An innocent couple died in a house fire at the hands of assailants who got the wrong address in a botched honour killing, a court heard today.
Abdullah Mohammed, 41, and his wife, Aysha Mohammed, 39, were overcome by smoke and fumes after an accelerant was poured through their letterbox and set alight.
Their killers were ordered by another man to avenge his family's honour but instead of firebombing 135 London Road in Blackburn, Lancashire, they started the blaze at 175 London Road, the court heard.
Mr Mohammed was found unconscious in his bedroom along with his wife and two of their three children in the early hours of October 21 last year.
He died the same night while his wife died a week later. Their 14-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son survived.
Opening the case at Preston Crown Court, Brian Cummings QC said: 'The prosecution allege that Sadik Miah, Mohammed Miah (no relation) and Habib Iqbal were directly responsible for starting the fire that night and the prosecution further allege that these three were acting on behalf of Hisamuddin Ibrahim who had effectively put them up to it.
'The prosecution say, on behalf of his family, Hisamuddin Ibrahim wanted to kill a man by the name of Mo Ibrahim (no relation) to punish him for damaging the family's honour for having an affair with his married sister, Hafija Gordi.'
Mr Cummings said the plan was to target Mo's home at 135 London Road, Preston Crown Court was told.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service received a 999 call from Mr Mohammed at about 1.20am.
He told the operator there was a fire at his home and he could not breathe before the line went dead.
The blaze spread through the hallway as smoke engulfed the upstairs of the terraced property.
Neighbours tried in vain to get into the house but were beaten back by the flames before the emergency services arrived.
The prosecutor said there were no witnesses to the start of the blaze but CCTV footage showed a vehicle circling the surrounding streets three times shortly before the fire.
Three figures were then seen to leave the car in the direction of London Road, one appearing to carry a container, before returning and then driving away with its lights off.
Mr Cummings said that vehicle was a black Volkswagen Golf whose registered keeper was Sadek Miah's mother, who lived with the defendant in East London.
The VW Golf was earlier tracked by automatic number plate recognition cameras travelling northwards up the motorway from London the evening before.
Mr Cummings said: 'Having stayed in the area for less than an hour the vehicle left Blackburn after the fire was started - a trip of around 500 miles and more than 7 hours of driving and all in the middle of the night.
'The CCTV not only shows the vehicle, but it also shows people .Three people can be seen to get out of the Golfand walk in the direction of London Road.
'One of them is carrying a container. The camera also shows figure approaching the vehicle and then disappearing again.
'The vehicle goes away from the area and returns to the area, does three circuits and after the third parks up.
'People get out of the vehicle in the direction of London Road. They go back to the car and then three people go in the same direction and then return to the car and the vehicle leaves with the lights off.'
Ibrahim, 21, Iqbal, 25, Mohammed Miah, 19, and 23-year-old Sadek Miah, all of East London, deny murder.
Sadek Miah has pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter, which his co-defendants deny.
The trial, scheduled to last up to four weeks, will continue tomorrow morning with the conclusion of the prosecution opening.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Islamic scholar in UK offended by turkey bacon
"It could well lead towards eating the real thing."
The question is, why is this a story on the BBC at all? If Rod Adlington wants to produce turkey bacon, why should it be a controversy for anyone? The unspoken subtext of this article seems to be that Adlington should stop producing this product if Naveed Ashrafi's opinion wins out in the Islamic community. So what if the non-Muslim "pork-free market" and "the slimming market" wants turkey bacon? Apparently if Muslims don't want it, no one else can or should have it either. That Islamic supremacist conclusion is the only justification for this story; otherwise neither the BBC nor anyone else would care what Rod Adlington raises on his farm.
"Coventry farmer defends bacon substitute for Muslims," by Philip Churm for the BBC, June 18
A Coventry farmer has insisted he is reacting to demand from traders in trying to give Muslims a taste of pork by producing bacon-style rashers from halal-slaughtered turkeys.
Rod Adlington's attempts to imitate the meat, which Muslims cannot eat because of their religion, has seen a Muslim scholar voice concerns that it could lead to people eating real bacon from pork.
The turkey farmer told BBC Asian Network he was reacting to requests from convenience stores he supplies to and said they wanted a "really good turkey bacon".
"We kept being asked for it and so we decided to produce it," he added.
"There's a want for the product for the halal market, for the pork-free market and for the slimming market."...
Maulana Naveed Ashrafi, a Muslim scholar from Blackburn, said he was concerned as to where eating the turkey bacon rashers could lead to for other Muslims.
"It can ultimately lead to people who only eat halal food ending up eating the real bacon - bacon from pork," he said.
"The Islamic opinion on this subject would be to avoid eating such foods which have a remote resemblance (to pork) because it could well lead towards eating the real thing."
However, Dr Haifaa Jawed lectures in Islamic Studies at the University of Birmingham, said she did not believe there was a problem in eating bacon-style turkey rashers....
"If there is no bacon in that form of food or, if the meat is Islamically slaughtered, it should be ok."
The question is, why is this a story on the BBC at all? If Rod Adlington wants to produce turkey bacon, why should it be a controversy for anyone? The unspoken subtext of this article seems to be that Adlington should stop producing this product if Naveed Ashrafi's opinion wins out in the Islamic community. So what if the non-Muslim "pork-free market" and "the slimming market" wants turkey bacon? Apparently if Muslims don't want it, no one else can or should have it either. That Islamic supremacist conclusion is the only justification for this story; otherwise neither the BBC nor anyone else would care what Rod Adlington raises on his farm.
"Coventry farmer defends bacon substitute for Muslims," by Philip Churm for the BBC, June 18
A Coventry farmer has insisted he is reacting to demand from traders in trying to give Muslims a taste of pork by producing bacon-style rashers from halal-slaughtered turkeys.
Rod Adlington's attempts to imitate the meat, which Muslims cannot eat because of their religion, has seen a Muslim scholar voice concerns that it could lead to people eating real bacon from pork.
The turkey farmer told BBC Asian Network he was reacting to requests from convenience stores he supplies to and said they wanted a "really good turkey bacon".
"We kept being asked for it and so we decided to produce it," he added.
"There's a want for the product for the halal market, for the pork-free market and for the slimming market."...
Maulana Naveed Ashrafi, a Muslim scholar from Blackburn, said he was concerned as to where eating the turkey bacon rashers could lead to for other Muslims.
"It can ultimately lead to people who only eat halal food ending up eating the real bacon - bacon from pork," he said.
"The Islamic opinion on this subject would be to avoid eating such foods which have a remote resemblance (to pork) because it could well lead towards eating the real thing."
However, Dr Haifaa Jawed lectures in Islamic Studies at the University of Birmingham, said she did not believe there was a problem in eating bacon-style turkey rashers....
"If there is no bacon in that form of food or, if the meat is Islamically slaughtered, it should be ok."
"Dad" wearing Islamic garb and chanting "Allah" fights off gas, blow from police van and nine cops as he marches down street with 12-inch knife
A ZOMBIE-like fanatic with "superhuman" strength fought off NINE cops and a police ROTTWEILER as he chanted the name of Allah, a court was told yesterday.
The religious maniac - clad in Islamic garb - shrugged off baton blows and CS gas as he marched down a street with a 12-inch carving knife.
Cops fearing he was on a deadly mission resorted to "potentially lethal force" by ramming him with a police van but STILL he stayed on his feet, a jury heard.
Barefoot Alderrahim El-Harti, 42, finally had to be battered unconscious by frantic officers raining blows on his head.
By then he had plunged his knife into one constable - who was saved by his body armour.
Fellow PC John Bowerman said at Sheffield Crown Court: "He seemed to have superhuman strength and resistance."
PC Mark Adams told how he yelled to a colleague in a van: "Run him over, we have go to stop him somehow."
He said of burly El-Harti, who had been spotted near his Sheffield home in the early hours: "He was chanting in a foreign language. I heard the word 'Allah'."
Police emptied two cans of CS gas at him. PC Adams said: "The spray was dripping from his face. It had no effect." The police dog simply cowered after El-Harti tried to stab it, the trial heard.
Following El-Harti's arrest two psychiatrists concluded he was not responsible for his actions due to mental illness....
And in a classic example of mainstream media misdirection, the Daily Express thinks that the most important thing you need to know about this maniac is that he is a "dad":
"Dad believed he was 'half animal half human' at time of police attack," from the Express, June 24:
A DAD who believed he was 'half animal half human' after stabbing police officers when they tried to arrest him was insane at the time of the attack.
Alderrahim El-Harti, aged 42, of Albert Road, Heeley, heard voices telling him the officers were demons. He was cleared of wounding and wounding with intent by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court who returned a special verdict he was not guilty by reason of insanity....
The court heard El-Harti's family had a history of mental illness and his behaviour had become more and more bizarre.
Even the Qur'an didn't help:
His wife bought him an MP3 player which he used to play Koranic readings to try to drown out the voices.
He paid increasing visits to his mosque and carried a knife to protect himself because he thought Satan was there.
"The voices increased in volume and he was unable to cope," said psychiatrist Dr John Kent. He said he 'totally lost touch with reality'.
The religious maniac - clad in Islamic garb - shrugged off baton blows and CS gas as he marched down a street with a 12-inch carving knife.
Cops fearing he was on a deadly mission resorted to "potentially lethal force" by ramming him with a police van but STILL he stayed on his feet, a jury heard.
Barefoot Alderrahim El-Harti, 42, finally had to be battered unconscious by frantic officers raining blows on his head.
By then he had plunged his knife into one constable - who was saved by his body armour.
Fellow PC John Bowerman said at Sheffield Crown Court: "He seemed to have superhuman strength and resistance."
PC Mark Adams told how he yelled to a colleague in a van: "Run him over, we have go to stop him somehow."
He said of burly El-Harti, who had been spotted near his Sheffield home in the early hours: "He was chanting in a foreign language. I heard the word 'Allah'."
Police emptied two cans of CS gas at him. PC Adams said: "The spray was dripping from his face. It had no effect." The police dog simply cowered after El-Harti tried to stab it, the trial heard.
Following El-Harti's arrest two psychiatrists concluded he was not responsible for his actions due to mental illness....
And in a classic example of mainstream media misdirection, the Daily Express thinks that the most important thing you need to know about this maniac is that he is a "dad":
"Dad believed he was 'half animal half human' at time of police attack," from the Express, June 24:
A DAD who believed he was 'half animal half human' after stabbing police officers when they tried to arrest him was insane at the time of the attack.
Alderrahim El-Harti, aged 42, of Albert Road, Heeley, heard voices telling him the officers were demons. He was cleared of wounding and wounding with intent by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court who returned a special verdict he was not guilty by reason of insanity....
The court heard El-Harti's family had a history of mental illness and his behaviour had become more and more bizarre.
Even the Qur'an didn't help:
His wife bought him an MP3 player which he used to play Koranic readings to try to drown out the voices.
He paid increasing visits to his mosque and carried a knife to protect himself because he thought Satan was there.
"The voices increased in volume and he was unable to cope," said psychiatrist Dr John Kent. He said he 'totally lost touch with reality'.
Muslim Gang Beats Sikh Shopkeeper to Death...
Five men have appeared in court accused of murdering a shopkeeper who was beaten to death during a robbery at his store.
Umare Aslam, 20, Muawaz Khalid, 20, Shoaib Khan, 18, Nabeel Shafi, 18, and Rehman Afzal, 18, are charged with the murder and robbery of Huddersfield shopkeeper Gurmail Singh.Mr Singh, 63, died from head injuries after he was struck at least nine times with a weapon, believed to be a hammer, in the shop in the Cowcliffe area of Huddersfield on February 20.
Aslam, of Coniston Avenue, Dalton, Huddersfield; Khalid, of Blackmoorfoot Road, Huddersfield; Khan, of Calton Street, Hillhouse, Huddersfield; Shafi, of Park Hill, Bradley, Huddersfield; and Afzal, of Jacinth Court, Fartown, Huddersfield, appeared at Bradford Crown Court for a case management hearing.
All five, who are in custody, raised their hands as their names were read to the court and sat in the dock with four security guards.
The case was adjourned for a plea and case management hearing at Leeds Crown Court on July 19.A preliminary trial date is listed for August 31 and a trial is expected to last five weeks.Earlier this year, an A-level student was handed a six-month detention and training order after admitting robbing Mr Singh two days before he was fatally attacked.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, robbed Mr Singh of cigarettes at his store on February 18.Police said Mr Singh came to the UK in 1963.
He left a wife, two adult sons and a daughter. He had celebrated his 63rd birthday the day before he died.
Umare Aslam, 20, Muawaz Khalid, 20, Shoaib Khan, 18, Nabeel Shafi, 18, and Rehman Afzal, 18, are charged with the murder and robbery of Huddersfield shopkeeper Gurmail Singh.Mr Singh, 63, died from head injuries after he was struck at least nine times with a weapon, believed to be a hammer, in the shop in the Cowcliffe area of Huddersfield on February 20.
Aslam, of Coniston Avenue, Dalton, Huddersfield; Khalid, of Blackmoorfoot Road, Huddersfield; Khan, of Calton Street, Hillhouse, Huddersfield; Shafi, of Park Hill, Bradley, Huddersfield; and Afzal, of Jacinth Court, Fartown, Huddersfield, appeared at Bradford Crown Court for a case management hearing.
All five, who are in custody, raised their hands as their names were read to the court and sat in the dock with four security guards.
The case was adjourned for a plea and case management hearing at Leeds Crown Court on July 19.A preliminary trial date is listed for August 31 and a trial is expected to last five weeks.Earlier this year, an A-level student was handed a six-month detention and training order after admitting robbing Mr Singh two days before he was fatally attacked.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, robbed Mr Singh of cigarettes at his store on February 18.Police said Mr Singh came to the UK in 1963.
He left a wife, two adult sons and a daughter. He had celebrated his 63rd birthday the day before he died.
Guard Given Vicious Beating over Halal Meal...
An inmate who viciously beat up a prison officer after a row over how his food was cooked has been given an extended jail sentence.
Alec Walker 49, hurled abuse at officer David Larsen after he complained his halal meal had been incorrectly served to him at Forest Bank prison in Salford.
Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Walker was escorted back to his cell, where he told the officer: “Come on then. You and me, now.”
Walker, a Muslim, punched the warder hard in the face, knocking him into a washbasin. He then rained down blows on his head with a clenched fist.
Mr Larsen tried to call for help, but he had dropped his radio during the incident in July last year.
Walker shouted ‘I’m going to kill you’ before he was dragged off his victim by other warders.
Mr Larsen suffered a broken nose which later needed surgery, cuts to his mouth and lips, two black eyes, blurred vision, and extensive bruising in the attack.
Walker, in Forest Bank for breach of a previous suspended sentence, claimed he had been assaulted and was forced to retaliate. He later pleaded guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Paul Hodgkinson, defending, said Walker, who gave his address as Manchester Prison, had spent a large proportion of his life in custody and now realised that unless he changed, he would spend the rest of his days behind bars.
Recorder Raymond Wigglesworth, sentencing him to three years, plus an additional two years on licence, told Walker: “This was a serious offence against an officer acting in the course of his duty.
“Apart from the injuries he suffered at your hands, he considers that his reputation within the prison service has been irreparably damaged.”
Alec Walker 49, hurled abuse at officer David Larsen after he complained his halal meal had been incorrectly served to him at Forest Bank prison in Salford.
Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Walker was escorted back to his cell, where he told the officer: “Come on then. You and me, now.”
Walker, a Muslim, punched the warder hard in the face, knocking him into a washbasin. He then rained down blows on his head with a clenched fist.
Mr Larsen tried to call for help, but he had dropped his radio during the incident in July last year.
Walker shouted ‘I’m going to kill you’ before he was dragged off his victim by other warders.
Mr Larsen suffered a broken nose which later needed surgery, cuts to his mouth and lips, two black eyes, blurred vision, and extensive bruising in the attack.
Walker, in Forest Bank for breach of a previous suspended sentence, claimed he had been assaulted and was forced to retaliate. He later pleaded guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Paul Hodgkinson, defending, said Walker, who gave his address as Manchester Prison, had spent a large proportion of his life in custody and now realised that unless he changed, he would spend the rest of his days behind bars.
Recorder Raymond Wigglesworth, sentencing him to three years, plus an additional two years on licence, told Walker: “This was a serious offence against an officer acting in the course of his duty.
“Apart from the injuries he suffered at your hands, he considers that his reputation within the prison service has been irreparably damaged.”
Strict Hygiene Optional for Muslim Doctors and Nurses...
Female staff who follow the Islamic faith will be allowed to cover their arms to preserve their modesty despite earlier guidance that all staff should be "bare below the elbow".
The Department of Health has also relaxed rules prohibiting jewellery so that Sikh members of staff can wear bangles linked with their faith, providing they are pushed up the arm while the medic treats a patient.
the Mail on Sunday reported the change had been made after female Muslims objected to being required to expose their arm below the elbow under guidance introduced by Alan Johnson when he was health secretary in 2007.
The rules were drawn up to reduce the number of patients who were falling ill, and even dying, from superbugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.
Revised guidance which relaxed the requirements for some religions was published last month.
Some Muslim staff and those from other groups may be allowed to use disposable plastic over-sleeves which cover their clothes below the elbow and allow the skin to remain covered up.
Derek Butler, chairman of MRSA Action UK, said: "My worry is that allowing some medics to use disposable sleeves you compromise patient safety because unless you change the sleeves between each patient, you spread bacteria.
"Scrubbing bare arms is far more effective."
A Department of Health spokesman said: "The guidance is intended to provide direction to services in how they can balance infection control measures with cultural beliefs without compromising patient safety."
The Department of Health has also relaxed rules prohibiting jewellery so that Sikh members of staff can wear bangles linked with their faith, providing they are pushed up the arm while the medic treats a patient.
the Mail on Sunday reported the change had been made after female Muslims objected to being required to expose their arm below the elbow under guidance introduced by Alan Johnson when he was health secretary in 2007.
The rules were drawn up to reduce the number of patients who were falling ill, and even dying, from superbugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.
Revised guidance which relaxed the requirements for some religions was published last month.
Some Muslim staff and those from other groups may be allowed to use disposable plastic over-sleeves which cover their clothes below the elbow and allow the skin to remain covered up.
Derek Butler, chairman of MRSA Action UK, said: "My worry is that allowing some medics to use disposable sleeves you compromise patient safety because unless you change the sleeves between each patient, you spread bacteria.
"Scrubbing bare arms is far more effective."
A Department of Health spokesman said: "The guidance is intended to provide direction to services in how they can balance infection control measures with cultural beliefs without compromising patient safety."
Muslim Millionaire Soaks British Benefits System...
An NHS management consultant who charges more than £300 per hour has been jailed for fraudulently claiming thousands of pounds in benefits.
Zahid Ali claimed a total of about £15,000 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance - even though he owns properties in Dubai and lives in a £1milion Surrey mansion.
The 47-year-old father-of-three failed to declare earnings of £212,000 between 2004 and 2008, which he made through his management consultancy company Coulsdon Limited.
Meanwhile, he drew benefits from Sutton Council, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.
Croydon Crown Court heard he had claimed housing benefit for two properties owned by his wife in the Surrey towns of Sutton and Coulsdon.
The couple had built the gated Coulsdon mansion themselves. Meanwhile they lived in a seven-bedroom gated property in Kingswood, Surrey, owned by Ali's parents-in-law.
Ali also owned a Mercedes, a Jeep and two properties in the United Arab Emirates.
He was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to seven counts of benefit fraud.
Passing sentencey, Judge Heather Baucher branded Ali 'greedy, manipulative and cunning'.
She said: 'Benefit payments are for vulnerable people - not to support people who are deeply greedy, manipulative and cunning.'
She added: 'I doubt this would have come to light unless you were caught red-handed. The investigations were both detailed and properly maintained throughout.
'Your housing benefit claim was false from the outset, where you deliberately provided false tenancy agreements, false letters from an alleged landlord, which involved careful, thoughtful planning.'
She ordered Ali to pay costs of £3,000 to the prosecution, saying he was 'obviously a man of substantial means'.
Ali was caught while working as a practice manager for Nork Clinic in Banstead, Surrey, after an investigation by Sutton Council's trading standards officers and the DWP.
It emerged that he had also worked elsewhere, including for Brent primary care trust in north west London and for a healthcare organisation called AT Medics.
The court heard he earned £325 per hour through his consultancy firm.
He had taken half-days as leave from work to sign on and pretended to be in hospital for a while so he could not go and claim his Jobseekers' Allowance.\
In fact he was away working in Leicester at the time.
Councillor John Drage, executive member for finance and efficiency at Sutton Council, said: 'It is shocking that a man with a decent job who is able to enjoy luxuries like flashy cars and foreign holiday homes would try to take money from those that really need it.
'I hope this sentence serves as a harsh warning. We will not tolerate people stealing from the taxpayers' purse, we will root out benefit cheats and bring them to justice.'
Ali has repaid in full the amount he fraudulently claimed.
Zahid Ali claimed a total of about £15,000 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance - even though he owns properties in Dubai and lives in a £1milion Surrey mansion.
The 47-year-old father-of-three failed to declare earnings of £212,000 between 2004 and 2008, which he made through his management consultancy company Coulsdon Limited.
Meanwhile, he drew benefits from Sutton Council, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.
Croydon Crown Court heard he had claimed housing benefit for two properties owned by his wife in the Surrey towns of Sutton and Coulsdon.
The couple had built the gated Coulsdon mansion themselves. Meanwhile they lived in a seven-bedroom gated property in Kingswood, Surrey, owned by Ali's parents-in-law.
Ali also owned a Mercedes, a Jeep and two properties in the United Arab Emirates.
He was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to seven counts of benefit fraud.
Passing sentencey, Judge Heather Baucher branded Ali 'greedy, manipulative and cunning'.
She said: 'Benefit payments are for vulnerable people - not to support people who are deeply greedy, manipulative and cunning.'
She added: 'I doubt this would have come to light unless you were caught red-handed. The investigations were both detailed and properly maintained throughout.
'Your housing benefit claim was false from the outset, where you deliberately provided false tenancy agreements, false letters from an alleged landlord, which involved careful, thoughtful planning.'
She ordered Ali to pay costs of £3,000 to the prosecution, saying he was 'obviously a man of substantial means'.
Ali was caught while working as a practice manager for Nork Clinic in Banstead, Surrey, after an investigation by Sutton Council's trading standards officers and the DWP.
It emerged that he had also worked elsewhere, including for Brent primary care trust in north west London and for a healthcare organisation called AT Medics.
The court heard he earned £325 per hour through his consultancy firm.
He had taken half-days as leave from work to sign on and pretended to be in hospital for a while so he could not go and claim his Jobseekers' Allowance.\
In fact he was away working in Leicester at the time.
Councillor John Drage, executive member for finance and efficiency at Sutton Council, said: 'It is shocking that a man with a decent job who is able to enjoy luxuries like flashy cars and foreign holiday homes would try to take money from those that really need it.
'I hope this sentence serves as a harsh warning. We will not tolerate people stealing from the taxpayers' purse, we will root out benefit cheats and bring them to justice.'
Ali has repaid in full the amount he fraudulently claimed.
KFC forced to ditch halal-only menus after disappointing sales
The fast food chain began trials last year, saying it was responding to huge demand from Britain's growing Muslim population.
But thousands of regular customers complained, including Alan Phillips, who was furious when the Burton-on-Trent branch refused to serve him his favourite Big Daddy chicken burger with bacon and cheese topping.
He was told it was forbidden to keep bacon on the same premises as halal meat and he would have to travel five miles to the nearest non-halal restaurant.
Now KFC has admitted five of its outlets - including Burton - are reverting to standard menus following poor sales.
Another that will drop the trial halal menu is the Colne takeaway in Burnley, Lancashire, where thousands of people joined a Facebook group called No Halal at Colne KFC.
Takeaways at: Accrington, Lancashire, Old Kent Road, London, and Hyde Road, Manchester, as well as Burton and Colne, will revert to full menus on 19 July.
A spokesperson for KFC blamed low demand. He said: 'We introduced our trial in areas where we expected a large demand for halal restaurants, and as with any trial, we continually evaluate results, and adapt as necessary.
'There are always areas which are more successful than others, and despite positive feedback, a few stores haven't met our forecasts, so for that reason, we have decided to stop trialling halal in five restaurants as of 19th July.
'We are continuing our trial in other areas and are still offering halal in 96 restaurants, and will review the trial over the coming months.'
Around 100 of KFC's 750 outlets in the UK have been included in halal trial, launched last April.
All pork products are forbidden by Muslim law, so participating outlets have to take them off the menu.
In March, Mr Phillips, who was refused a Big Daddy Burger in Burton, said the policy was 'extremely unfair' on non-Muslim customers.
He said: 'It was like they were saying I couldn't buy bacon because it might offend people.
Banned: The Big Daddy was taken off the menu at KFC branches participating in the halal trial
'I have many friends who are black, white and Muslim but they wouldn't be forced to eat non-halal meat.
'I have no problem with them selling halal meat, but I would like the choice.'
Halal meat is prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary laws which mean the animal must be slaughtered by hand and blessed in the name of Allah.
The Burton store was originally chosen to take part in the trial because of the town's high Muslim population.
The fast food chain insisted it was using exactly the same ingredients as before, except for taking pork off the menu, and that its chickens had been slaughtered humanely.
But KFC fans across the country called for a boycott, saying they wanted a choice in what they ate.
Leaflets made available to customers at Burton's branch explained the old menu was to return because the trial 'has not met our expectations'.
It went on: 'For that reason, we have decided to stop trialling Halal in this restaurant with effect from July 19.' The store added that its decision was based 'solely on sales data'.
But thousands of regular customers complained, including Alan Phillips, who was furious when the Burton-on-Trent branch refused to serve him his favourite Big Daddy chicken burger with bacon and cheese topping.
He was told it was forbidden to keep bacon on the same premises as halal meat and he would have to travel five miles to the nearest non-halal restaurant.
Now KFC has admitted five of its outlets - including Burton - are reverting to standard menus following poor sales.
Another that will drop the trial halal menu is the Colne takeaway in Burnley, Lancashire, where thousands of people joined a Facebook group called No Halal at Colne KFC.
Takeaways at: Accrington, Lancashire, Old Kent Road, London, and Hyde Road, Manchester, as well as Burton and Colne, will revert to full menus on 19 July.
A spokesperson for KFC blamed low demand. He said: 'We introduced our trial in areas where we expected a large demand for halal restaurants, and as with any trial, we continually evaluate results, and adapt as necessary.
'There are always areas which are more successful than others, and despite positive feedback, a few stores haven't met our forecasts, so for that reason, we have decided to stop trialling halal in five restaurants as of 19th July.
'We are continuing our trial in other areas and are still offering halal in 96 restaurants, and will review the trial over the coming months.'
Around 100 of KFC's 750 outlets in the UK have been included in halal trial, launched last April.
All pork products are forbidden by Muslim law, so participating outlets have to take them off the menu.
In March, Mr Phillips, who was refused a Big Daddy Burger in Burton, said the policy was 'extremely unfair' on non-Muslim customers.
He said: 'It was like they were saying I couldn't buy bacon because it might offend people.
Banned: The Big Daddy was taken off the menu at KFC branches participating in the halal trial
'I have many friends who are black, white and Muslim but they wouldn't be forced to eat non-halal meat.
'I have no problem with them selling halal meat, but I would like the choice.'
Halal meat is prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary laws which mean the animal must be slaughtered by hand and blessed in the name of Allah.
The Burton store was originally chosen to take part in the trial because of the town's high Muslim population.
The fast food chain insisted it was using exactly the same ingredients as before, except for taking pork off the menu, and that its chickens had been slaughtered humanely.
But KFC fans across the country called for a boycott, saying they wanted a choice in what they ate.
Leaflets made available to customers at Burton's branch explained the old menu was to return because the trial 'has not met our expectations'.
It went on: 'For that reason, we have decided to stop trialling Halal in this restaurant with effect from July 19.' The store added that its decision was based 'solely on sales data'.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Islamic supremacist hate preacher banned from entering country
Britain on Friday banned from entering the country an Indian preacher who has expressed radical views about Islam, including some that appear to justify acts of terrorism.
Conservative Home Secretary (interior minister) Theresa May said she had barred Zakir Naik, a 44-year-old television preacher based in Mumbai, for inflammatory remarks he was known to have made in the past.
Naik had been due to give a series of lectures in London and the city of Sheffield in northern England.
"Numerous comments made by Dr Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behavior," May said in a statement, without elaborating.
The Daily Telegraph on Friday reported Interior Ministry sources saying that 2006 website footage had shown Naik telling Muslims it was acceptable to embrace terrorism in certain instances.
According to the paper, Naik said Muslims should beware of people saying Osama bin Laden was right or wrong, adding: "If you ask my view, if given the truth, if he is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him.
"If he is terrorizing the terrorists, if he is terrorizing America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, every Muslim should be a terrorist."
He is also reported by the paper to have suggested Western women make themselves "more susceptible to rape" by wearing revealing clothing.
"Western society has actually degraded (women) to the status of concubines, mistresses and social butterflies, who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers," the paper quoted him as saying.
May said: "Coming to the UK is a privilege not a right and I am not willing to allow those who might not be conducive to the public good to enter."...
A Home Office spokesman said the powers were used if an individual expressed views that "foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs" or "seek to provoke others to terrorist acts."
Muslim Council of Britain condemns ban on Islamic hate preacher entering the U.K.
Let's revisit some sayings of the quotable Zakir Naik:
"People who change their religion should face the death penalty"
"If he [Osama Bin Laden] is terrorising the terrorists, if he is terrorising America the terrorist ... I am with him. Every Muslim should be a terrorist."
And he has said western women make themselves "more susceptible to rape" by wearing "revealing" clothing.
Clearly, this man is a moderate, persecuted by a rabid band of Islamophobes! Er, wait... An update on this story.
The Muslim Council of Britain has denounced the decision to ban Dr Zakir Naik from the UK ahead of a peace conference in Wembley.
Dr Nair [sic] was yesterday banned from entering the country by Home Secretary Theresa May because of what she called "unacceptable behaviour", just over a week before he was due to address the Al-Khair Peace Conference at Wembley Arena.
In a statement, the council, a leading voice in the Islamic community, said it "deplores" Mrs May's decision and described Dr Naik as a "renowned Indian mainstream Islamic scholar".
It said: "The Home Secretary's action serves to demonise the very voices within the world ready for debate and discussion.
"The tour would have been a golden opportunity for young Muslims who are eager to hear the true messages of Islam which promote understanding between communities."
Really?
The council also accused Mrs May of succumbing to what it described as a "recent campaign of vilification against the scholar" in some media outlets.
Dr Naik has been quoted as saying "all Muslims should be terrorists", but he argues these comments from a 1996 lecture have been taken out of context.
But, of course.
He has issued a statement in line of his ban from the UK saying he is "disappointed" and restating that he aims to dispel myths surrounding his religion in his talks.
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "This exclusion order demonstrates the double standards practiced by the government concerning freedom of speech.
"While preachers of hate such as Geert Wilders are free to promote their bigotry in this country, respected Muslim scholars such as Dr Naik are refused entry to the UK under false pretenses.
Mind you, what Geert Wilders' Fitna did was quote from the Qur'an.
"It is deeply regrettable this is likely to cause serious damage to community cohesion in our country."
A protest by the English Defence League and a counter demonstration by Unite Against Fascism, planned for the day of the Wembley Arena conference, are now in doubt following Dr Naik's ban.
It is still unclear whether the conference will take place at all, or whether Dr Naik will be able to appear via a videolink.
Conservative Home Secretary (interior minister) Theresa May said she had barred Zakir Naik, a 44-year-old television preacher based in Mumbai, for inflammatory remarks he was known to have made in the past.
Naik had been due to give a series of lectures in London and the city of Sheffield in northern England.
"Numerous comments made by Dr Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behavior," May said in a statement, without elaborating.
The Daily Telegraph on Friday reported Interior Ministry sources saying that 2006 website footage had shown Naik telling Muslims it was acceptable to embrace terrorism in certain instances.
According to the paper, Naik said Muslims should beware of people saying Osama bin Laden was right or wrong, adding: "If you ask my view, if given the truth, if he is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him.
"If he is terrorizing the terrorists, if he is terrorizing America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, every Muslim should be a terrorist."
He is also reported by the paper to have suggested Western women make themselves "more susceptible to rape" by wearing revealing clothing.
"Western society has actually degraded (women) to the status of concubines, mistresses and social butterflies, who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers," the paper quoted him as saying.
May said: "Coming to the UK is a privilege not a right and I am not willing to allow those who might not be conducive to the public good to enter."...
A Home Office spokesman said the powers were used if an individual expressed views that "foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs" or "seek to provoke others to terrorist acts."
Muslim Council of Britain condemns ban on Islamic hate preacher entering the U.K.
Let's revisit some sayings of the quotable Zakir Naik:
"People who change their religion should face the death penalty"
"If he [Osama Bin Laden] is terrorising the terrorists, if he is terrorising America the terrorist ... I am with him. Every Muslim should be a terrorist."
And he has said western women make themselves "more susceptible to rape" by wearing "revealing" clothing.
Clearly, this man is a moderate, persecuted by a rabid band of Islamophobes! Er, wait... An update on this story.
The Muslim Council of Britain has denounced the decision to ban Dr Zakir Naik from the UK ahead of a peace conference in Wembley.
Dr Nair [sic] was yesterday banned from entering the country by Home Secretary Theresa May because of what she called "unacceptable behaviour", just over a week before he was due to address the Al-Khair Peace Conference at Wembley Arena.
In a statement, the council, a leading voice in the Islamic community, said it "deplores" Mrs May's decision and described Dr Naik as a "renowned Indian mainstream Islamic scholar".
It said: "The Home Secretary's action serves to demonise the very voices within the world ready for debate and discussion.
"The tour would have been a golden opportunity for young Muslims who are eager to hear the true messages of Islam which promote understanding between communities."
Really?
The council also accused Mrs May of succumbing to what it described as a "recent campaign of vilification against the scholar" in some media outlets.
Dr Naik has been quoted as saying "all Muslims should be terrorists", but he argues these comments from a 1996 lecture have been taken out of context.
But, of course.
He has issued a statement in line of his ban from the UK saying he is "disappointed" and restating that he aims to dispel myths surrounding his religion in his talks.
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "This exclusion order demonstrates the double standards practiced by the government concerning freedom of speech.
"While preachers of hate such as Geert Wilders are free to promote their bigotry in this country, respected Muslim scholars such as Dr Naik are refused entry to the UK under false pretenses.
Mind you, what Geert Wilders' Fitna did was quote from the Qur'an.
"It is deeply regrettable this is likely to cause serious damage to community cohesion in our country."
A protest by the English Defence League and a counter demonstration by Unite Against Fascism, planned for the day of the Wembley Arena conference, are now in doubt following Dr Naik's ban.
It is still unclear whether the conference will take place at all, or whether Dr Naik will be able to appear via a videolink.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Fundamentalists Suspected of Trashing Bikini Posters...
A series of posters featuring models in bikinis have been defaced or torn down in east London in what appears to be a targeted campaign.
Police have not yet linked it to any religious group, but the use of black paint is reminiscent of attacks on billboards in Peshawar, Pakistan, reported by The First Post.
The east London targets include street-level bikini ads for the popular chain store H&M and the Australian swimwear brand Sea Folly, as well cinema posters for the recently released Bollywood film Kites .
The H&M bus shelter ads are behind perspex cases, which have been daubed with black paint, covering the models' faces and bodies. At street level, they present an easy target compared to the huge billboards defaced in Pakistan, where women's faces have been carefully painted out by campaigners who believe the depiction of uncovered women is un-Islamic.
The Sea Folly ads were simply pasted up, and many have been torn down, leaving shreds of paper hanging where once the famously gap-toothed Australian model Jessica Hart stared out at passers-by in all her bronzed glory.
The Kites ads show the stars of the film, Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori, in a clinch. Set in Las Vegas and starring a multinational cast, Kites is Bollywood's latest attempt to make a film designed to appeal to Eastern and Western audiences alike.
Avedon Carol, of Feminists Against Censorship, told the London Evening Standard: "The idea that somehow the image of women being sexy spreads all sorts of horribleness is reactionary and anti-women."
More on Are Muslims censoring sexy posters in London?
Police have not yet linked it to any religious group, but the use of black paint is reminiscent of attacks on billboards in Peshawar, Pakistan, reported by The First Post.
The east London targets include street-level bikini ads for the popular chain store H&M and the Australian swimwear brand Sea Folly, as well cinema posters for the recently released Bollywood film Kites .
The H&M bus shelter ads are behind perspex cases, which have been daubed with black paint, covering the models' faces and bodies. At street level, they present an easy target compared to the huge billboards defaced in Pakistan, where women's faces have been carefully painted out by campaigners who believe the depiction of uncovered women is un-Islamic.
The Sea Folly ads were simply pasted up, and many have been torn down, leaving shreds of paper hanging where once the famously gap-toothed Australian model Jessica Hart stared out at passers-by in all her bronzed glory.
The Kites ads show the stars of the film, Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori, in a clinch. Set in Las Vegas and starring a multinational cast, Kites is Bollywood's latest attempt to make a film designed to appeal to Eastern and Western audiences alike.
Avedon Carol, of Feminists Against Censorship, told the London Evening Standard: "The idea that somehow the image of women being sexy spreads all sorts of horribleness is reactionary and anti-women."
More on Are Muslims censoring sexy posters in London?
Muslims Heckle, Mar Soldiers' Homecoming...
A group of extremist Muslims prompted violent clashes at a homecoming parade for British troops today after they heckled soldiers and called them 'murderers.'
The chants were drowned out by a large mob on the opposite side of the street who retaliated with jeers of 'Traitors' to the Muslim protesters.
Clashes: Police hold back Muslim protesters as they trade insults with English Defence League members while soldiers take part in a homecoming parade in Barking, Essex
The Muslim protesters shouted 'murderers' as troops from the Royal Anglian Regiment paraded through Barking
The hour-long parade had been delayed due to growing tensions between the two sides, with anti-Mac protestors singing God Save the Queen and drinkers at a nearby pub hurling frozen pork sausages at the Muslims.
Moments after the soldiers passed through tensions reached boiling point and the anti-Mac campaigners broke through the barricades, charged across the road and traded punches with the Muslim throng.
Two men were arrested after the violence, for public order offences.
She said: 'I'm here for the army and the British forces. The protesters are entitled to their opinion but they are taking it out on the wrong people. They should be taking it out on the Government.
'This is not the reception these boys and girls deserve. But it is democracy in action.' Earlier the Muslim group was attacked by a barrage of eggs.
Police lead away the protesters from the Muslim Against the Crusade Group as they face jeers from English Defence League members
One member of the Mac group used a megaphone to shout: 'This is a protest against parading in a Muslim area. We love death the way you love life.'
He branded British soldiers as 'butchers' and 'despots'.
The Muslim protesters chanted 'Democracy' as they had an uneasy stand-off against a mob, some waving St George's Crosses, Union flags and an English Defence League flag.
Anti-Mac protesters sang 'I'll be English 'till my dying day,' and jeered 'We pay your benefits'.
Further down the street onlookers, who had arrived simply to pay their respects to the soldiers, were disgusted by the scenes.
Lance Corporal Scott Hardy, 26, from Chelmsford in Essex, was killed in an explosion near Musa Qala on Tuesday March 16, just weeks before he was due to return home.
Lance Corporal Hardy's partner Charlene Byrne, 24, said: 'It's absolutely disgusting. I know this kind of thing has happened before in Luton but I don't understand how it has been allowed to happened again.
'It's terrible that this group has got away with it. Obviously not everyone supports what's happening in Afghanistan, there are people who are very angry about it, but they shouldn't take it out on the soldiers.'
Emily Penson-Clark, who took the day off work to support the soldiers with her young daughter and parents said: 'I think the protesters are filth. I'm here to support our troops.
Members of the Muslim Against the Crusade group clashed with far right protesters as they shouted 'murderers, murderers, murderers' and 'British troops go to hell' as members of the 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment paraded down the streets of Barking, Essex.
The chants were drowned out by a large mob on the opposite side of the street who retaliated with jeers of 'Traitors' to the Muslim protesters.
Clashes: Police hold back Muslim protesters as they trade insults with English Defence League members while soldiers take part in a homecoming parade in Barking, Essex
The Muslim protesters shouted 'murderers' as troops from the Royal Anglian Regiment paraded through Barking
The hour-long parade had been delayed due to growing tensions between the two sides, with anti-Mac protestors singing God Save the Queen and drinkers at a nearby pub hurling frozen pork sausages at the Muslims.
Moments after the soldiers passed through tensions reached boiling point and the anti-Mac campaigners broke through the barricades, charged across the road and traded punches with the Muslim throng.
Police quickly separated the mob, with one man wrestled to the ground, handcuffed and led away while the police made a ring surrounding the Muslim group.
They then had to hold back the anti-Muslim group as the Mac protesters made their way to a tube station.
They then had to hold back the anti-Muslim group as the Mac protesters made their way to a tube station.
Two men were arrested after the violence, for public order offences.
Local woman Dee McEvoy, 50, stood in front of the Muslims protesters, waving her two union Jack flags as the soldiers passed.
She said: 'I'm here for the army and the British forces. The protesters are entitled to their opinion but they are taking it out on the wrong people. They should be taking it out on the Government.
'This is not the reception these boys and girls deserve. But it is democracy in action.' Earlier the Muslim group was attacked by a barrage of eggs.
Police lead away the protesters from the Muslim Against the Crusade Group as they face jeers from English Defence League members
One member of the Mac group used a megaphone to shout: 'This is a protest against parading in a Muslim area. We love death the way you love life.'
He branded British soldiers as 'butchers' and 'despots'.
The Muslim protesters chanted 'Democracy' as they had an uneasy stand-off against a mob, some waving St George's Crosses, Union flags and an English Defence League flag.
Anti-Mac protesters sang 'I'll be English 'till my dying day,' and jeered 'We pay your benefits'.
Further down the street onlookers, who had arrived simply to pay their respects to the soldiers, were disgusted by the scenes.
The girlfriend of a Royal Anglian soldier killed in Afghanistan said the extremists should have been banned from attending the parade.
Lance Corporal Scott Hardy, 26, from Chelmsford in Essex, was killed in an explosion near Musa Qala on Tuesday March 16, just weeks before he was due to return home.
Lance Corporal Hardy's partner Charlene Byrne, 24, said: 'It's absolutely disgusting. I know this kind of thing has happened before in Luton but I don't understand how it has been allowed to happened again.
'It's terrible that this group has got away with it. Obviously not everyone supports what's happening in Afghanistan, there are people who are very angry about it, but they shouldn't take it out on the soldiers.'
Emily Penson-Clark, who took the day off work to support the soldiers with her young daughter and parents said: 'I think the protesters are filth. I'm here to support our troops.
They put their lives on the line for us. I've got three words: Help for Heroes.'
The soldiers remained undaunted by the abuse, and marched through the town centre with fixed bayonets, accompanied by the Minden Band, a Colour Party and two guards of 70 officers and non-commisioned officers.
The Freedom parade stopped briefly in Barking Town Square where the Mayor, Councillor Nirmal Singh Gill, General Sir John McColl and the Queen's deputy Lieutenant Major Anthony O'Hagan took a salute and inspected the troops.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Prisoners convert to Islam for jail perks
Inmates are converting to Islam in order to gain perks and the protection of powerful Muslim gangs, the Chief Inspector of Prisons warns today.
Dame Anne Owers says that some convicted criminals are taking up the religion in jail to receive benefits only available to practising Muslims.
The number of Muslim prisoners has risen dramatically since the mid-1990s -- from 2,513 in 1994, or 5 per cent of the population, to 9,795 in 2008, or 11 per cent. Staff at top-security prisons and youth jails have raised concerns about the intimidation of non-Muslims and possible forced conversions.
Dame Anne's report, Muslim Prisoners' Experiences, published today, says that, although several high-profile terrorists have been jailed recently, fewer than 1 in 100 Muslim inmates have been convicted of terrorism.
She says that prison staff are suspicious about those practising or converting to the faith and warns that treating Muslim inmates as potential or actual extremists risks radicalising them.
The report says: "Many Muslim prisoners stressed the positive and rehabilitative role that Islam played in their lives, and the calm that religious observance could induce in a stressed prison environment.
This was in marked contrast to the suspicion that religious observance, and particularly conversion or reversion, tended to produce among staff."
All prisons offer a halal menu, which some inmates see as better than the usual choices. Muslims are excused from work and education while attending Friday prayers.
Some converts, who are known as "convenience Muslims", admitted that they had changed faith because they got more time out of the cells to go to Friday prayers. One quoted in the report said: "Food good too, initially this is what converted me."...
But of course, halal food is just the beginning.
Dame Anne Owers says that some convicted criminals are taking up the religion in jail to receive benefits only available to practising Muslims.
The number of Muslim prisoners has risen dramatically since the mid-1990s -- from 2,513 in 1994, or 5 per cent of the population, to 9,795 in 2008, or 11 per cent. Staff at top-security prisons and youth jails have raised concerns about the intimidation of non-Muslims and possible forced conversions.
Dame Anne's report, Muslim Prisoners' Experiences, published today, says that, although several high-profile terrorists have been jailed recently, fewer than 1 in 100 Muslim inmates have been convicted of terrorism.
She says that prison staff are suspicious about those practising or converting to the faith and warns that treating Muslim inmates as potential or actual extremists risks radicalising them.
The report says: "Many Muslim prisoners stressed the positive and rehabilitative role that Islam played in their lives, and the calm that religious observance could induce in a stressed prison environment.
This was in marked contrast to the suspicion that religious observance, and particularly conversion or reversion, tended to produce among staff."
All prisons offer a halal menu, which some inmates see as better than the usual choices. Muslims are excused from work and education while attending Friday prayers.
Some converts, who are known as "convenience Muslims", admitted that they had changed faith because they got more time out of the cells to go to Friday prayers. One quoted in the report said: "Food good too, initially this is what converted me."...
But of course, halal food is just the beginning.
Britons link Islam with extremism
Most people in the UK associate Islam with extremism and the repression of women, a survey has suggested.The online YouGov poll found 58% of those questioned linked Islam with extremism while 69% believed it encouraged the repression of women.
The survey of 2,152 adults was commissioned by the Exploring Islam Foundation.
The organisation has launched a poster campaign on London transport to combat negative perceptions of Muslims.
BBC home editor Mark Easton says the survey, conducted last month, paints a negative picture of British attitudes to Islam.
Asked if Muslims had a positive impact on British society, the YouGov poll found four out of 10 disagreed with the statement.
Half linked Islam with terrorism, just 13% thought it was based on peace and 6% associated it with justice.
Some 60% admitted they did not know much about the religion, but a third said they would like to know more.
Social responsibilityThe Exploring Islam Foundation hopes to challenge the negative views of the religion with its Inspired By Muhammad project.
It will feature posters of Muslim professionals, displayed in central London locations such as bus stops and tube stations, alongside messages emphasising the ways in which Muslims balance religious tradition with contemporary human rights and social responsibility.
Aly, campaigns director for the foundation, said many Muslims were concerned about the way their faith was perceived by the public."We want to foster a greater understanding of what British Muslims are about and our contribution to British society.
We are proud of being British and being Muslim," she said. A spokesman for the Quilliam Foundation , the counter-extremism think tank, welcomed the campaign, describing it as a "timely step to help improve relations and foster deeper understanding between British citizens"
"This campaign is important because it can help non-Muslims to better understand the faith that inspires and guides their Muslim friends, neighbours and colleagues."This initiative also helps British Muslims reclaim the Prophet Muhammad as a time-honoured guide for peace, compassion and social justice from those who seek to twist his teachings."
As one would expect, this campaign is focused on external appearances, and not toward challenging allegedly "extremist" views among fellow Muslims. And it's predictably deceptive. Glowing generalities like the one on the car pictured above require readers to project their own cultural understanding of ideas like "women's rights" onto the propaganda presented to them.
Muhammad favored "women's rights," did he? But what was the extent of what he thought the rights of women were? Qur'an 4:34 allows men to hit their wives. Qur'an 2:23 says "our women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will." Qur'an 2:282 says a woman's testimony is worth half a man's. And Sahih Bukhari 4.54.460 says "If a husband calls his wife to his bed (i.e. to have sexual relation) and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the angels will curse her till morning."
The survey of 2,152 adults was commissioned by the Exploring Islam Foundation.
The organisation has launched a poster campaign on London transport to combat negative perceptions of Muslims.
BBC home editor Mark Easton says the survey, conducted last month, paints a negative picture of British attitudes to Islam.
Asked if Muslims had a positive impact on British society, the YouGov poll found four out of 10 disagreed with the statement.
Half linked Islam with terrorism, just 13% thought it was based on peace and 6% associated it with justice.
Some 60% admitted they did not know much about the religion, but a third said they would like to know more.
Social responsibilityThe Exploring Islam Foundation hopes to challenge the negative views of the religion with its Inspired By Muhammad project.
It will feature posters of Muslim professionals, displayed in central London locations such as bus stops and tube stations, alongside messages emphasising the ways in which Muslims balance religious tradition with contemporary human rights and social responsibility.
Aly, campaigns director for the foundation, said many Muslims were concerned about the way their faith was perceived by the public."We want to foster a greater understanding of what British Muslims are about and our contribution to British society.
We are proud of being British and being Muslim," she said. A spokesman for the Quilliam Foundation , the counter-extremism think tank, welcomed the campaign, describing it as a "timely step to help improve relations and foster deeper understanding between British citizens"
"This campaign is important because it can help non-Muslims to better understand the faith that inspires and guides their Muslim friends, neighbours and colleagues."This initiative also helps British Muslims reclaim the Prophet Muhammad as a time-honoured guide for peace, compassion and social justice from those who seek to twist his teachings."
As one would expect, this campaign is focused on external appearances, and not toward challenging allegedly "extremist" views among fellow Muslims. And it's predictably deceptive. Glowing generalities like the one on the car pictured above require readers to project their own cultural understanding of ideas like "women's rights" onto the propaganda presented to them.
Muhammad favored "women's rights," did he? But what was the extent of what he thought the rights of women were? Qur'an 4:34 allows men to hit their wives. Qur'an 2:23 says "our women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will." Qur'an 2:282 says a woman's testimony is worth half a man's. And Sahih Bukhari 4.54.460 says "If a husband calls his wife to his bed (i.e. to have sexual relation) and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the angels will curse her till morning."
Belmarsh inmates plotted to behead guard on video
Prison Officers' Association reveals 'credible intelligence' of foiled plot to highlight growing threat of serious attacks in prisonInmates at one of Britain's highest-security jails hatched a plot to behead a prison officer and post the killing on the internet, officials have revealed.
The Prison Officers' Association said it had received "credible intelligence" of a kidnap plot by a group of Muslim extremist inmates at Belmarsh prison in south-east London.
The plot was subsequently foiled, but officers warn that serious attacks on prison guards have hit an all-time high.
The association said that scores of its members have had to be moved to "safe houses" or temporary hotel accommodation after receiving threats from inmates, and that an increasing number of shivs – knife-like weapons – are being made inside jails.
Three prison guards in Frankland top-security prison in county Durham were recently stabbed with a shard of glass.Glyn Travis, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said: "The concern throughout the prison estate is that a member of staff is going to get killed."
Prison authorities compiled an action plan two years ago for dealing with a kidnap plot involving radicalised Muslim convicts.
The Belmarsh beheading plot was hatched three years ago; Travis said he had decided to reveal details now because of growing risks to his members.
Latest official figures show that a record 1,177 assaults resulted in serious injury in 2008.
According to the association, current projections indicate the level of assaults for last year is likely to eclipse that total by several hundred.
The association is pressing for a meeting with the new justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, to discuss a review on protective clothing and safety gear.
The Prison Officers' Association said it had received "credible intelligence" of a kidnap plot by a group of Muslim extremist inmates at Belmarsh prison in south-east London.
The plot was subsequently foiled, but officers warn that serious attacks on prison guards have hit an all-time high.
The association said that scores of its members have had to be moved to "safe houses" or temporary hotel accommodation after receiving threats from inmates, and that an increasing number of shivs – knife-like weapons – are being made inside jails.
Three prison guards in Frankland top-security prison in county Durham were recently stabbed with a shard of glass.Glyn Travis, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said: "The concern throughout the prison estate is that a member of staff is going to get killed."
Prison authorities compiled an action plan two years ago for dealing with a kidnap plot involving radicalised Muslim convicts.
The Belmarsh beheading plot was hatched three years ago; Travis said he had decided to reveal details now because of growing risks to his members.
Latest official figures show that a record 1,177 assaults resulted in serious injury in 2008.
According to the association, current projections indicate the level of assaults for last year is likely to eclipse that total by several hundred.
The association is pressing for a meeting with the new justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, to discuss a review on protective clothing and safety gear.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Israel to the convoy attack videos
The attack on the ship who are members of the group Freedom Fotilla occurred in international waters near the Gaza Strip before dawn. In the attack, at least 19 passengers were killed and 36 support ships were injured.
After the incident, six foreign ships and their contents follows the passengers taken to Ashdod, Israel's port city. Reportedly, up to late last night, about 700 people who boarded the ships were still questioning the Israeli military.
There is some information about the casualties in the attack. The Israeli military said that 10 passenger ships flying its flag Mavi Marmara Turkey died. However, Israeli television station, Channel 10 TV reported that 19 passengers on the ship were killed and 36 others wounded in the attack.
Attack - Watch more amazing videos here
After the incident, six foreign ships and their contents follows the passengers taken to Ashdod, Israel's port city. Reportedly, up to late last night, about 700 people who boarded the ships were still questioning the Israeli military.
There is some information about the casualties in the attack. The Israeli military said that 10 passenger ships flying its flag Mavi Marmara Turkey died. However, Israeli television station, Channel 10 TV reported that 19 passengers on the ship were killed and 36 others wounded in the attack.
Israel protests over barbarism also occurred in various parts of the world
White House, Washington DC
Stockholm, Swedia
London, Inggris
times square, New York
Montreal, Canada
Volunteers from 50 countries participating in this mission under the coordination of Human Yardim Vakfi, Turkey. His mission to stop a military blockade of the political-economic-besieged Gaza and Israel that has been running nearly four years, and claimed thousands of lives. This ship is also carrying about 10 thousand tons of humanitarian aid.
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