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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v4.1.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Wed, 14 May 2008 20:56:28 GMT--><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Islamophobia Watch</title><link>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/</link><description>Documenting the war against Islam</description><copyright></copyright><language>en-GB</language><generator>Squarespace Site Server v4.1.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</generator><item><title>'Dispatches' to provide platform for BNP's anti-Muslim bigotry</title><category>UK</category><category>Far Right Racists</category><dc:creator>Martin Sullivan</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 08:16:24 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2008/5/14/dispatches-to-provide-platform-for-bnps-anti-muslim-bigotry.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">15292:103277:1836505</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left"><img style="width: 200px; height: 173px" alt="bnp-islam-poster.gif" src="http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/storage/bnp-islam-poster.gif" /></span>One of Epping's BNP councillors is set to feature on a controversial television documentary which attracts millions of viewers. Councillor Pat Richardson will speak candidly about her attitude towards Muslims living in Britain on the Dispatches programme scheduled to be screened on Channel 4 in July.</p><p>Mrs Richardson, who has the rare distinction of being the BNP's only Jewish councillor, was interviewed for the programme during the local election count at Waltham Abbey Town Hall earlier this month, where she was elected to represent the Loughton Broadway ward.</p><p>Along with fellow BNP party members, she was questioned about her views on British Muslims by the show's producer James Jones. Mrs Richardson said: &quot;He was very polite and he followed us around throughout the morning.&quot; Mr Jones said: &quot;I chose to interview Pat Richardson as a subject because her background and political views make her an interesting subject.&quot; </p><p><a class="offsite-link-inline" href="http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2268373.0.epping_forest_bnp_councillor_to_feature_in_tv_documentary.php" target="_blank">Epping Forest Guardian, 13 May 2008</a></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/rss-comments-entry-1836505.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Terrorism is not jihad</title><category>USA</category><category>Resisting Islamophobia</category><dc:creator>Martin Sullivan</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 23:35:26 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2008/5/13/terrorism-is-not-jihad.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">15292:103277:1836517</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>&quot;When the media or individuals use Arabic terms such as jihad for acts of terrorism, or when they attach the word Islam in front of a word as in Islamo-fascism, Islamic terrorism, those words have an effect. They have an effect right here in America by linking the religion of Islam and terrorist acts in the mind of ordinary citizens. They have an effect on Muslims who are struggling to make clear to those Muslims who attempt to justify their crimes by some false interpretation of Islamic teachings that we do not accept their claims. They have an effect on Muslims worldwide who because of the use of language like Islamo-Fascist, have come to view the 'war on terror' not as a war on al Qaeda, but as a war on Islam itself.&quot;</p><p>Sheila Musaji at <a class="offsite-link-inline" href="http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/thank_god_someone_is_listening_to_us_terrorism_is_not_jihad/0016153" target="_blank">The American Muslim, 13 May 2008</a></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/rss-comments-entry-1836517.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Detroit Muslim woman loses case – take off the veil demands judge</title><category>USA</category><category>Hijab</category><dc:creator>Martin Sullivan</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 22:36:38 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2008/5/13/detroit-muslim-woman-loses-case-take-off-the-veil-demands-ju.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">15292:103277:1836468</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>A U.S. Federal Judge heard and dismissed a case on Monday involving a Muslim Detroit woman who claims that being forced to remove her veil in court caused her to lose her case.</p><p>In October 2006, 44-year old Ginnnah Muhammad donned a niqab&nbsp;&ndash; a traditional veil and scarf that covers the entire head and most of the face&nbsp;&ndash; during her hearing in which she was disputing a $3,000 fee from Enterprise Rent-A-Car to repair a vehicle which Muhammad claims burglars had broken into. According to the Associated Press, Judge Paul Paruk &quot;told her he needed to see her face to judge her truthfulness and gave her a choice: Take off the veil or have the case dismissed.&quot;</p><p>Margaret Nelson, Assistant state attorney general, represented Paruk and argued that he needed to &quot;fully observe&quot; Muhammad in order to properly determine the facts. &quot;It was a temporary, necessary, limited action (that had) only incidental impact on the practice of her religion,&quot; Nelson said.</p><p><a class="offsite-link-inline" href="http://www.wiredprnews.com/2008/05/13/detroit-muslim-woman-loses-case_20080513233.html" target="_blank">Wired PR News, 13 May 2008</a></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/rss-comments-entry-1836468.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Birmingham professor speaks at extremist Islamic group debate</title><category>UK</category><dc:creator>Martin Sullivan</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 08:39:34 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2008/5/13/birmingham-professor-speaks-at-extremist-islamic-group-debat.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">15292:103277:1833776</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left"><img style="width: 133px; height: 135px" alt="Hizb.GIF" src="http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/storage/Hizb.GIF" /></span>A University of Birmingham professor and student have come under fire for supporting a debate held by an extremist Islamist organisation.</p><p>Sociology professor John Holmwood spoke at a debate on secularism organised by the Hizb-ut-Tahrir group, which on its website constitution calls for a pan-Islamic caliphate and the execution of people who convert from Islam. Yasmin Patel, who was elected to be the minority students' support officer on the Guild of Students at the university, sent out emails encouraging attendance at the debate.</p><p>Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which translates as Party of Liberation, is a global political group, which has been accused of fostering extremism against women and Jews. Its constitution calls for a state of constant war against Israel.</p><p>Prof Holmwood said the meeting, held in Small Heath on Sunday, had not been involved with extremism and it was important to engage groups in debate. He said:</p><p>&quot;There were about 100 people there, probably 100 per cent Muslim, but 90 per cent of them weren't Hizb-ut-Tahrir. Not engaging views is more dangerous than some of the opinions of those you are engaging with. I went there not knowing what to expect. What happened was there was a good debate and people came up afterwards and said some of them wanted to come up to the university and talk about issues of secularism, and that can only be a good thing.&quot;</p><p>Adam Sher, secretary of the University of Birmingham's Jewish Society, said: &quot;A minority officer, in my opinion, shouldn&rsquo;t be espousing the views of Hizb-ut-Tahrir.&quot;</p><p><a class="offsite-link-inline" href="http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2008/05/13/birmingham-professor-speaks-at-extremist-islamic-group-debate-65233-20899882/" target="_blank">Birmingham Post, 13 May 2008</a></p><p>For the origins of this witch-hunt, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ministryoftruth.me.uk/2008/05/11/bugs-bme-officer-and-hizb-ut-tahrir/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Ministry of Truth</a> and <a href="http://www.hurryupharry.org/2008/05/11/why-is-birmingham-university-students-union-promoting-hizb-ut-tahrir/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Harry's Place</a>.</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/rss-comments-entry-1833776.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Obama Islam smear changes stripes</title><category>Right Wing</category><category>USA</category><category>UK</category><category>Resisting Islamophobia</category><dc:creator>Martin Sullivan</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 08:03:20 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2008/5/13/obama-islam-smear-changes-stripes.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">15292:103277:1833754</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>&quot;When the Islam smear against Obama first came out, it was based on the idea that he <em>is</em> currently, a Muslim. Then the Pastor Wright controversy put that mess to rest, since Obama's affiliations to an obviously Christian Church became front and center. Now there is a new Islam smear. This one says that Obama <em>was</em> a Muslim&nbsp;&ndash; and as a result, he is going to arouse the wrath of Muslims around the world who are going to want to kill him for apostasy (converting away from Islam, punishable by death).&quot;</p><p>Ali Eteraz responds to an article by Edward Luttwack in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/opinion/12luttwak.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, which he describes as &quot;solid fear-mongering&quot;.</p><p><a class="offsite-link-inline" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ali-eteraz/obama-islam-smear-changes_b_101337.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post, 13 May 2008</a></p><p><em>Daily Telegraph</em> leader writer and <em>Catholic Herald</em> editor Damian Thompson hails the NYT article as &quot;fascinating stuff&quot;: <a class="offsite-link-inline" href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/ukcorrespondents/holysmoke/may2008/obama.htm" target="_blank">Holy Smoke, 12 May 2008</a></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/rss-comments-entry-1833754.xml</wfw:commentRss></item></channel></rss>