to prevent harm."
She added: “It is unlikely that those who have been evacuated will be able to return to their homes until much later today at the earliest.”
Neighbour Sheila Cook was among those who heard the explosion.
She said: “I went outside and found the whole police force there and they just told me to get back inside. When I woke up this morning there was a letter telling me they had arrested someone and it was part of an ongoing investigation and that is all I know.”
Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Roberts said a covert operation got under way after the police received intelligence.
Bomb disposal experts in Bristol are to carry out a second controlled explosion at a terror suspect's home after discovering more "suspect" materials.
Bomb disposal experts in Bristol have carried out a third controlled explosion at the home of a man arrested under the Terrorism Act.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Jailed terrorists are using the internet to contact supporters
Terror suspects held at one of Britain's most secure jails are secretly accessing the internet to contact their supporters.
The discovery raises fears that some of the UK's most dangerous terrorists could be plotting new attacks from inside prison.
The serious security breach was revealed last week after The Mail on Sunday was alerted to messages on a "private" website linked to militant Islamic movement Al-Muhajiroun, which has been banned under anti-terror laws.
The threatening emails were apparently sent from inside Belmarsh high-security prison in South-East London, which houses some of Britain's most feared terror suspects.
It is thought inmates are sending the illicit messages using smuggled mobile phones, many of which now allow access to the internet.
The jail's current prisoners include Abu Doha, who is accused of plotting to bomb Los Angeles Airport, and Dhiren Barot, who was jailed for life for planning terror attacks, including one using a radioactive "dirty" bomb.
The internet messages are linked to Mizanur Rahman, a 25-year-old website designer jailed last year for inciting murder after calling for British troops to be brought back from Iraq in body bags. More than 900 emails in his name appear on the Sawtul Islam website, including comments attacking homosexuals and Jews.
Non-Muslims are prohibited from accessing the forum section of the site, which is open only to people 'vouched for' by other members, who include Anjem Choudary, an acolyte of Al-Muhajiroun leader Omar Bakri Mohammed.
Explaining the "restricted access," the site says: "Do not misunderstand that there is somehow illegal speech etc being passed via this forum, that is not the case, it's more an issue of where innocent statements are taken as to mean 'encouragement to commit acts of terrorism.'"
Rahman's picture appears alongside the image of an armed man on horseback – an icon commonly used by Al Qaeda.
His personal statement reads: "Indeed our words will remain dead until we are killed for it, whereupon our words will spring to life and live amongst the hearts that are dead bringing them to life."
Last night, the Prison Service said inmates did not have internet access "except under exceptional and controlled circumstances, and cannot personally contribute to websites." Sources said an investigation had been launched. Nearly 3,500 mobile phones were confiscated from UK prisoners last year.
The discovery raises fears that some of the UK's most dangerous terrorists could be plotting new attacks from inside prison.
The serious security breach was revealed last week after The Mail on Sunday was alerted to messages on a "private" website linked to militant Islamic movement Al-Muhajiroun, which has been banned under anti-terror laws.
The threatening emails were apparently sent from inside Belmarsh high-security prison in South-East London, which houses some of Britain's most feared terror suspects.
It is thought inmates are sending the illicit messages using smuggled mobile phones, many of which now allow access to the internet.
The jail's current prisoners include Abu Doha, who is accused of plotting to bomb Los Angeles Airport, and Dhiren Barot, who was jailed for life for planning terror attacks, including one using a radioactive "dirty" bomb.
The internet messages are linked to Mizanur Rahman, a 25-year-old website designer jailed last year for inciting murder after calling for British troops to be brought back from Iraq in body bags. More than 900 emails in his name appear on the Sawtul Islam website, including comments attacking homosexuals and Jews.
Non-Muslims are prohibited from accessing the forum section of the site, which is open only to people 'vouched for' by other members, who include Anjem Choudary, an acolyte of Al-Muhajiroun leader Omar Bakri Mohammed.
Explaining the "restricted access," the site says: "Do not misunderstand that there is somehow illegal speech etc being passed via this forum, that is not the case, it's more an issue of where innocent statements are taken as to mean 'encouragement to commit acts of terrorism.'"
Rahman's picture appears alongside the image of an armed man on horseback – an icon commonly used by Al Qaeda.
His personal statement reads: "Indeed our words will remain dead until we are killed for it, whereupon our words will spring to life and live amongst the hearts that are dead bringing them to life."
Last night, the Prison Service said inmates did not have internet access "except under exceptional and controlled circumstances, and cannot personally contribute to websites." Sources said an investigation had been launched. Nearly 3,500 mobile phones were confiscated from UK prisoners last year.
Police charged Down's syndrome boy with mental age of five
A boy with Down's Syndrome has been charged, by Scottish police, with the adult charge of "racial assault".
It should come as no surprise that the "victim" is "Asian" or media code-word for muslim. So apparently the Scottish police believe that a developmentally disabled person - with a mental age of five- is capable of a pre-mediated racial attack against another DD person. Unbelievable! What ever happened to the point of law where a person under the age of 10 (or with the mental abilities of under the age of 10) could not be held responsible for his/her actions - since they don't understand??
Clearly this has more to do with the purported victim being muslim and is another example of police overreaction to any situation dealing with a muslim. This is especially true as the muslim girl admitted to scratching her own face after the so called assault. One also has to wonder just who placed the notice in a Motherwell newspaper asking for witnesses to a “racial assault” at the college on the day in question. Were her mother and father or some other muslim activist looking to stir up trouble and use this disabled boy to provide a ludicrous example of Islamophobia?
Shame on them.
entire article -
Police charged Down's syndrome boy with mental age of five
It should come as no surprise that the "victim" is "Asian" or media code-word for muslim. So apparently the Scottish police believe that a developmentally disabled person - with a mental age of five- is capable of a pre-mediated racial attack against another DD person. Unbelievable! What ever happened to the point of law where a person under the age of 10 (or with the mental abilities of under the age of 10) could not be held responsible for his/her actions - since they don't understand??
Clearly this has more to do with the purported victim being muslim and is another example of police overreaction to any situation dealing with a muslim. This is especially true as the muslim girl admitted to scratching her own face after the so called assault. One also has to wonder just who placed the notice in a Motherwell newspaper asking for witnesses to a “racial assault” at the college on the day in question. Were her mother and father or some other muslim activist looking to stir up trouble and use this disabled boy to provide a ludicrous example of Islamophobia?
Shame on them.
entire article -
Police charged Down's syndrome boy with mental age of five
Father and son banned from council swimming pool for not being Muslims
The man, known only as David T, and his 10-year-old son were stopped from going into the pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in Stoke Newington, east London.
Last night embarrassed management at the complex said staff were wrong to turn customers away from the designated 'men-only modesty session' on Sunday morning.
The council says the special early-morning get-togethers are aimed at community groups who have strict rules on segregation.
But the dad and his lad were prevented from swimming when they turned up at 9am on Sunday.
David T said: "I arrived at the pool to discover that they were holding what staff described to me as 'Muslim men-only swimming'.
"I asked whether my son and I could go as we were both male. I was told that the session was for Muslims only and that we could not be admitted.
"I asked to speak to the duty manager, who confirmed that this was the case."
He added: "I asked what would happen if I turned up and insisted I was Muslim.
"The manager suggested that they might ask the Muslims swimming if they minded my son and I swimming with them.
"If they didn't object, we might be allowed in."
The men-only modesty swimming sessions take place every Sunday from 8am to 9.30am.
Two websites have been advertising the sessions for Muslim men only.
But a leisure centre spokesman said staff were out of order to refuse people entry for being non-Muslim.
He said: "The member of staff the user spoke with at the time was mistaken when referring to the session as Muslim only.
"The men's modesty session is not a private hire and is, therefore, open to the public. Muslim men and others can attend.
"Staff cannot ask your religion on entrance and you won't be refused entry if you don't appear to be Muslim."
A spokesman for Hackney Council said: "None of Hackney's leisure centres have religiously segregated swimming sessions in their public timetables.
"In common with most public swimming facilities, there are single sex sessions, and this session was men only.
"The member of staff in this situation made a mistake... Hackney Council would wish to apologise to any member of the public who was given incorrect information."
Last night embarrassed management at the complex said staff were wrong to turn customers away from the designated 'men-only modesty session' on Sunday morning.
The council says the special early-morning get-togethers are aimed at community groups who have strict rules on segregation.
But the dad and his lad were prevented from swimming when they turned up at 9am on Sunday.
David T said: "I arrived at the pool to discover that they were holding what staff described to me as 'Muslim men-only swimming'.
"I asked whether my son and I could go as we were both male. I was told that the session was for Muslims only and that we could not be admitted.
"I asked to speak to the duty manager, who confirmed that this was the case."
He added: "I asked what would happen if I turned up and insisted I was Muslim.
"The manager suggested that they might ask the Muslims swimming if they minded my son and I swimming with them.
"If they didn't object, we might be allowed in."
The men-only modesty swimming sessions take place every Sunday from 8am to 9.30am.
Two websites have been advertising the sessions for Muslim men only.
But a leisure centre spokesman said staff were out of order to refuse people entry for being non-Muslim.
He said: "The member of staff the user spoke with at the time was mistaken when referring to the session as Muslim only.
"The men's modesty session is not a private hire and is, therefore, open to the public. Muslim men and others can attend.
"Staff cannot ask your religion on entrance and you won't be refused entry if you don't appear to be Muslim."
A spokesman for Hackney Council said: "None of Hackney's leisure centres have religiously segregated swimming sessions in their public timetables.
"In common with most public swimming facilities, there are single sex sessions, and this session was men only.
"The member of staff in this situation made a mistake... Hackney Council would wish to apologise to any member of the public who was given incorrect information."
Six guilty of terrorism support
A man who heckled then Home Secretary John Reid during a speech has been convicted of terrorist fund-raising and inciting terrorism overseas.
Muslim preacher Abu Izzadeen was among six men convicted of supporting terrorism in London speeches in 2004.
The Kingston Crown Court jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge against Izzadeen of encouraging terrorism.
Shah Jalal Hussain, guilty of terrorist fund-raising, remains missing after failing to appear at court on 8 April.
The charges related to speeches made at London's Regent's Park mosque on 9 November 2004, as US troops were engaged in a fierce battle in the Iraqi city of Falluja.
'No other weapon'
Clips of the eight men speaking about jihad, Osama bin Laden and prejudice towards Muslims were played to the jury during the three-and-a-half month trial.
Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC told the court: "What occurred was that these eight men delivered or contributed to a series of speeches and appeals for money, and in the case of five of the defendants, for volunteers to join in the fight against coalition troops.
"The speeches became progressively more emotive and inflammatory and insulting in their tone."
The court heard that Izzadeen, of Leytonstone, east London, told his audience: "Allah gave mujahideen chance to kill the American."
But the 32-year-old, tried under the name Omar Brooks, argued in court that he and other British Muslims had "no other weapon than our tongue" to fight against what they saw as a "massacre" by British and American forces in the city.
Izzadeen told the jury that asking people to support terrorist organisations was illegal and he had never done so.
The eight defendants denied all charges against them.
Also found guilty of terrorist fund-raising were Simon Keeler and Abdul Muhid, 25, both of Whitechapel, east London.
There were not guilty verdicts on the same charge against Abdul Saleem, 32, Rajib Khan, 29, and Ibrahim Hassan, 25, while the jury could not reach a verdict for 28-year-old Omar Zaheer, of Southall, west London.
Saleem, of Poplar, east London, and Hassan, of Leyton, east London, were found guilty along with Izzadeen and Keeler of inciting terrorism overseas.
The jury could not reach a verdict on that charge against Mr Khan, of Luton, Bedfordshire.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of missing Hussain, 25, of Whitechapel.
Izzadeen hit the news in 2006 for heckling as Home Secretary John Reid delivered a speech, in Leytonstone, about targeting potential Muslim extremists.
Muslim preacher Abu Izzadeen was among six men convicted of supporting terrorism in London speeches in 2004.
The Kingston Crown Court jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge against Izzadeen of encouraging terrorism.
Shah Jalal Hussain, guilty of terrorist fund-raising, remains missing after failing to appear at court on 8 April.
The charges related to speeches made at London's Regent's Park mosque on 9 November 2004, as US troops were engaged in a fierce battle in the Iraqi city of Falluja.
'No other weapon'
Clips of the eight men speaking about jihad, Osama bin Laden and prejudice towards Muslims were played to the jury during the three-and-a-half month trial.
Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC told the court: "What occurred was that these eight men delivered or contributed to a series of speeches and appeals for money, and in the case of five of the defendants, for volunteers to join in the fight against coalition troops.
"The speeches became progressively more emotive and inflammatory and insulting in their tone."
The court heard that Izzadeen, of Leytonstone, east London, told his audience: "Allah gave mujahideen chance to kill the American."
But the 32-year-old, tried under the name Omar Brooks, argued in court that he and other British Muslims had "no other weapon than our tongue" to fight against what they saw as a "massacre" by British and American forces in the city.
Izzadeen told the jury that asking people to support terrorist organisations was illegal and he had never done so.
The eight defendants denied all charges against them.
Also found guilty of terrorist fund-raising were Simon Keeler and Abdul Muhid, 25, both of Whitechapel, east London.
There were not guilty verdicts on the same charge against Abdul Saleem, 32, Rajib Khan, 29, and Ibrahim Hassan, 25, while the jury could not reach a verdict for 28-year-old Omar Zaheer, of Southall, west London.
Saleem, of Poplar, east London, and Hassan, of Leyton, east London, were found guilty along with Izzadeen and Keeler of inciting terrorism overseas.
The jury could not reach a verdict on that charge against Mr Khan, of Luton, Bedfordshire.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of missing Hussain, 25, of Whitechapel.
Izzadeen hit the news in 2006 for heckling as Home Secretary John Reid delivered a speech, in Leytonstone, about targeting potential Muslim extremists.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Islamic school who exposed "apes and pigs" texts receives £70,000 settlement for unfair dismissal
A former teacher at an Islamic school, who alleged that it taught an offensive and racist view of non-Muslims, has been awarded £70,000 by an employment tribunal after winning his case for unfair dismissal.
An update on this story
Colin Cook told the tribunal in Watford that pupils were taught from Arabic books that likened Jews and Christians to “monkeys” and “pigs” at The King Fahad Academy, which is funded and run by the Saudi Arabian Government. [Cook must know that this is based on the Qur'an, 2:62-65; 5:59-60; and 7:166.]
The tribunal ruled that Mr Cook, a British Muslim, was unfairly dismissed from his £36,000-a-year post at the school in Acton, West London, in December 2006 after blowing the whistle on systematic cheating at a GCSE exam.
The panel found that the school created a “smokescreen” to try to justify his dismissal after 18 years’ unblemished service.
It awarded Mr Cook £58,800 in compensation for loss of earnings and £10,500 for injury to feelings. But it rejected his claim that the school discriminated against him on racial grounds.
Mr Cook told the hearing that after leaving the school another member of staff gave him extracts from an Arabic textbook, which encouraged students to believe that all religions other than Islam were worthless.
The books referred to “the repugnant characteristics of the Jews”. Another passage said: “Those whom God has cursed and with whom he is angry, he has turned into monkeys and pigs. They worship Satan.”
Mr Cook alleged that the books were spreading race hatred. “They should not be brought into this country and they should not be used in this country,” he said.
The school denied ever teaching any form of racial hatred and insisted that the offending passages in the books were “misinterpreted” and were never used in class. But it later got rid of the books.
The school was established in 1985, with the aim of providing a high-quality education acceptable to the Saudi and British authorities for the children of Saudi diplomats and other Muslim families in London.
Some of the children of the jailed extremist clerics Abu Hamza al-Masri and Abu Qatada are pupils at the school, which charges fees of up to £1,500 per year for day students.
Mr Cook alleged that in June 2006 staff wrongly allowed pupils to refer to heavily annotated course books during an English language GCSE exam.
The tribunal was told that when he suggested that the school might be trying to cover up his allegations, a senior colleague told him: “This is not England. It is Saudi Arabia.”
Mr Cook then took his complaints direct to the Edexcel exam board.
Mr Cook of Feltham, West London, taught English as a second language at the school. Giving evidence to the tribunal, he said that some pupils “talked as if they did not live in London at all”.
When he queried how Abu Hamza and Abu Qatada could be paying school fees when they were said to be on benefits, he was told to mind his own business.
He also claimed the school was seen as an extension of the Saudi Embassy rather than part of Britain, with Saudi teachers even enjoying diplomatic immunity.
Mr Cook’s solicitor, Lawrence Davies, said: “Safeguards under English law were thrown out of the window when Mr Cook was sacked.
“This school must learn that it is not the Saudi way or the highway. The tribunal has upheld justice and protected the whistle-blower.”
The tribunal panel was not required to rule on Mr Cook’s allegations about the school’s curriculum. But in its judgment, it said it had considered Mr Cook to be a “truthful witness”.
As he was a respected teacher, with an 18-year unblemished record, it ruled that the impact of his dismissal had been “nothing short of life-changing” for Mr Cook. He had received a “harsh punishment for doing what he thought was the right thing to do”, it concluded.
Mr Cook said last night: “I have been accused by people at the school and outside the school of lies and distortion. The school inferred that I had endangered pupils with my allegations.
“The evidence speaks otherwise. I told the truth all along. Hopefully, my accusers will now realise that I acted justly and for the good of the school.”
No one at the school was available to comment.
An update on this story
Colin Cook told the tribunal in Watford that pupils were taught from Arabic books that likened Jews and Christians to “monkeys” and “pigs” at The King Fahad Academy, which is funded and run by the Saudi Arabian Government. [Cook must know that this is based on the Qur'an, 2:62-65; 5:59-60; and 7:166.]
The tribunal ruled that Mr Cook, a British Muslim, was unfairly dismissed from his £36,000-a-year post at the school in Acton, West London, in December 2006 after blowing the whistle on systematic cheating at a GCSE exam.
The panel found that the school created a “smokescreen” to try to justify his dismissal after 18 years’ unblemished service.
It awarded Mr Cook £58,800 in compensation for loss of earnings and £10,500 for injury to feelings. But it rejected his claim that the school discriminated against him on racial grounds.
Mr Cook told the hearing that after leaving the school another member of staff gave him extracts from an Arabic textbook, which encouraged students to believe that all religions other than Islam were worthless.
The books referred to “the repugnant characteristics of the Jews”. Another passage said: “Those whom God has cursed and with whom he is angry, he has turned into monkeys and pigs. They worship Satan.”
Mr Cook alleged that the books were spreading race hatred. “They should not be brought into this country and they should not be used in this country,” he said.
The school denied ever teaching any form of racial hatred and insisted that the offending passages in the books were “misinterpreted” and were never used in class. But it later got rid of the books.
The school was established in 1985, with the aim of providing a high-quality education acceptable to the Saudi and British authorities for the children of Saudi diplomats and other Muslim families in London.
Some of the children of the jailed extremist clerics Abu Hamza al-Masri and Abu Qatada are pupils at the school, which charges fees of up to £1,500 per year for day students.
Mr Cook alleged that in June 2006 staff wrongly allowed pupils to refer to heavily annotated course books during an English language GCSE exam.
The tribunal was told that when he suggested that the school might be trying to cover up his allegations, a senior colleague told him: “This is not England. It is Saudi Arabia.”
Mr Cook then took his complaints direct to the Edexcel exam board.
Mr Cook of Feltham, West London, taught English as a second language at the school. Giving evidence to the tribunal, he said that some pupils “talked as if they did not live in London at all”.
When he queried how Abu Hamza and Abu Qatada could be paying school fees when they were said to be on benefits, he was told to mind his own business.
He also claimed the school was seen as an extension of the Saudi Embassy rather than part of Britain, with Saudi teachers even enjoying diplomatic immunity.
Mr Cook’s solicitor, Lawrence Davies, said: “Safeguards under English law were thrown out of the window when Mr Cook was sacked.
“This school must learn that it is not the Saudi way or the highway. The tribunal has upheld justice and protected the whistle-blower.”
The tribunal panel was not required to rule on Mr Cook’s allegations about the school’s curriculum. But in its judgment, it said it had considered Mr Cook to be a “truthful witness”.
As he was a respected teacher, with an 18-year unblemished record, it ruled that the impact of his dismissal had been “nothing short of life-changing” for Mr Cook. He had received a “harsh punishment for doing what he thought was the right thing to do”, it concluded.
Mr Cook said last night: “I have been accused by people at the school and outside the school of lies and distortion. The school inferred that I had endangered pupils with my allegations.
“The evidence speaks otherwise. I told the truth all along. Hopefully, my accusers will now realise that I acted justly and for the good of the school.”
No one at the school was available to comment.
Suicide bombing apologist campaigning for Ken Livingstone in mayoral election
A Palestinian apologist for suicide bombing is among the leaders of a group trying to win Muslim votes for Ken Livingstone in the London mayoral election.
voters to help re-elect Mr Livingstone for a third term on May 1.
A website set up by the group vilifies Mr Livingstone's Conservative opponent Boris Johnson, portraying him as an Islamaphobe.
It states: "Boris Johnson would be a disaster for London.
He is an Islamophobe who has insulted and condemned Islam and Muslims.
"We must not sit by and allow Boris Johnson to become the next Mayor and stir up more Islamophobia against London's Muslims.
"Don't trust this unreliable chancer with our great city."
A circular email from the group urges all Muslims to register to vote and rakes back over comments made by Mr Johnson during his journalistic career, accusing him of holding racist views, mocking diversity and lambasting him for supporting Israel.
The email also informs readers that the British National Party urged its members to make Mr Johnson their second preference vote.
"Don't trust this unreliable chancer with our great city."
A circular email from the group urges all Muslims to register to vote and rakes back over comments made by Mr Johnson during his journalistic career, accusing him of holding racist views, mocking diversity and lambasting him for supporting Israel.
The email also informs readers that the British National Party urged its members to make Mr Johnson their second preference vote.
Mr Johnson has completely rejected BNP support.
Muslims 4 Ken has been lobbying community leaders, mosques and Islamic political groups for months and began its email campaign in the final weeks of the contest as Mr Livingstone and Mr Johnson run neck and neck.
The email is already proliferating across the internet on chat forums and blogs.
A source said: "This group has set out to swing the election for Ken at all costs. They will go to any lengths and it's getting very dirty. Johnson will be portrayed as hating Muslims in the run-up to the election."
Muslims 4 Ken has been lobbying community leaders, mosques and Islamic political groups for months and began its email campaign in the final weeks of the contest as Mr Livingstone and Mr Johnson run neck and neck.
The email is already proliferating across the internet on chat forums and blogs.
A source said: "This group has set out to swing the election for Ken at all costs. They will go to any lengths and it's getting very dirty. Johnson will be portrayed as hating Muslims in the run-up to the election."
A key figure in Muslims 4 Ken is lecturer Anas Altikriti, who does not support violence and sees dialogue as the way to further the Muslim cause.
He came to Britain from Iraq as a child after his family was persecuted by Saddam Hussein and in 2006 he helped secure the release of Christian hostages in Iraq including Norman Kember.
But Dr Tamimi, director of the London-based Institute of Islamic Political Thought, has previously praised suicide bombers and even said he would volunteer personally for a suicide mission in the Middle East. In a BBC interview in 2004 he said: "If I can go to Palestine and sacrifice myself I would do it.
He came to Britain from Iraq as a child after his family was persecuted by Saddam Hussein and in 2006 he helped secure the release of Christian hostages in Iraq including Norman Kember.
But Dr Tamimi, director of the London-based Institute of Islamic Political Thought, has previously praised suicide bombers and even said he would volunteer personally for a suicide mission in the Middle East. In a BBC interview in 2004 he said: "If I can go to Palestine and sacrifice myself I would do it.
Why not? Sacrificing myself for Palestine is a noble cause. It is the straight way to pleasing my God and I would do it if I had the opportunity."
In 2006 he was the main speaker at a London conference which had the backing of Mr Livingstone and was held the day before the anniversary of the July 7 terror attacks.
It was Dr Tamimi who invited the radical Islamic preacher Yusuf al-Qaradawi to speak at a conference in London in 2004.
Al-Qaradawi, who has defended suicide bombers and the persecution of homosexuals, was welcomed to City Hall and embraced by Mr Livingstone.
Mr Altikriti has defended the Muslims 4 Ken movement and denied it had any "hidden agenda".
He said: "Boris Johnson would be extremely bad news for Muslims in London. When the 7/7 bombings happened, Ken condemned them as criminal acts.
Boris condemned Islam. We are going door to door talking to everyone we can."
Britain to import "moderate" imams from Pakistan to counter misunderstanders of Islam
Moderate Muslim clerics are to be brought in from Pakistan in an effort to combat extremism in British mosques, the Home Secretary will announce today.
Jacqui Smith struck a deal on a recent visit to Pakistan under which respected imams could be invited to help British Muslims counter the fundamentalists.
The move is part of Government efforts to step up its so-called prevent agenda, which is aimed at tackling jihadi propaganda in Muslim communities.
In a newspaper interview at the weekend, Miss Smith said: "The vast majority of British Muslims have a Pakistani heritage. If we work with the Government there we can win the arguments.
"We need to do more to tackle those places where radicalisation is developing - in prisons, schools, higher education - so that people are getting the right messages about what it means to be a British Muslim.
"We will also work to ensure we identify vulnerable people being groomed for terror - in the same way we protect young people from being dragged into crime and abuse."
During her talks in Pakistan, the two governments pledged to work closely with communities in Britain to tackle the underlying causes of radicalisation. Ministers believe that preventing young Muslims being radicalised is a central part of their counter-terrorism strategy.
However, the Home Office has been criticised for allowing fundamentalist clerics into the country to preach and attend rallies.
Jacqui Smith struck a deal on a recent visit to Pakistan under which respected imams could be invited to help British Muslims counter the fundamentalists.
The move is part of Government efforts to step up its so-called prevent agenda, which is aimed at tackling jihadi propaganda in Muslim communities.
In a newspaper interview at the weekend, Miss Smith said: "The vast majority of British Muslims have a Pakistani heritage. If we work with the Government there we can win the arguments.
"We need to do more to tackle those places where radicalisation is developing - in prisons, schools, higher education - so that people are getting the right messages about what it means to be a British Muslim.
"We will also work to ensure we identify vulnerable people being groomed for terror - in the same way we protect young people from being dragged into crime and abuse."
During her talks in Pakistan, the two governments pledged to work closely with communities in Britain to tackle the underlying causes of radicalisation. Ministers believe that preventing young Muslims being radicalised is a central part of their counter-terrorism strategy.
However, the Home Office has been criticised for allowing fundamentalist clerics into the country to preach and attend rallies.
UK Arrests Anti-Islam Blogger...
A blogger from Dunstable has been arrested and released on bail for allegedly stirring up racial hatred.Paul Ray, who uses the pseudonym Lionheart on his provocative online diary, was arrested two weeks ago after returning from South Carolina, America where he was seeking political asylum.He had already been warned via email on January 3 by Bedfordshire Police that he would be arrested if he returned.Last month he attended Greyfriars police station in Bedford, was arrested then bailed and told to return in May to either be released or charged.His blog includes his opinions on the heroin trade, Islamic fundamentalism and alleged police corruption.Mr Ray, who used to have a flat in Great Northern Road and a computer shop on Albion Street, claims he has received death threats.He told Luton/Dunstable on Sunday: "I felt it was right to come back. I handed myself in at a Bedford police station.
"I was arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred. They questioned me on parts of my blog. Compared to what's happening out there I haven't done that much."I'm a Christian - that's my defence."My belief it that it's my rights and responsibility to say what some people may not like, which may hurt feelings.
"My blog is a response to what is happening. I have not called for violence."You have got some Muslims calling for followers to overpower the state, opening recruiting for a global jihad and raising funds for this."I've written a few words on a blog." A spokeswoman for Bedfordshire Police said: "I can confirm that someone has been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred and has been released on police bail to return in May."He hasn't been charged but if he chooses to identify himself then that's his concern."
Warning over jail radicalisation
Officers are "insufficiently trained" to combat radicalisation at a major jail housing prisoners on terrorism offences, says the prisons watchdog.
Chief prisons inspector Anne Owers said Muslim chaplains were doing "excellent work" at Belmarsh in south-east London but needed more support.
She warned prison officers may not fully understand the complexities of tackling terrorism recruitment.
Efforts to counter extremism risked alienating Muslim prisoners, she said.
Belmarsh, partly built to house IRA prisoners, now holds the majority of those awaiting trial on terrorism offences.
There was a real danger that the alienation of Muslim prisoners in general, and the suspicion with which they perceived they were treated, would in fact feed radicalisation Anne Owers
However, the great majority of the 200 Muslim prisoners at the jail are inside for ordinary criminality and are not associated with those being held under special high security conditions.
In the report, Ms Owers said Belmarsh had improved thanks to efforts by managers to incrementally change its culture rather than attempt a sequence of quick wins.
But she warned staff needed more support to perform "the delicate task" of countering the risk of radicalisation from terrorism convicts - while at the same time avoiding alienating the general Muslim inmates.
"This group [terrorism prisoners] provided a challenge to staff and managers, both in relation to their own approach and behaviour, and the risk that they might influence other disaffected prisoners," said Ms Owers.
"There was clearly a concern that these minority views should not spread.
"But conversely there was a real danger that the alienation of Muslim prisoners in general, and the suspicion with which they perceived they were treated, would in fact feed radicalisation."
'Shorthand thinking'
In evidence before MPs in November last year, Belmarsh's governor Claudia Sturt said she did not want her staff to fall back on "shorthand thinking" which would lead all Muslims prisoners to be labelled extremist.
But Ms Owers' report waned that actions by officers risked being interpreted by disaffected Muslims as "deliberately provocative". Some prisoners had already accused female officers of "inappropriate behaviour", said the report.
She warned against wrongly interpreting conversions to Islam inside the jail, or gatherings for communal prayer, as signs of a threat or evidence of radicalisation.
She praised the two full-time imams at the jail, and the support they got from governors, but added that less than half of the Muslim inmates felt they were treated with respect.
"These are very important and difficult issues," said Ms Owers. "It was not apparent that all staff understood the complexities within and around their Muslim population, or were able to establish effective and appropriate relationships with them.
"This is something that requires attention throughout the Prison Service, though it is particularly acute at Belmarsh."
Phil Wheatley, head of the National Offender Management Service, said he was pleased that Belmarsh had made progress
"I would like to congratulate the governor and her staff for delivering such notable improvements," said Mr Wheatley.
"Their achievement is all the more creditable given that Belmarsh is a challenging environment with its diverse and often difficult prisoner population including those who require the very highest levels of security."
Chief prisons inspector Anne Owers said Muslim chaplains were doing "excellent work" at Belmarsh in south-east London but needed more support.
She warned prison officers may not fully understand the complexities of tackling terrorism recruitment.
Efforts to counter extremism risked alienating Muslim prisoners, she said.
Belmarsh, partly built to house IRA prisoners, now holds the majority of those awaiting trial on terrorism offences.
There was a real danger that the alienation of Muslim prisoners in general, and the suspicion with which they perceived they were treated, would in fact feed radicalisation Anne Owers
However, the great majority of the 200 Muslim prisoners at the jail are inside for ordinary criminality and are not associated with those being held under special high security conditions.
In the report, Ms Owers said Belmarsh had improved thanks to efforts by managers to incrementally change its culture rather than attempt a sequence of quick wins.
But she warned staff needed more support to perform "the delicate task" of countering the risk of radicalisation from terrorism convicts - while at the same time avoiding alienating the general Muslim inmates.
"This group [terrorism prisoners] provided a challenge to staff and managers, both in relation to their own approach and behaviour, and the risk that they might influence other disaffected prisoners," said Ms Owers.
"There was clearly a concern that these minority views should not spread.
"But conversely there was a real danger that the alienation of Muslim prisoners in general, and the suspicion with which they perceived they were treated, would in fact feed radicalisation."
'Shorthand thinking'
In evidence before MPs in November last year, Belmarsh's governor Claudia Sturt said she did not want her staff to fall back on "shorthand thinking" which would lead all Muslims prisoners to be labelled extremist.
But Ms Owers' report waned that actions by officers risked being interpreted by disaffected Muslims as "deliberately provocative". Some prisoners had already accused female officers of "inappropriate behaviour", said the report.
She warned against wrongly interpreting conversions to Islam inside the jail, or gatherings for communal prayer, as signs of a threat or evidence of radicalisation.
She praised the two full-time imams at the jail, and the support they got from governors, but added that less than half of the Muslim inmates felt they were treated with respect.
"These are very important and difficult issues," said Ms Owers. "It was not apparent that all staff understood the complexities within and around their Muslim population, or were able to establish effective and appropriate relationships with them.
"This is something that requires attention throughout the Prison Service, though it is particularly acute at Belmarsh."
Phil Wheatley, head of the National Offender Management Service, said he was pleased that Belmarsh had made progress
"I would like to congratulate the governor and her staff for delivering such notable improvements," said Mr Wheatley.
"Their achievement is all the more creditable given that Belmarsh is a challenging environment with its diverse and often difficult prisoner population including those who require the very highest levels of security."
Man shot 'for Christian beliefs'
A man killed by Islamist fighters in Somalia was shot because he had converted from Islam to Christianity, his widow has claimed.
Daud Hassan Ali, 64, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, was found dead at the school his charity had built in Beledweyne on Monday.
Margaret Ali said she was "certain he was killed because he was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity".
Rehana Ahmed, 32, from Birmingham, and two Kenyan teachers were also killed.
Mr Ali had left Somalia in 1967 and became a Christian after meeting missionaries.
Mrs Ali, 64, said that some Islamists "believe it is ok to kill any man who was born into Islam and left the faith".
She added her husband knew it was a risk going back to Somalia as a Christian but said he was there to teach not convert others to his faith.
She said: "He was a teacher, he never made any attempt to convert anyone to Christianity, and only practised his faith in private.
"Most people didn't give tuppence about him being an apostate (someone who has renounced the religion of their birth), but some Muslims interpret the Koran differently.
"I just hope they died quickly and didn't suffer too much. But I hear their bodies are riddled with bullet holes."
She said the last time she spoke to him was Friday evening when he phoned her to wish her happy birthday.
The father-of-two had left the country of his birth in 1967 and worked across the Middle East and Europe before studying in the UK and working as a primary and secondary school teacher.
He eventually settled in Birmingham where he worked for the city council as an educational psychologist before retiring in 2004.
Mrs Ali said it had been her husband's "life-long dream" to go back to Somalia and set up a school to "help his people".
She said they decided to set up the Hiran Community Education Project charity after discovering there were about 20,000 children in central Somalia getting no education.
The Hakab Private English School was only completed one month ago.
Mrs Ali said Ms Ahmed, who was a graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, had joined her husband at the school to teach English.
She said she was a "gifted student" who was "loved by all the people at the school".
She is survived by a brother and sister.
The Islamist al-Shabab Movement, the armed youth-wing of the Council of Islamic Courts movement, has admitted taking the town.
But a spokesman said: "We heard that the foreigners were killed but we do not claim responsibility."
British officials in Kenya and staff from the High Commission in Nairobi are investigating.
Daud Hassan Ali, 64, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, was found dead at the school his charity had built in Beledweyne on Monday.
Margaret Ali said she was "certain he was killed because he was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity".
Rehana Ahmed, 32, from Birmingham, and two Kenyan teachers were also killed.
Mr Ali had left Somalia in 1967 and became a Christian after meeting missionaries.
Mrs Ali, 64, said that some Islamists "believe it is ok to kill any man who was born into Islam and left the faith".
She added her husband knew it was a risk going back to Somalia as a Christian but said he was there to teach not convert others to his faith.
She said: "He was a teacher, he never made any attempt to convert anyone to Christianity, and only practised his faith in private.
"Most people didn't give tuppence about him being an apostate (someone who has renounced the religion of their birth), but some Muslims interpret the Koran differently.
"I just hope they died quickly and didn't suffer too much. But I hear their bodies are riddled with bullet holes."
She said the last time she spoke to him was Friday evening when he phoned her to wish her happy birthday.
The father-of-two had left the country of his birth in 1967 and worked across the Middle East and Europe before studying in the UK and working as a primary and secondary school teacher.
He eventually settled in Birmingham where he worked for the city council as an educational psychologist before retiring in 2004.
Mrs Ali said it had been her husband's "life-long dream" to go back to Somalia and set up a school to "help his people".
She said they decided to set up the Hiran Community Education Project charity after discovering there were about 20,000 children in central Somalia getting no education.
The Hakab Private English School was only completed one month ago.
Mrs Ali said Ms Ahmed, who was a graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, had joined her husband at the school to teach English.
She said she was a "gifted student" who was "loved by all the people at the school".
She is survived by a brother and sister.
The Islamist al-Shabab Movement, the armed youth-wing of the Council of Islamic Courts movement, has admitted taking the town.
But a spokesman said: "We heard that the foreigners were killed but we do not claim responsibility."
British officials in Kenya and staff from the High Commission in Nairobi are investigating.
Monday, April 14, 2008
bias bbc
Even Islamic killers are clear that they engage in premeditated acts of terrorism."This was a martyrdom-seeking [suicide] operation aimed at kidnapping Zionist soldiers," the Islamic Jihad spokesman said. But to the BBC it was an "attack" by "militants." I am sick of the witless BBC equivocation on this subject. These Palestinians are JIHADISTS, they even call themselves this. They enjoy taking the life of innocent Israelis. They are, by any standard, engaging in act of terrorism, so why will the BBC not call it like it is?
I also hate the way in which the BBC buries away another little lie in this same report. It innocuously states " Fighting had subsided since early March, when the Israeli army launched an offensive that killed around 120 Palestinians. " It conveniently leaves out the fact that a/ This Israeli strike followed the terror attack on Israel that resulted in the death of young teenage Jewish students in Jerusalem and b/ The 120 figure quoted includes a significant number of Hamas terrorists with others dying because they either voluntarily or involuntarily provided sanctuary to Hamas terrorists. What justification have the BBC for calling Islamic killers "militants" when even the Islamic killers boast of their terrorist ambitions?
BBC chief: Reporting on Islam is over-cautious out of fear of offending Muslims
Mark Thompson, the Director General of the BBC, tonight warned broadcasters against becoming overly-cautious in their reporting on Islam for fear of causing offence to Muslims.
Speaking at Westminster Cathedral Mr Thompson, a practising Catholic, said there was “a growing nervousness about discussion about Islam and its relationship to the traditions and values of British and Western society as a whole”.
He said that the BBC and other major channels “have a special responsibility” to ensure that debates about “faith and society” and about any religion “should not be foreclosed or censored”.
In an effort to demonstrate that his remarks were not targeted solely at ensuring that Islam received journalistic scrutiny, Mr Thompson also referring to his decision to broadcast Jerry Springer, The Opera despite an avalanche of complaints from Christians unhappy at the depiction of Jesus in the satire.
“There is no point having a BBC which isn’t prepared to stand up and be counted; which will do everything it can to mitigate potential religious offence; but which will always be forthright in the defence of freedom of speech and of impartiality,” he said....
Indeed not.
Speaking at Westminster Cathedral Mr Thompson, a practising Catholic, said there was “a growing nervousness about discussion about Islam and its relationship to the traditions and values of British and Western society as a whole”.
He said that the BBC and other major channels “have a special responsibility” to ensure that debates about “faith and society” and about any religion “should not be foreclosed or censored”.
In an effort to demonstrate that his remarks were not targeted solely at ensuring that Islam received journalistic scrutiny, Mr Thompson also referring to his decision to broadcast Jerry Springer, The Opera despite an avalanche of complaints from Christians unhappy at the depiction of Jesus in the satire.
“There is no point having a BBC which isn’t prepared to stand up and be counted; which will do everything it can to mitigate potential religious offence; but which will always be forthright in the defence of freedom of speech and of impartiality,” he said....
Indeed not.
30 Active Terror Plots, 200 Networks, 22,000 Terrorists
The Islamic terror threat in Britain is getting worse, and most of the government is in complete denial, refusing to do anything to deal with the situation: Smith says monitoring 30 U.K. terrorism plots.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
'Extremism' fear over Islam studies donations
Extremist ideas are being spread by Islamic study centres linked to British universities and backed by multi-million-pound donations from Saudi Arabia and Muslim organisations, a new report claims.
Eight universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, have accepted more than £233.5 million from Saudi and Muslim sources since 1995, with much of the money going to Islamic study centres, according to the report.
The total sum, revealed by Anthony Glees, the director of Brunel University's Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies, amounts to the largest source of external funding to UK universities.
Arab donors have argued that their gifts to academic institutions help to promote understanding between the West and the Islamic world. However, Prof Glees claims in his unpublished report that the propagation of one-sided views of Islam and the Middle East at universities amounts to anti-Western propaganda.
Prof Glees attracted controversy in 2005 when he claimed that up to 48 universities had been infiltrated by fundamentalists and warned that the threat posed by radical groups should be "urgently addressed".
At a conference in London on Thursday, the Government is expected to call for the opening of more Islamic study centres at British universities. Last year, ministers declared Islamic studies a "strategically important subject" and put aside £1 million for the teaching of the subject, as part of a counter-radicalisation drive.
Universities that have accepted donations from Saudi royals and other Arab sources include Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, University College London, the London School of Economics, Exeter, Dundee and City. Prof Glees says Government policies "push the wrong sort of education by the wrong sort of people, funded by the wrong sorts of donor".
He added: "The Government must reconsider its far-reaching, security-driven plan to use higher education in the fight against the radicalisation of young British Muslims. If it proceeds, it will create the very situation the Government wants to avoid: the development of self-imposed Muslim apartheid in the UK."
He called on the Government to ban universities from accepting money from Saudi or Islamic groups to fund Islamic studies; for all university donations to be made public, and for a public inquiry into foreign funding. Major donations include £20 million from the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia towards the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, due to open next year, which is associated to the university.
Prof Glees's report claims that over the past five years, 70 per cent of politics lectures at the Middle Eastern Centre at St Antony's College, Oxford, were "implacably hostile" to the West and Israel - an allegation denied by Oxford.
Prof Glees says universities are so strapped for cash that they risk being "held over a barrel", with no option but to accept donations. He said: "Britain's universities will have to generate two national cultures: one non-Muslim and largely secular, the other Muslim.
"We will have two identities, two sets of allegiance and two legal and political systems. This must, by the Government's own logic, hugely increase the risk of terrorism." The report, to be published by the Centre for Social Cohesion, an offshoot of the centre-Right Civitas think tank, also questions the choice of Dr Ataullah Siddiqui as the Government's chief adviser on Islamic studies.
Prof Glees alleges that Dr Siddiqui, who is a director of Leicester's Markfield Institute of Higher Education, has ideological links to extreme Islamic groups. He argues that by employing Dr Siddiqui as its chief adviser, the Government risks aiding the spread of extremism, rather than preventing it.
Dr Siddiqui said: "These claims are false. I deny completely that I have any organisational or ideological links with extremist organisations. I also deny that the Markfield Institute has any such links with extremist organisations."
An Oxford University spokesman said: "The university has not seen Prof Glees's report. If any allegations have been made that funders influence or bias the methods, outcomes, or political stances taken in research and teaching at Oxford, the university categorically denies them."
A spokesman for Universities UK, the umbrella organisation for universities, said: "All academic programmes in the UK, including Islamic studies, are subject to the UK's rigorous and independent quality assurance procedures."
A spokesman for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills said: "Institutions have the primary responsibility for determining and maintaining the standards of the awards they deliver and the quality of the education they provide."
6 April 2008: Saudi prince gives Cambridge University £8m for Islamic studies centre
Eight universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, have accepted more than £233.5 million from Saudi and Muslim sources since 1995, with much of the money going to Islamic study centres, according to the report.
The total sum, revealed by Anthony Glees, the director of Brunel University's Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies, amounts to the largest source of external funding to UK universities.
Arab donors have argued that their gifts to academic institutions help to promote understanding between the West and the Islamic world. However, Prof Glees claims in his unpublished report that the propagation of one-sided views of Islam and the Middle East at universities amounts to anti-Western propaganda.
Prof Glees attracted controversy in 2005 when he claimed that up to 48 universities had been infiltrated by fundamentalists and warned that the threat posed by radical groups should be "urgently addressed".
At a conference in London on Thursday, the Government is expected to call for the opening of more Islamic study centres at British universities. Last year, ministers declared Islamic studies a "strategically important subject" and put aside £1 million for the teaching of the subject, as part of a counter-radicalisation drive.
Universities that have accepted donations from Saudi royals and other Arab sources include Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, University College London, the London School of Economics, Exeter, Dundee and City. Prof Glees says Government policies "push the wrong sort of education by the wrong sort of people, funded by the wrong sorts of donor".
He added: "The Government must reconsider its far-reaching, security-driven plan to use higher education in the fight against the radicalisation of young British Muslims. If it proceeds, it will create the very situation the Government wants to avoid: the development of self-imposed Muslim apartheid in the UK."
He called on the Government to ban universities from accepting money from Saudi or Islamic groups to fund Islamic studies; for all university donations to be made public, and for a public inquiry into foreign funding. Major donations include £20 million from the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia towards the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, due to open next year, which is associated to the university.
Prof Glees's report claims that over the past five years, 70 per cent of politics lectures at the Middle Eastern Centre at St Antony's College, Oxford, were "implacably hostile" to the West and Israel - an allegation denied by Oxford.
Prof Glees says universities are so strapped for cash that they risk being "held over a barrel", with no option but to accept donations. He said: "Britain's universities will have to generate two national cultures: one non-Muslim and largely secular, the other Muslim.
"We will have two identities, two sets of allegiance and two legal and political systems. This must, by the Government's own logic, hugely increase the risk of terrorism." The report, to be published by the Centre for Social Cohesion, an offshoot of the centre-Right Civitas think tank, also questions the choice of Dr Ataullah Siddiqui as the Government's chief adviser on Islamic studies.
Prof Glees alleges that Dr Siddiqui, who is a director of Leicester's Markfield Institute of Higher Education, has ideological links to extreme Islamic groups. He argues that by employing Dr Siddiqui as its chief adviser, the Government risks aiding the spread of extremism, rather than preventing it.
Dr Siddiqui said: "These claims are false. I deny completely that I have any organisational or ideological links with extremist organisations. I also deny that the Markfield Institute has any such links with extremist organisations."
An Oxford University spokesman said: "The university has not seen Prof Glees's report. If any allegations have been made that funders influence or bias the methods, outcomes, or political stances taken in research and teaching at Oxford, the university categorically denies them."
A spokesman for Universities UK, the umbrella organisation for universities, said: "All academic programmes in the UK, including Islamic studies, are subject to the UK's rigorous and independent quality assurance procedures."
A spokesman for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills said: "Institutions have the primary responsibility for determining and maintaining the standards of the awards they deliver and the quality of the education they provide."
6 April 2008: Saudi prince gives Cambridge University £8m for Islamic studies centre
Saturday, April 12, 2008
'Muslim governors hatched race campaign to force me out',
headmistress who claims Muslim governors drove her out of their school with a campaign of harassment and false accusations of Islamophobia is suing council bosses for £250,000.
Erica Connor, 56, says the governors accused her of anti-Muslim prejudice and repeatedly questioned her policies on religious education lessons and assemblies.
She says there was a 'hidden agenda' among some governors.
Erica Connor, 56, says the governors accused her of anti-Muslim prejudice and repeatedly questioned her policies on religious education lessons and assemblies.
She says there was a 'hidden agenda' among some governors.
High achievers: Erica Connor and pupils at New Monument School celebrate in 2001
For more than a year, she claims, she suffered rudeness and aggression at governors' meetings and challenges to her authority which culminated in a petition branding her racist and demanding her sacking.
The anonymous petition was circulated among residents near New Monument School, a non-denominational primary serving a mainly Muslim area of Woking, Surrey.
In papers lodged at county court, Mrs Connor claims Surrey County Council failed to stop the harassment.
She went on long-term sick leave in late 2005 before being permanently laid off and now lives in France, unlikely to return to teaching.
Papers filed at Haywards Heath County Court state Mrs Connor's problems began in 2003 when four new members were appointed to the governing body of the school, which she had run since 1998.
Two years previously she had been invited to a reception at Downing Street after the school was named the second most improved in the country for SATs results.
The first new governor, Paul Martin, 56, a wealthy Surrey-born businessman, proposed another with no prior connection to the school, Sofia Syed. The council appointed two more, including Mumtaz Saleem.
Mrs Connor alleges Mr Martin began to complain about the 'anti-Muslim conduct' of teachers and said there was 'anti-mosque, anti-Muslim prejudice' in the school.
He alleged that one teacher told children to throw away the Koran and another had said it was pointless for them to go to the mosque or learn Arabic.
But an investigation by Mrs Connor found no basis for the allegations. Several staff members were themselves Muslim, the former head says.
Mrs Connor, who is divorced, says she left a governors' meeting in tears after ' aggressive questioning' by Mr Saleem.
She says she emailed Surrey's director of education Paul Gray advising him 'there was clearly a hidden agenda for the new governors' and the staff were 'severely affected' but failed to get a response.
He then agreed to a review by consultants which concluded the governing body had become 'divided and dysfunctional' and cleared the school of racism, Islamophobia and religious bias.
Mrs Connor claims those findings were not properly acted on and Mr Martin's allegations led to several staff, including the deputy head, taking stress-related sick leave.
Mr Martin left the governing-body in June 2005. Shortly afterwards the anonymous petition was circulated and Mrs Connor told her union rep she felt 'desperate' and her health and family life were suffering.
The final straw came at the beginning of the next term when a second review - this time instigated by the council - concluded the school 'had not been responsive to the needs of the faith community'.
The entire governing body had already been disbanded and the following year the school was put in special measures by Ofsted. It was only taken off the failing list last year.
This week Mr Martin said he had no idea Mrs Connor had launched legal proceedings, adding: 'Good luck to her. It's all water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned.'
Mrs Syed was not available for comment. Surrey County Council declined to comment.
Friday, April 11, 2008
“Osama bin Laden’s right hand man,”
One of the world’s most dangerous terror suspects was last night preparing for a life on benefits in Britain after judges ruled that his deportation would breach human rights law.
Abu Qatada, dubbed Osama Bin Laden’s “truly dangerous” ambassador in Europe, could be released from jail within months following the Court of Appeal verdict.
Yesterday’s decision has left Britain’s anti-terror laws in tatters. It means the Jordanian father of five - who has been linked to a string of global terror conspiracies and is held in a high security prison under immigration powers - can expect to receive £1,000 a month in handouts.
Yesterday’s decision has left Britain’s anti-terror laws in tatters. It means the Jordanian father of five - who has been linked to a string of global terror conspiracies and is held in a high security prison under immigration powers - can expect to receive £1,000 a month in handouts.
The taxpayer also faces a bill of tens of thousand of pounds to keep the hate-filled cleric under 24-hour surveillance by security services under a control order unless a last-ditch Home Office appeal is granted by the House of Lords. Even if it is, Qatada could appeal again, to the European Court of Human Rights.
Yesterday the Court of Appeal said Qatada could stay because evidence used against him in any prosecution in his native Jordan may have been obtained by torture - a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.
At the same time, 12 Libyan fanatics were cleared to remain in Britain for the rest of their lives by a second human rights ruling. They include an asylum seeker considered a “real and direct threat” to security who had a map marked with the flightpath to Birmingham Airport.
The rulings mean that - despite Tony Blair’s promise in the immediate aftermath of the 7/7 attacks that the “rules of the game have changed” - not a single international terrorist has been forcibly removed from this country.
Almost three years on, the only Islamic fanatics to depart are eight Algerians who went voluntarily.
Officials think UK's Muslim population has risen to 2m
The Muslim population in the United Kingdom may now number as many as 2 million, the home secretary, Jacqui Smith, disclosed yesterday during an official visit to Pakistan.
The last published official estimate of the size of the Muslim community in Britain was 1.6 million, based on the findings of the 2001 census. The updated Whitehall estimate confirms the position of Islam as the second largest faith community after Christianity, and means that Muslims now make up 3.3% of the UK population.
The 400,000 increase in the size of the Muslim community in less than seven years demonstrates its position as the fastest growing faith community in Britain, and also reflects the age structure of the community, with more than one-third under the age of 16 at the time of the 2001 census. Outside London, Pakistani Muslims make up more than 43% of the community, with Bangladeshis accounting for 17%, and those from India at 9%. In London, the Muslim community is more evenly split between Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslims.
Smith, who was making a speech in Islamabad which highlighted Anglo-Pakistani counter-terrorist cooperation, stressed the Muslim contribution to British society. She quoted a new estimate of 10,000 Muslim millionaires in Britain and an overall community contribution of £31bn a year to the economy. Smith is the first British minister to visit Pakistan since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the elections in February and is holding ministerial meetings on counter-terrorism and immigration.
The home secretary acknowledged in her speech that there are four Pakistani Muslim MPs in the Commons, including two ministers, and more than 200 local councillors throughout the UK.
Smith said that "there is nothing Islamic about terrorism" and urged the majority Muslim communities in Britain and Pakistan to challenge the advocates of violent extremism and protect those most at risk of recruitment to their cause.
"We also need to support the institutions where these individuals operate, making them aware of and more resilient to the apologists for violent extremism. In my country that includes parts of our education system, our prisons, our youth clubs, and our community centres," she said in a speech to Pakistan's National Council of the Arts.
"We also want to ensure our universities provide high-quality learning about faith and Islam and to establish the UK as a centre of excellence outside the Islamic world for Islamic studies."
She highlighted the role of a Foreign Office programme which is designed to remove misconceptions about what it means to be a British Muslim. This programme, which has been running since 2005, creates opportunities for British Muslims to travel from the UK to Pakistan and elsewhere in the Islamic world to talk about Islam in modern Britain.
The last published official estimate of the size of the Muslim community in Britain was 1.6 million, based on the findings of the 2001 census. The updated Whitehall estimate confirms the position of Islam as the second largest faith community after Christianity, and means that Muslims now make up 3.3% of the UK population.
The 400,000 increase in the size of the Muslim community in less than seven years demonstrates its position as the fastest growing faith community in Britain, and also reflects the age structure of the community, with more than one-third under the age of 16 at the time of the 2001 census. Outside London, Pakistani Muslims make up more than 43% of the community, with Bangladeshis accounting for 17%, and those from India at 9%. In London, the Muslim community is more evenly split between Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslims.
Smith, who was making a speech in Islamabad which highlighted Anglo-Pakistani counter-terrorist cooperation, stressed the Muslim contribution to British society. She quoted a new estimate of 10,000 Muslim millionaires in Britain and an overall community contribution of £31bn a year to the economy. Smith is the first British minister to visit Pakistan since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the elections in February and is holding ministerial meetings on counter-terrorism and immigration.
The home secretary acknowledged in her speech that there are four Pakistani Muslim MPs in the Commons, including two ministers, and more than 200 local councillors throughout the UK.
Smith said that "there is nothing Islamic about terrorism" and urged the majority Muslim communities in Britain and Pakistan to challenge the advocates of violent extremism and protect those most at risk of recruitment to their cause.
"We also need to support the institutions where these individuals operate, making them aware of and more resilient to the apologists for violent extremism. In my country that includes parts of our education system, our prisons, our youth clubs, and our community centres," she said in a speech to Pakistan's National Council of the Arts.
"We also want to ensure our universities provide high-quality learning about faith and Islam and to establish the UK as a centre of excellence outside the Islamic world for Islamic studies."
She highlighted the role of a Foreign Office programme which is designed to remove misconceptions about what it means to be a British Muslim. This programme, which has been running since 2005, creates opportunities for British Muslims to travel from the UK to Pakistan and elsewhere in the Islamic world to talk about Islam in modern Britain.
NHS doctor admits he knew about brother's suicide plot to blow up Glasgow Airport
The brother of a terrorist who died in an airport suicide attack was today jailed for 18 months for withholding information about the plot.
Sabeel Ahmed, an NHS doctor, was sent a chilling email about the mission two days before his older brother Kafeel rammed a jeep into the air terminal in Glasgow. However, he did not read it until after the attack had taken place.
In it, the terrorist wrote: "This is the project that I was working on for some time now. Everything else was a lie.
"It's about time that we give up our lives and our families for the sake of Islam to please Allah."
The emails also revealed identity of the bombers, their addresses and other vital information which Ahmed should have passed to the authorities.
However, even when questioned at length by police, he did not reveal what he knew.
Indian-born Ahmed, 26, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to withholding information about terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.
But the tariff was reduced because he did not read the email until the evening after the bombing.
Ahmed has already served half his sentence on remand and has agreed to leave the country and he was tonight being released into the custody of the immigration service to be deported back to India.
The judge, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith, said it was clear from the email his brother sent that he expected to die in the attack, and that his body would be left unrecognisable.
He told Ahmed: "I accept that so far as you personally were concerned there is no sign of your being an extremist or party to extremist views."
However, the judge said, he had agreed to tell police his brother's cover story that he was away in Iceland working on a global warming project.
The sentencing came as the full details of how hundreds of clubbers escaped death last summer were revealed.
Two car bombs packed with improvised explosives and gas cylinders failed to go off in central London only because of a technical failing.
One was positioned outside the Tiger Tiger club in the capital city, which was filled with 556 clubbers and dozens of staff. And a second was further down Haymarket.
The court heard how bombers tried to trigger the devices with their mobile phones but the fume-filled cars failed to ignite.
The club was evacuated safely in 10 minutes and no one was hurt thanks to the quick thinking of the club manager.
Kafeel Ahmed, brother of jailed Sabeel, led the nightclub attack the day before he drove his car bomb in Glasgow Airport's terminal building.
The terrorist, who had a doctorate in engineering, died of his injuries after he drove his car bomb into the airport terminal building.
Once again a technical fault prevented a huge loss of life.
Two other doctors, Mohammed Asha and Bilal Abdulla, are alleged to have been responsible for all three car bombs and will stand trial in October.
Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, told the court today that Kafeel and others had planned a campaign of bomb attacks across Britain.
They targeted "clubs and places of entertainment where the devastating effect and loss of life would be the greatest".
Mr Laidlaw said: "This was to be a campaign the bombers hoped would increase the level of fear felt by the general population in this country in the further threat of Islamic extremism.
The bombers used two Mercedes bought in Warrington and Sheffield and constructed the homemade devices in a bomb factory in Paisley, Scotland.
This involved a combination of fuel, gas bottles, electronic equipment and circuitboards fitted to a timer operated by mobile phone. The cars were driven south arriving in central London in the early hours of 29 June.
The green Mercedes was parked close to Tiger Tiger but was spotted after staff had called an ambulance for an unrelated incident at about 1.40am.
"The lights were on but nobody was with the vehicle," said Mr Laidlaw.
"A club door supervisor and the general manager approached the Mercedes and looked into the front nearside window.
"Gas vapour appeared to be venting and billowing up inside.
"There appeared to be a white duvet covering materials on the rear seat and there was a strong smell of liquid petroleum gas.
"The ambulance staff looked into the vehicle and with considerable presence of mind the manager arranged with the assistance of the ambulance staff to contact the police and begin the process of clearing the street and area around the club.
"Arrangements were made to evacuate the club by the rear emergency door and complete evacuation was achieved in 10 minutes."
The bomb squad was called and the device was disarmed.
At 3.15am a traffic warden ticketed a blue Mercedes outside Canada House at the Trafalgar Square end of Haymarket, where it had been parked for at least an hour. The vehicle was taken to the NCP pound in Park Lane.
A "strong and strange" smell of chemicals was emanating from it and police were called. Examination of the bomb showed it had undergone "a small explosive event" but the main explosive charge had not detonated.
"Had the ignition of petrol vapour taken place it would have created an initial explosion and the rapid flames set off the gas cylinders leading to a series of explosions accelerated by the petrol in the car," said Mr Laidlaw.
"The failure of the vapour to ignite in each vehicle, despite the activation of at least one device, was probably due to the fuel/air ratio exceeding ignition levels.
"Phone records show that there had been a number of attempts by the two men to activate the devices."
Mr Laidlaw then told the court: "These were plainly potentially viable devices which could quite easily have killed many, many people - that was the intention of the bombers.
"Fortunately, not for want of trying on their part, the devastation didn't work as intended."
The bombers met up in Edgware Road, and stayed the night in London before returning by coach to Glasgow.
The next day they took a Cherokee jeep packed with another bomb and drove it at speed into the airport terminal building.
Although the bomb did not explode, a fire broke out which was to kill Ahmed.
Mr Laidlaw said the airport attack took place on its busiest day of the year so far as passengers queued just yards away.
He told the court that Ahmed planned a suicide operation as he suspected the police were closing in.
He said: "When outside the terminal, Kafeel Ahmed, who was driving the Jeep, turned the vehicle sharply and crashed it into the pillars to the right-hand side of one of the entrance doors.
"He then, having found himself from his perspective out of position, reversed the Jeep and made the first of a number of attempts to drive the vehicle through the airport door, repeatedly hitting pillars and the door frame.
"Despite his efforts, the vehicle became trapped. Those who witnessed him described a set and determined face as he stared forward.
"At that point, the vehicle was then 20 feet from passengers queuing within the terminal building.
"His passenger lowered his window and threw a petrol bomb across the bonnet in the direction of the taxi rank and then threw a second of these devices in the opposite direction.
"At the same time the driver, the defendant's brother, began to pour and splash fuel from a can on to the area outside the car window and appeared to throw a petrol bomb.
"He got out of the vehicle and was engulfed in flames that swept around the Jeep and terminal building.
"He appeared to try and prevent others from getting to him or the vehicle. He kicked out but eventually, he being on fire, he was extinguished, subdued, handcuffed and arrested."
The attack caused panic within the terminal and a number of people suffered minor injuries in the chaos that followed.
The court heard that on June 30, Ahmed sent his brother a text message directing him to an online email account containing several documents relating to the three bombings.
Mr Laidlaw said these included instructions on how to frustrate the police. They also revealed he intended to kill himself but ordered Sabeel to keep quiet.
In long interviews with the police after his arrest which lasted until the middle of July he continued to withhold the information "in accordance with instructions he had received from his brother", said Mr Laidlaw.
Sabeel was originally from Bangalore where he went to university and qualified as a doctor.
He came to the UK in April 2005 and was granted a visa to continue his medical studies.
At first he lived with his brother in Cambridge and later worked at hospitals in and around Liverpool.
Sabeel Ahmed, an NHS doctor, was sent a chilling email about the mission two days before his older brother Kafeel rammed a jeep into the air terminal in Glasgow. However, he did not read it until after the attack had taken place.
In it, the terrorist wrote: "This is the project that I was working on for some time now. Everything else was a lie.
"It's about time that we give up our lives and our families for the sake of Islam to please Allah."
The emails also revealed identity of the bombers, their addresses and other vital information which Ahmed should have passed to the authorities.
However, even when questioned at length by police, he did not reveal what he knew.
Indian-born Ahmed, 26, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to withholding information about terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.
But the tariff was reduced because he did not read the email until the evening after the bombing.
Ahmed has already served half his sentence on remand and has agreed to leave the country and he was tonight being released into the custody of the immigration service to be deported back to India.
The judge, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith, said it was clear from the email his brother sent that he expected to die in the attack, and that his body would be left unrecognisable.
He told Ahmed: "I accept that so far as you personally were concerned there is no sign of your being an extremist or party to extremist views."
However, the judge said, he had agreed to tell police his brother's cover story that he was away in Iceland working on a global warming project.
The sentencing came as the full details of how hundreds of clubbers escaped death last summer were revealed.
Two car bombs packed with improvised explosives and gas cylinders failed to go off in central London only because of a technical failing.
One was positioned outside the Tiger Tiger club in the capital city, which was filled with 556 clubbers and dozens of staff. And a second was further down Haymarket.
The court heard how bombers tried to trigger the devices with their mobile phones but the fume-filled cars failed to ignite.
The club was evacuated safely in 10 minutes and no one was hurt thanks to the quick thinking of the club manager.
Kafeel Ahmed, brother of jailed Sabeel, led the nightclub attack the day before he drove his car bomb in Glasgow Airport's terminal building.
The terrorist, who had a doctorate in engineering, died of his injuries after he drove his car bomb into the airport terminal building.
Once again a technical fault prevented a huge loss of life.
Two other doctors, Mohammed Asha and Bilal Abdulla, are alleged to have been responsible for all three car bombs and will stand trial in October.
Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, told the court today that Kafeel and others had planned a campaign of bomb attacks across Britain.
They targeted "clubs and places of entertainment where the devastating effect and loss of life would be the greatest".
Mr Laidlaw said: "This was to be a campaign the bombers hoped would increase the level of fear felt by the general population in this country in the further threat of Islamic extremism.
The bombers used two Mercedes bought in Warrington and Sheffield and constructed the homemade devices in a bomb factory in Paisley, Scotland.
This involved a combination of fuel, gas bottles, electronic equipment and circuitboards fitted to a timer operated by mobile phone. The cars were driven south arriving in central London in the early hours of 29 June.
The green Mercedes was parked close to Tiger Tiger but was spotted after staff had called an ambulance for an unrelated incident at about 1.40am.
"The lights were on but nobody was with the vehicle," said Mr Laidlaw.
"A club door supervisor and the general manager approached the Mercedes and looked into the front nearside window.
"Gas vapour appeared to be venting and billowing up inside.
"There appeared to be a white duvet covering materials on the rear seat and there was a strong smell of liquid petroleum gas.
"The ambulance staff looked into the vehicle and with considerable presence of mind the manager arranged with the assistance of the ambulance staff to contact the police and begin the process of clearing the street and area around the club.
"Arrangements were made to evacuate the club by the rear emergency door and complete evacuation was achieved in 10 minutes."
The bomb squad was called and the device was disarmed.
At 3.15am a traffic warden ticketed a blue Mercedes outside Canada House at the Trafalgar Square end of Haymarket, where it had been parked for at least an hour. The vehicle was taken to the NCP pound in Park Lane.
A "strong and strange" smell of chemicals was emanating from it and police were called. Examination of the bomb showed it had undergone "a small explosive event" but the main explosive charge had not detonated.
"Had the ignition of petrol vapour taken place it would have created an initial explosion and the rapid flames set off the gas cylinders leading to a series of explosions accelerated by the petrol in the car," said Mr Laidlaw.
"The failure of the vapour to ignite in each vehicle, despite the activation of at least one device, was probably due to the fuel/air ratio exceeding ignition levels.
"Phone records show that there had been a number of attempts by the two men to activate the devices."
Mr Laidlaw then told the court: "These were plainly potentially viable devices which could quite easily have killed many, many people - that was the intention of the bombers.
"Fortunately, not for want of trying on their part, the devastation didn't work as intended."
The bombers met up in Edgware Road, and stayed the night in London before returning by coach to Glasgow.
The next day they took a Cherokee jeep packed with another bomb and drove it at speed into the airport terminal building.
Although the bomb did not explode, a fire broke out which was to kill Ahmed.
Mr Laidlaw said the airport attack took place on its busiest day of the year so far as passengers queued just yards away.
He told the court that Ahmed planned a suicide operation as he suspected the police were closing in.
He said: "When outside the terminal, Kafeel Ahmed, who was driving the Jeep, turned the vehicle sharply and crashed it into the pillars to the right-hand side of one of the entrance doors.
"He then, having found himself from his perspective out of position, reversed the Jeep and made the first of a number of attempts to drive the vehicle through the airport door, repeatedly hitting pillars and the door frame.
"Despite his efforts, the vehicle became trapped. Those who witnessed him described a set and determined face as he stared forward.
"At that point, the vehicle was then 20 feet from passengers queuing within the terminal building.
"His passenger lowered his window and threw a petrol bomb across the bonnet in the direction of the taxi rank and then threw a second of these devices in the opposite direction.
"At the same time the driver, the defendant's brother, began to pour and splash fuel from a can on to the area outside the car window and appeared to throw a petrol bomb.
"He got out of the vehicle and was engulfed in flames that swept around the Jeep and terminal building.
"He appeared to try and prevent others from getting to him or the vehicle. He kicked out but eventually, he being on fire, he was extinguished, subdued, handcuffed and arrested."
The attack caused panic within the terminal and a number of people suffered minor injuries in the chaos that followed.
The court heard that on June 30, Ahmed sent his brother a text message directing him to an online email account containing several documents relating to the three bombings.
Mr Laidlaw said these included instructions on how to frustrate the police. They also revealed he intended to kill himself but ordered Sabeel to keep quiet.
In long interviews with the police after his arrest which lasted until the middle of July he continued to withhold the information "in accordance with instructions he had received from his brother", said Mr Laidlaw.
Sabeel was originally from Bangalore where he went to university and qualified as a doctor.
He came to the UK in April 2005 and was granted a visa to continue his medical studies.
At first he lived with his brother in Cambridge and later worked at hospitals in and around Liverpool.
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