Focus on Political and Social Campaigns against Islam and Muslims.

 

Political and Social Campaigns against Islam and Muslims.

United States: 'No Muslims' spray-painted on TTUHSC seal — Crews at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center were busy on 14 May cleaning graffiti off of the school seal on 4th Street. Someone spray-painted a message on the seal either the night before or early that morning. Workers had already cleaned most of the paint off by the time crews arrived, but those who saw it earlier said that it read ‘No Muslims'. The Texas Tech Police Department said that the incident was under investigation. TTUHSC released the following statement on the same day read: "It is a sad day at TTUHSC as we awoke to our beloved seal defaced with intolerant language. Our diverse university family is made up of students, researchers, educators and health care providers who make a positive impact throughout our world. Such harmful and offensive words truly go against the grain of who we are, as we are here to serve and heal all people. We will not tolerate such acts, and we are working closely with law enforcement. After authorities investigated the scene, our crew swiftly removed the vandalism."

United Kingdom: Far-right group Britain First announce Lutonmarch after staging mosque invasions—A far right group which provoked anger after invading two Bury Park mosques had announced on mid-May that they would hold a large scale demonstration through Luton. Britain First, formed four years back by ex-BNP members, would stage a protest through the town on June 27 to “demonstrate that Luton is an English town not a mini caliphate”. Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen told the Luton News: “At the moment the plans that have been made are for a march through the town, then speeches will be given…This is the first one that we have held one in Luton so we are expecting a good turnout.”

United Kingdom: Football firms plan to stage anti-mosque protest in Dudley— Dudley braced itself for another anti-mosque protest on June 13 - the third in the space of four months. A group called All Football Fans/Firms March Against Islamisation (AFFFMAI) said the march through the town centre was to object to a replacement mosque being built on Hall Street. Chief Inspector Phil Dolby broke the news to concerned residents, religious leaders and traders who attended a public debrief at Dudley Council House on 19 May, to provide feedback about policing of the Britain First 120 march. Town traders said they felt persistent protesters were giving Dudley a bad name and remarked made during the Britain First protest on May 9, also weighed heavily on people's minds. 

Netherlands: Dutch politician calls for Prophet Mohammed cartoon contest—The Dutch far-right politician sent a letter to the Dutch parliament on mid-May requesting that an exhibition of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad be shown in the Dutch parliament. Ejder Kose, a lawyer and deputy chairman of the Center for Public Debate told Anadolu Agency that he hoped the parliament would refuse the request for both legal and political reasons. He said: "Geert Wilders initiative is certainly a provocation". Kose also pointed out that Wilders' initiative could be considered a hate crime and that it would be important to define the limits of freedom of expression. 

France: Topless protesters crash French conference on role of women in Islam – Muslim leaders were left redfaced when two topless women seized the microphones at a conference on the role of women in Islam and shouted anti- Islamic slogans before they were dragged off stage kicking and screaming. The 25- and 31-year-old women took centre stage at the event held in Pontoise, north west of Paris, on the night of 12 September. A video of the protest showed two men in long white robes backing away from the podium as the bare-chested women took the stage, shouting at the audience with their arms raised in the air. As the men slinked away one of the women grabed the microphone and addressed the crowd in French and Arabic as security rushed the stage. The protesters were then dragged away with one man appearing to kick one of the women as she lay on the ground. The activists were part of international women’s movement Femen, which has staged topless protests around the world to protest a number of issues from prostitution to abortion. Both women had “Femen” written on their backs as well as the slogan “Nobody makes me submit”. 

United States: Islamophobic posters found on campusmade Muslim students feel unsafe — The discovery of posters bearing Islamophobic messages on campus had raised concerns about the safety of Muslim students. The posters mentioned chapters of the Muslim Students Association and Students for Justice in Palestine. One depicts deceased al-Qaeda member Anwar al-Awlaki with a target over his face. The picture on the poster is surrounded by the words, “MSA Terrorist: Head of al-Qaeda in Yemen, President MSA Colorado State” and the hashtag “#StopTheJihadOnCampus.” A 2010 New York Times article confirms that al-Awlaki attended Colorado State, and was the president of the MSA chapter there. Another poster, which bears the same hashtag, shows a bloody knife hovering over a Jewish star under the words, “The real meaning of BDS: Boycott, Divest, Stab.” This phrase draws a reference to “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions,” a strategy used by Students for Justice 121 in Palestine chapters and other organizations to protest Israel’s political treatment of the Palestinian territories. Students found two posters in the tunnel next to Bender Arena and four more on lampposts between Kogod and Katzen

US: Threat made to ‘Kill AllMuslims’ at Virginia Tech’— Police were investigating after a threat to “kill all Muslims” was found scrawled on the wall of a bathroom stall at Virginia Tech University. The graffiti, found in a bathroom at Price Hall, stated “I will be here 11/11/2015 to kill all Muslims (sic),” the Virginia Tech Police Department said. The Virginia Tech Police Department continued to investigate this matter. “We are making the community aware of this graffiti and seeking the community’s assistance,” the department said. Obaid Rehman, president of the Muslim Student Association at Virginia Tech, said that students didn’t know about the graffiti until the day when an email alert was sent to students, staff and faculty

United States: Man is applauded for calling all Muslims Terrorists— A Virginia bigot called all Muslims terrorists in a raucous public meeting held to discuss the building of a new mosque – inciting applause and nods of approval from hateful crowd members. Civil engineer Samer Shalaby was presenting the building plans to residents of Spotsylvania, Va., when the maniac leapt to his feet and erupted in a despicable rant. "Every one of you are terrorists," the man, who had not been identified, yelled while pointing his finger at Shallaby. "I don't care what you say." "You can smile at me, you can say whatever you want, but every Muslim is a terrorist," he added. At least one other brute interrupted Shalaby's presentation yelling the plans for the mosque were evil.

US: Anti-Muslim groups to organize rallies across US—Anti-Muslim conservative groups had planned at least 20 rallies during October at mosques and other sites across the Unites States. A Facebook group called Global Rally for Humanity had put out words for anti-Muslim demonstrations in “every country at every Mosque.” the page read: “Remember to do your homework and find a local mosque in your area so you can publish the location.” Some of the organizers encouraged demonstrators to show up armed, while others urged participants not to bring weapons.  

Related: Anti-Muslim protests 'Global Rally for Humanity' planned in front of mosques, cities include Huntsville, Atlanta, Murfreesboro— An anti-Muslim group was calling for ‘Patriots’ to join together in a nationwide protest on October 9-10 October at mosques in cities including Huntsville, Atlanta, Dearborn, Michigan and Phoenix, Arizona. Calling the loosely organized effort ‘Global Rally for Humanity,’ the effort urged people to demonstrate in front of mosques and public facilities because humanity was attacked daily by radical Islam. The group also encouraged protests in every country at every Mosque.

Also Related: US anti-Islam rallies have low turnout—A series of planned anti-Islam rallies in 20 cities across the US failed to attract a strong turnout despite extensive promotion on social media. The Islamophobic events that took place on 9 October went largely unheeded, according to ABC News. The rallies were organized by Global Rally for Humanity, an organization closely affiliated with hate group and far-right movements in the US. The organizers called for protests at every mosque, Muslim establishment, or Islamic organization in the US.

US: American and European radical right’s attacks on refugees fueled by anti-Muslim sentiment—Anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and white nationalist groups in the US had taken up the anti-refugee cause since September throughout October, mimicking the talking points of their European counterparts. The unifying message had framed the immigration crisis as a ’Muslim invasion’, with many in Europe evoking the name of Charles Martel, the Frenchman who halted the advances of Muslims invading Europe in 732. Fueled by the Syrian refugee crisis, a fractured European resettlement agreement, and GOP presidential candidates continued to demonize Muslims on the campaign trail – and Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims were profiled or targeted for attack. Anti-Muslim sentiment in the US was in full swing.

US: 'The Muslims are coming!' Court allows comic advert on New York subway—A federal judge had given a ‘goahead’ to light-hearted subway advertisements promoting a documentary about American Muslim comedians, saying a transportation agency improperly labeled them political in nature. The ads for the film The Muslims Are Coming! were rejected earlier in 2015 by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates the subway system and the rest of the nation’s largest mass transit network. The MTA, which had first approved the ads, later concluded that they violated its new ban on political ads. 

New Zealand: Anti-Islam sentiment surfaces in Remuera — On April 10 signs of anti-Islamic sentiment surfaced in Auckland, where a billboard outside a well-known Presbyterian Church had been defaced. It's a sinister new twist in the row about a poster put up by St Luke's in Remuera at Easter when the church was trying to make a point about values espoused by US Presidential Republican Party nominee Donald Trump. That billboard was stolen just before Easter and had only recently been replaced. On April 11, the church discovered the words "Islam Hates Us" pasted over the replacement. The original billboard showed Donald Trump saying "I don't like losers", with a crucified Jesus depicted in the background. In a statement, the church's parish council convener David McNabb said St Luke's had for many years run a program to encourage understanding between different world faiths. David McNabb stated that "Through this program we have met a number of Muslim leaders and adherents, and had been enriched by their understandings. We know, from personal experience, that Islam does not hate us.”