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February 18, 2006

UK: Planned Muslim Rally In London Today

As we described earlier, a group of 300 imams, under the umbrella title of the Muslim Action Committee (MAB) have called for a rally today, between Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park.

These leaders claim to be "moderate", but want to rip up Britain's legal system, so that Muslims are classed as a "race" even though they are not a race, but followers of a religion.

Last week there was another demonstration, against the Muslim cartoons, and against Islamophobia, which was held in Trafalgar Square. Last Saturday's protest, which was organised by MAB (Muslim Association for Britain) intended to attract 30,000 people, but in the end only 4,000 arrived.

The demo at Trafalgar Square had stewards patrolling the crowd, to ensure no-one carried offensive placards such as those at an earlier demo at Sloane Street, outside the Danish Embassy, where signs called for beheadings of those who insult Islam, and invoking attacks like 9/11 for Europe.

The media widely reported last weekend's event as "peaceful", but it has become clear that some of the protesters were not peaceful at all.

The Ilford Recorder reports that one Muslim leader, Asghar Bukhari, nearly had violence enacted against him by 10 or so individuals whose faces were covered. Bukhari, aged 35, lives in Ilford, east London, and is chair of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee, had given a speech at that rally.

Then he faced the wrath of 10 individuals with their heads covered in balaclavas. He states:

"I saw someone with his face covered and I thought it was a woman, but then he spoke and called me a hypocrite. I realised it was a man. I asked him why he was calling me that, and he said I wasn't helping the cause. I then asked him what he had done to help 'the cause'. He started spouting his beliefs at me."

Following a brief verbal confrontation, Mr Bukhari turned his back on the man who started shouting "hypocrite".

It was then that Mr Bukhari saw the 10 balaclava-clad men running towards him. He said: "I was so lucky that there were people there who stopped them from getting to me. I just thank God."

It remains to be seen whether or not the full complement of supporters attend, and whether or not there will be angry scenes and placards calling for death and murder. We will keep you informed.

UPDATE: It appears from a breaking news report in the Sun that the figures are nowhere near the 100,000 individuals planned by the 300 imams of MAC to descend upon the capital.

More than 10,000 people have arrived, and apparently, the crowds are being roused by speakers on podiums to anger. Anger is always the trigger for indiscriminate venting in Islamic demonstrations, as has been witnessed in international protests. Yesterday, nine people in Libya were killed in the city of Benghazi in an attempt to storm the Italian embassy, angered by Roberto Calderoli of the Northern League wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the cartoon images. It is reported now on BBC World Service that Calderoli has resigned.

In Nigeria, churches in Nigeria and Christian properties have been set on fire by anti-cartoon demonstrators in the state of Bornu.

A good photo-article of demonstrations in Karachi, Bangladesh and Hong Kong can be found on Der Spiegel.

I certainly doubt that stewards will be able to control a rabble, if sub-groups decide to rampage against their own chosen targets. According to View London there are only 400 stewards in attendance. More news as it comes.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at February 18, 2006 6:26 AM

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