Russia police force three Muslim men to trim their beards at gunpoint

Police officers in Russia forced three men in a Muslim cafe to cut their beards at gunpoint, it has been claimed.  

During an inspection of a Muslim cafe in the Russian city of Surgut police officers apparently threatened some visitors with automatic weapons and with a lighter. 

One of the men claims an officer held a lighter to his chin and told him 'cut it off or I will burn it off'.

Police officers in Russia forced three men in a Muslim cafe to cut their beards at gunpoint, it has been claimed.  During an inspection of a Muslim cafe in the Russian city of Surgut police officers apparently threatened some visitors with automatic weapons and with a lighter. One of the men claims an officer held a lighter to his chin and told him 'cut it off or I will burn it off'.

Daily Mail story reported by Muslimophobia

Evidence of institutional Islamophobia in Germany's security services

Employees of the department tasked with observing militant Islamists reportedly throw around deeply offensive, Nazi-affiliated words in private of the kind which would be unthinkable in a public setting.

These range from Herrenrasse, the German for "master race" to Muselmann - originally a German word meaning "Muslim man" later used by the Nazis as a slang word for emaciated death camp inmates who had surrendered to their fate - to Ölauge, a derogatory name for "greasy" dark-eyed foreigners. 

In one case currently the subject of an internal investigation, an agency employee is said to have offended co-workers in his office by positioning a doll of a Teutonic Knight with his sword pointing at a miniature mosque, wrote the paper.

Employees of the department tasked with observing militant Islamists reportedly throw around deeply offensive, Nazi-affiliated words in private of the kind which would be unthinkable in a public setting.These range from Herrenrasse, the German for "master race" to Muselmann - originally a German word meaning "Muslim man" later used by the Nazis as a slang word for emaciated death camp inmates who had surrendered to their fate - to Ölauge, a derogatory name for "greasy" dark-eyed foreigners. 

In one case currently the subject of an internal investigation, an agency employee is said to have offended co-workers in his office by positioning a doll of a Teutonic Knight with his sword pointing at a miniature mosque, wrote the paper.

German spies accused of racism, Islamophobia

Scottish Church That Let Muslims In To Pray Hit By 'Satan' Abuse On Facebook

A priest who has allowed Muslims to pray in his church has told how he has been hit by a barrage of abuse by internet 'trolls'.

St John's Episcopal Church became the first church in the UK to share their building with Muslims after Rev Isaac Poobalan saw members of a neighbouring mosque praying outside in the snow because of a lack of space.

Huffington Post article

British Universities Need Radical Ideas, Not Bigotry

As the new Government-backed anti-Muslim hatred body, 'Tell MAMA' has just reported a rising level of anti-Muslim hatred and sentiment is creeping into British life. We appear to have passed the point where Baroness Warsi referred to Islamophobia 'passing the dinner party test'.
Muhammad Abdul Bari

ENAR report: Islamophobia widespread across Europe

A ground breaking report on Islamophobia in Europe has documented the extent of the problem.

Discrimination against Muslims in Europe is widespread, the report says. According to the study covering 26 national reports, Muslims continue to experience discrimination in a range of areas, more specifically in employment, education and access to goods and services.

This is the first pan-European qualitative survey on Muslim communities in Europe, part of the Europe Network Against Racism’s 2011/12 Shadow Report on Racism in Europe and released ahead of International Day Against Racial Discrimination.

ENAR Press Release (PDF file)

Shadow Report on Racism in Europe (PDF file)

"Manifestations of Islamophobia include discrimination and violence towards Muslims, criminal damage to Islamic buildings, and protests against the building of mosques even in countries, such as Poland, where some Muslim communities have been established and integrated for centuries.
"Muslim women and girls are particularly affected, facing an extreme form of double discrimination on the basis of both their religion and their gender. In France for instance, 85% of all Islamophobic acts target women."

Australia: Parliamentry report exposes Islamophobia

A two-year inquiry into multiculturalism in Australia has found overwhelming concerns on Muslims and their faith.

It found that out of 513 submissions to the inquiry, 212 raised concerns about or discussed the question of Islam in Australia.

Some 113 submissions objected to the possible introduction of legal pluralism to accommodate the requirements of Islamic Shari`ah.

A two-year inquiry into multiculturalism in Australia has found overwhelming concerns on Muslims and their faith.
It found that out of 513 submissions to the inquiry, 212 raised concerns about or discussed the question of Islam in Australia.
Some 113 submissions objected to the possible introduction of legal pluralism to accommodate the requirements of Islamic Shari`ah.

OnIslam report

Aberdeen church opens doors to Muslims

A Scottish reverend has invited Muslims to pray alongside Christians in an Aberdeen church because the nearby mosque is so small that some worshippers were forced to pray outside.

Tamsin Rutter reports in The Guardian

Newcastle: community unites against EDL

Peace campaigners are to unite against the English Defence League when they hold their biggest march of the year through Tyneside.

Hundreds of members of the right-wing organisation will walk from  Newcastle's Central Station to the Bigg Market in protest over plans for an Islamic School at the former Byker Grove building in the city's West End.

Now faith leaders and councillors are gathering to organise a peaceful city centre festival on the same day to celebrate Newcastle's ethnic diversity.

City councillor Dipu Ahad, who is leading the event alongside anti-racism groups, said: "The community are very frustrated that the EDL have the right to come and protest in our community where multi-culturalism and diversity thrive and is something that we believe in so strongly in Newcastle.

"Our event will be a festival and a celebration of the diversity in the city. People have lived here for generations and make a very strong contribution to the city and our counter event is all about celebration."

A final location is yet to be finalised for the counter event, which is supported by Unite Against Fascism and various trade unions, and will be held on Saturday, May 25.

Click to read more ...

A woman's account of the events at UCL

Here's another account from a Muslim woman of the altercation with the two atheists that led to Krauss threatening to walk out of the debate:

"I attended the full debate and witnessed the full action! Upon arrival I went straight to the non-segregated seating and sat there with no questions asked! There were hundreds of seats that accommodated all attendees. Some Muslim girls wished to sit in a 'Male Free' area and that was there choice to be able to sit in a relaxed environment during the debate. What is said about females being forced to sit in the back is a lie! I am a Muslim fully covered girl and I sat in the front in the mixed area!

"What I still don't understand is why the 2 man insisted on sitting literally between the Muslim women who clearly didn't want that! ... I think the 2 guys out of 325 attendees made a scene deliberately to create unnecessary tension between the audiences.... The organisers tried their best to accommodate everyone’s requests and so allocated the seats that will accommodate everyone. Clearly that was not enough for the 2 guys."

Islamophobia conference tomorrow

Islamophobia Awareness Conference: Edinburgh 2013

Muslim Bashing...so wrong...so stop it now!

Saturday 16th March 2pm to 5pm

Augustine United Church, 41 George 4th Bridge, EH1 1EL

Speakers:
Inayat Bunglawala: Muslim writer (inayatscorner.wordpress.com)
Yvonne Ridley: Journalist and war correspondent
Eddie Truman: Co-founder of Islamophobia Watch
Craig Murray: Former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan
Margaret Woods from Unite Against Fascism

Organised by Edinburgh Stop the War, Radio Ramadan, Muslim Women's Association of Edinburgh, SACC, Unite Against Fascism

Stalls and food at the event

No charge for entry but donations to cover costs welcome