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August 3, 2006
UK: Church Attacked By Muslims
Blackburn in Lancashire hit the headlines earlier this year when radical Muslims tried to disrupt the visit of US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, to the town. While Dr Rice was in Pleckgate school, a large group of Muslim adults, with children in tow, shouted insulting messages and tried to prevent the visit from going ahead. With adults setting such a bad example, it is no wonder that young Muslims in Blackburn are behaving in similar disrespectful ways.
News from yesterday's Lancashire Evening News states that at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Audley, Blackburn, the priest is being forced to install high fences, to deter further attacks from Muslim youths.
Father Francis Parkinson was himself the subject of racial abuse from youths in February. One of those involved, a 19-year old, admitted racially aggravated threatening behaviour. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and made to pay 50 ($95) costs.
The attacks against the church have been frequent, with the latest incident on Sunday night causing damage to the church door. He said: "These youths have shown no respect for the church as a place of worship. How would they feel if a gang of vandals attempted to break into their mosque?"
"I was racially abused by youths hanging around the church car park a few months back and now we have had an attempted break-in. The bolt on the door has been broken. Repairs cost money. I have spoken to Coun Mulla about this situation and he is most upset that this keeps happening and has said he will do what he can to find those responsible."
Coun Salim Mulla is secretary of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, who has condemned the youths' behaviour and has said he will report them to the police, if he identifies them.
He said: "The Muslim community works very closely with the Christian community and it is important we understand and respect everybody else's beliefs. I expect all youths to be law abiding and not cause harm to people's places of worship. Sadly some youths behave disgracefully and these youths in particular have disgraced their community by what they have done to St Joseph's."
The police put the cases down to an "ongoing problem of juvenile nuisance" in Audley.
When pig's heads are left outside mosques, such incidents become international news. But events such as these are ignored.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at August 3, 2006 7:03 AM
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