Letters: Aaron Saeed, RE: Peter Tatchell and Adam Yosef Hate Campaign'

Source: http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/608/letters.htm

Hate campaign

A leading member of George Galloway’s Respect party, Adam Yosef, has urged violence against human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. He has denounced Tatchell as a “hate-mongerer”, listing him as one of Britain’s top-three “hate-filled bigots”. The other two Yosef names are Nick Griffin of the British National Party and muslim fundamentalist cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed.

This astonishing attack was made by Yosef in his column in the Asian weekly entertainment newspaper Desi Xpress (January 6-12). His article advises readers to violently attack Tatchell, stating that he “needs a good slap in the face”. In a naked appeal to homophobia and xenophobia, Yosef goes on to urge Australian-born Tatchell and his “queer campaign army” to “pack their bent bags and head back to Australia”.

Yosef has a history of homophobic outbursts in Desi Xpress. In a December issue of the newspaper (issue 42), he ridiculed same-sex civil partnerships: “Hmmm ... gay weddings ... gay people and commitment? I don’t think so ... They’ll be shagging the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea, I’m afraid. Great way of evading tax though …”

As well as being a prominent member of Galloway’s Respect party, Yosef has done press and PR work for Respect leaders such as Salma Yaqoob and Dr Mohammed Naseem. Dr Naseem is also home affairs spokesperson for the Islamic Party of Britain, which advocates the death penalty for homosexuality and the banning of gay organisations. Yosef is a leading light in the Stop the War Coalition and has worked with the SWP.

This is a new low for members of Respect and the STWC. Equating an anti-racist such as Peter Tatchell with a racist such as Nick Griffin is sick. It shows the dishonesty and opportunism that now characterises George Galloway’s Respect party. Inciting violence against Peter not only brings shame and dishonour to Respect - it is also a criminal offence.

Taken together, the headlines, content and tone of Yosef’s article is likely to stir up hatred against Tatchell and put him at risk of violent attack. There is not a shred of evidence to suggest that Peter is “hate-filled” or a “bigot”. On the contrary, his human rights work involves challenging hatred, prejudice, discrimination and violence against all communities. He has a long and proud record of defending the Asian and muslim communities against prejudice and racism.

We call on Respect and the Stop The War Coalition to condemn Adam Yosef’s incitement to homophobia, violence and xenophobia, and to expel him from their organisations. There can be no place in a progressive movement for people who encourage homophobia, violence and xenophobia.

We urge Desi Xpress to publish a full apology to Peter Tatchell and to carry an interview with him about his work for universal human rights. Yosef freelances for BBC Online and BBC Birmingham. We hope the BBC will cease employing him. His encouragement of homophobia, violence and xenophobia is incompatible with the BBC’s commitment to equality and diversity.

Aaron Saeed
Outrage

Source: Weekly Worker newspaper (UK)

GALLOWAY ACTIVIST URGES: ASSAULT TATCHELL

Source: http://www.petertatchell.net/politics/adamyosef.htm

Respect party member stirs homophobia, violence and xenophobia

London - 16 January 2006

A leading member of George Galloway's Respect party, Adam Yosef, has urged violence against human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

He has denounced Tatchell as a “hate-mongerer”; listing him as one of Britain 's top three “Hate-Filled Bigots.” The other two bigots Yosef names are Nick Griffin of the BNP and Muslim fundament ali st cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed.

The astonishing attack was made by Adam Yosef in his column in the Asian weekly entertainment newspaper, Desi Xpress, on 6-12 January 2006 (copy below).

His article advises readers to violently attack Tatchell, stating that he (Tatchell) “needs a good slap in the face.”

In a naked appeal to homophobia and xenophobia, Yosef goes on to urge Australi an-born Tatchell and his “queer campaign army” to “pack their bent bags and head back to Australia.”

Mr Yosef has a history of homophobic outbursts in Desi Xpress. In a December issue of the newspaper (Issue 42), he ridiculed same-sex civil partnerships: "Hmmm... gay weddings... Gay people and commitment? I don't think so... They'll be shagg*ng the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea I'm afraid. Great way of evading tax though..."

As well as being a prominent member of Galloway 's Respect party, Yosef has done press and PR work for Respect leaders like Salma Yaqoob and Dr Mohammed Naseem. Dr Naseem is also Home Affairs spokesperson for the Islamic Party of Britain, which advocates the death penalty for homosexuality and the banning of gay organisations. Mr Yosef is a leading light in the Stop The War Movement, and has worked with the Socialist Workers Party.

“This is a new low for members of Respect and the Stop the War Coalition,” said Aaron Saeed, Muslim Affairs spokesperson for the gay human rights group OutRage!

“Equating an anti-racist like Peter Tatchell with a racist like Nick Griffin is sick. It shows the dishonesty and opportunism that now characterises George Galloway's Respect party,” continued Mr Saeed.

“Peter has been involved in almost every anti-racist campaign for 35 years, and he was active in the anti-apartheid movement for 20 years.

“Inciting violence against Peter is not only brings shame and dishonour to Respect, it is also a criminal offence.

“Telling Peter to get back to Austr ali a echoes the racist, xenophobic language of the BNP. They are always telling Asian people to ‘go back where you came from'.

The insult concerning Peter's “bent bags” is unabashed homophobia.

“Taken together, the headlines, content and tone of Mr Yosef's article is likely to stir up hatred against Tatchell and put him at risk of violent attack.

“There is not a shred of evidence to suggest that Peter is “hate-filled” or a “bigot”. On the contrary, his human rights work involves challenging hatred, prejudice, discrimination and violence against all communities.

“Peter has a long and proud record of defending the Asian and Muslim communities against prejudice and racism. He was actively involved in Rock Against Racism and the Anti-Nazi League.

“We call on Respect and the Stop The War Coalition to condemn Adam Yosef's incitement to homophobia, violence and xenophobia, and to expel him from their organisations. There can be no place in a progressive movement for people who encourage homophobia, violence and xenophobia.

“We urge Desi Xpress to publish a full apology to Peter Tatchell and to carry an interview with him about his work for universal human rights.

“Yosef freelances for BBC Online and BBC Birmingham. We hope the BBC will cease employing him. His encouragement of homophobia, violence and xenophobia is incompatible with the BBC's commitment to equ ali ty and diversity.

“There is a clear conflict interest over what Yosef has written. The main reason he appears to have attacked Tatchell is because Tatchell has criticised Yosef's party, Respect, over its links with Dr Naseem, who is one of Yosef's former clients.

“Yosef has abused his journ ali stic position to attack Tatchell on behalf people he has previously worked for. He condemns Peter Tatchell over his criticisms of Respect leader Mohammed Naseem, but fails to declare that he used to do PR work for Dr Naseem.

“This violates journ ali stic ethics, whereby writers are supposed to declare their interests.

“Moreover, Yosef is wrong to say that Peter Tatchell ‘believes the likes of George Galloway and Salma Yaqoob are homophobes.' Peter has never made any such claim. It is dishonest and mischievous for Mr Yosef to make these false allegations,” concluded Mr Saeed.

Copy of Adam Yosef's article, Desi Xpress, 6-12 January 2006

www.desixpress.co.uk

Jan 6th - Jan 12th 2006 DesiXpress | 19

COLUMNIST Adam Yosef

HATE-FILLED BIGOTS

VILE

PETER TATCHELL

Who is the toss-pot?

Controversial Peter Tatchell, nearly 54, heads radical gay organisation Outrage!

What's he do?

Self-appointed Austr ali an-born ‘representative' of the UK gay community even though most gays don't agree with him or like him and his whining. Generally attacks religious institutions and likes getting beat up...

Who does he hate?

Religious folk, ‘fundament ali st' Muslims (which is how most of the devout identify themselves), anyone who may not agree with all of his w*nk views.

What's the hate-mongerer up to?

Currently accusing the Stop the War Co ali tion, a peace umbrella organisation, of supporting right-wing extremist Muslims. He believes the likes of George Galloway and Salma Yaqoob (who describes herself as a fundament ali st) are homophobes and has accused Dr Naseem in Brum of the same. Is believed to spread proaganda to counter the Respect party. Claims to be a member of the Green Party after leaving Labour.

What sh*t does he rant?

"Gay venues could be bombed by Islamic terrorists. All gay bars and clubs should introduce bag and body searches. Muslim fundament ali sts have a violent hatred of lesbians and gay men. They believe we should be killed." Also waffles on about Muslims being given more political voting cred than gays and upset the black community by claiming Malcolm X was gay.

What others say:

"It can be argued that over the years Ken Livingstone's record on empowering Gay and Lesbian Rights is more impressive than Peter Tatchell's, which frankly, at times, has been more self-indulgent than effective." - Member of LGBT Muslim group Imaan. Another member described Outrage! as “racists”.

Verdict:

Save as Draft

Needs a good slap in the face to help him figure out what he stands for and whom he represents. Maybe he should attempt arresting Mugabe again, that would be worth seeing...

Time he re ali sed his craving for attention will not in any way help the gay community and so him and his queer campaign army should pack their bent bags and head back to Austr ali a...where hate and racism seems to be back in style.

Source: Peter Tatchell www.petertatchell.net

The witch-hunt against Adam Yosef

Source: http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2006/1/17/the-witch-hunt-against-adam-yosef.html

What with Outrage, the Gay & Lesbian Humanist Association and (even further to the right) Flame Out all dedicated to attacking Muslims' attitudes to LGBT rights, you might think that the market for gay Islamophobia was already a bit crowded. But the new year has brought us yet another organisation, the previously unheard-of Gay Action Media Watch.

GAMW launched itself on 5 January with a campaign against Adam Yosef, who writes for the Asian entertainment magazine Desi Xpress. In a statement posted on Indymedia and headed "Muslim journalist attacks Gays – please complain!", GAMW objected to an article Yosef had written for Desi Xpress containing the following passage: "Hmmm... gay weddings... Gay people and commitment? I don't think so... They'll be shagg*ng the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea I'm afraid. Great way of evading tax though..." GAMW called for letters of protest to be sent to local papers in Birmingham where Desi Xpress is based, and for formal complaints to be made to the Press Complaints Commission.

On the face of it (allowing for the fact that we are dependent on an edited extract from Yosef's article) this does look like a clear example of anti-gay stereotyping. However, it falls well short of "bigotry and hate against gay people eminating from the words of young Muslims", which was how GAMW characterised Yosef's remarks. Furthermore, as a contributor to Indymedia immediately pointed out, GAMW's portrayal of Adam Yosef as a hate-filled homophobic bigot was rather undermined by the fact that he had posted an article on Indymedia in June 2005, headed "Pride – The Real Rainbow", that offered a glowing review of Birmingham Pride. In the article, Yosef had written:

"I saw a lot of ordinary-looking people – that is, without elaborate costumes, gay and straight, people of all races and all ages – just relaxing, enjoying the weekend and having fun. I saw adults, children, families, couples and pets. I saw black and white and young and old alike. I saw a trustee of a major city mosque cheer with glee as the procession of dancers and drag queens paraded into the heart of Hurst Street. I saw Sikh men with beards and turbans browsing through the stalls and loving the atmosphere, I saw Muslim girls with hijabs shouting 'Gay, Muslim and Proud' as part of Asian lesbian project SAFRA, there were black and Asian youngsters, people of all backgrounds and origins, OAPs, students – heck, I even saw Darth Vader! ... In all my experience of attending cultural or diverse festivals, Pride is the only event where I have really seen such a diverse range of people from so many social and ethnic backgrounds. To have streets crammed with so many different people all enjoying themselves and accepting each other is, to me, what Pride represents."

As one commentator on the GAMW post observed: "If it wasn't for the pride article, maybe I would say Adam Yosef is a little homophobic but it's hard to once you read the article." Others were equally critical of GAMW's attack on Yosef. One commentator asked: "Of all the journo's and celebrities that have recently said dodgy stuff about gay marriage why have you selected Adam Yosef?" Another agreed: "Yes, why Adam Yosef? Would attacking a non-Muslim NOT have been in keeping with the current political climate? Are you more likely to get press coverage if you attack a Muslim?"

Balanced comments like this were not to the taste of hardline Islamophobes, who refused to allow mere factual evidence to interfere with their own bigoted stereotypes of homophobic Muslims. "How can you traitors call yourself gays?" one demanded. "Sir Iqbal Sacranie's message of homophobia must be seeping its way into the masses if even today's muslim youth are spewing the same old anti-gay sh*t. When will it stop and how far will it go? This assumption that the elder Muslims are old-fashioned and the younger Muslims will prevail as representatives of diversity and tolerance couldn't be more wrong! What's worse is the gay members on this forum who are actually SUPPORTING a clearly homophobic writer, Adam Yosef."

Brett Lock of Outrage weighed in with his own attack on Yosef. "Adam Yosef's 'desert island disc' must be 'I'll follow The Sun' – because he's clearly showing signs of wanting to be the new Richard Littlejohn or Gary Bushell," Lock wrote on his blog – though he failed to provide examples of Littlejohn or Bushell writing enthusiastic appreciations of Pride events for the tabloid press. What particularly attracted Lock's interest (and hostility) was that Yosef had been described in Socialist Worker as "a leading Respect supporter in Birmingham".

Endorsement of the GAMW campaign by Peter Tatchell's sidekick was followed by a statement of support from the man himself. On 11 January, GAMW posted another article on Indymedia, headed approvingly "Peter Tatchell attacks Muslim journalist!" Tatchell was quoted as describing the anti-Yosef campaign as "an excellent initiative to challenge homophobia". GAMW pointed out that Adam Yosef had "worked at the controversial Birmingham Central Mosque" and added that "Peter Tatchell has previously criticised the Respect Party of having links with homophobic representatives of fundamentalist Islamic organisations" – the implication being that Yosef and the Birmingham Central Mosque came into this category.

Explaining their own decision to witch-hunt Yosef, GAMW wrote: "What horrified Gay Action Media Watch the most was that such views would come from someone who also writes for the BBC." The obvious suggestion was that the BBC should not employ someone with Yosef's views. However, as GAMW must have been well aware, Yosef's article "Pride – The Real Rainbow" had in fact been published on the BBC Birmingham website.

You have to ask – if LGBT organisations refuse to see a young Muslim like Yosef as a potential ally, accuse him of "demonising" the gay community and even encourage the BBC to sack him, who do they see as allies within the Muslim communities? Evidently, any Muslim whose views on homosexuality fall short of, say, Irshad Manji's is to be denounced as a hate-filled bigot.

GAMW's 11 January Indymedia post reiterated their demand for "a retraction and full apology" from Yosef and Desi Xpress – which rather ignored the fact that the previous day Yosef and Desi Xpress had provided just that. Yosef wrote that he had not intended his article to be homophobic but offered a retraction and "a full apology to all of our readers, members of the LGBT community and anyone else who may have been offended by it. As a further note, I would like to state that neither I, nor Desi Xpress as a publication, are in any way homophobic or prejudiced and we do not promote, propagate or share a hatred for any community, group or individual based on race, age, ethnicity, belief, sexual orientation, gender or ability. Desi Xpress has regularly featured events and stories of interest and related to the LGBT community including coverage of Birmingham Pride Weekend, LGBT club listings and LGBT personals listings. I hope this statement clears up any misunderstanding regarding the content of my column."

It is clear from this response that a reasoned letter drawing Yosef's attention to the fact that many members of the LGBT community found his comments objectionable would have been sufficient to prompt a retraction. Instead, GAMW had launched a public campaign against Yosef falsely depicting him as a homophobic bigot.

In a comment headed "Tatchell jumps on the Islamophobic bandwagon – again!", Richard Farnos underlined the point that Desi Xpress "has a proven positive track record on LGBT issues". He went on to ask: "In the context of rather more vicious attacks from more widely read journals, such as the Daily Express, why pick on Desi Xpress and Adam Yosef? The Express has run a story trying to present the word 'marriage' being dropped from registry offices as apparently so as to not 'offend homosexuals'. 'Marriage Suites' will now be called 'Ceremony Suites', apparently to stop lesbian and gay couples feeling neglected. Like Tatchell the Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe failed to check her facts and rather stupidly to claimed the change is 'political correctness gone mad'. However, the real reason why some offices have made the change is that these rooms are now to host not only marriages and civil partnerships, but citizenship ceremonies as well. Perhaps the reason why Tatchell and GAMW prioritise Adam Yosef above the Daily Express is that Adam is a) a Muslim and b) a member of Respect."

But the GAMW campaign against Yosef had now moved on to another issue. In a follow-up comment GAMW complained that "no apology has been issued regarding Adam Yosef's column in the current edition of Desi Xpress (Issue 45) which features human rights and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell alongside Nick Griffin of the BNP and Omar Bakri Mohammed of Al Muhajiroun, describing them all as 'vile' and as 'bigots'."

Not having had the opportunity to read Yosef's article, we hesitate to comment, except to say that it sounds like a fair reflection of the contempt in which Tatchell is held among Muslims. Despite their differing subjective intentions, the objective role of Tatchell, Griffin and Omar Bakri has been to whip up hostility against Muslim communities in Britain. For those on the receiving end of that hostility, the motives of the individuals responsible for inciting it are no doubt a secondary issue.

Yosef's attack on Tatchell has been taken up by David T at Harry's Place, who has also posted excerpts from the Outrage response, issued in the name of its "Muslim Affairs spokesperson". This repeats the call for Yosef to be sacked: "We hope the BBC will cease employing him. His encouragement of homophobia, violence and xenophobia is incompatible with the BBC's commitment to equality and diversity." On the same basis, it also calls on Respect and the Stop the War Coalition to expel Yosef from their organisations.

The reference to violence arises from Yosef's reported assertion that "Tatchell needs a good slap in the face", the xenophobia charge from his suggestion that Tatchell should go back to Australia. Regarding the latter comment, Outrage protests: "Telling Peter to get back to Australia echoes the racist, xenophobic language of the BNP. They are always telling Asian people to 'go back where you came from'." The idea that a white Australian is the victim of racism is of course laughable. And when the suggestion was recently made in a Pink News article that Iqbal Sacranie should leave Britain if he didn't like "our" liberal values – which did indeed carry echoes of the BNP's racist propaganda – we don't recall hearing any similar protests from Outrage's "Muslim Affairs spokesperson".

You can't but be struck by the self-righteousness and hypocrisy of Outrage's response. Evidently, Tatchell thinks it's quite acceptable for him to join in a campaign against Adam Yosef on the basis of false accusations that Yosef is a hate-filled bigot, but when Yosef reciprocates by accusing Tatchell (with much more reason) of bigotry, Tatchell and his friends throw a wobbler.

Concerning Tatchell, the Outrage statement announces piously: "There is not a shred of evidence to suggest that Peter is 'hate-filled' or a 'bigot'. On the contrary, his human rights work involves challenging hatred, prejudice, discrimination and violence against all communities. Peter has a long and proud record of defending the Asian and Muslim communities against prejudice and racism."

Muslims themselves have no doubt about the role Tatchell plays, and it has nothing to do with "defending the Asian and Muslim communities against prejudice and racism". Rather it consists in promoting anti-Muslim prejudice, often in a de facto alliance with the racist right, who regard Tatchell as something of a hero. Responding to Richard Farnos's expression of concern about "Peter Tatchell's jumping on the bandwagon to condemn Adam Yosef", Bilal Patel remarked on the Gay.com message board: "Peter Tatchell jumping on the bandwagon to attack Muslims? That's not a surprise. That's a well-known fact."

Postscript: The Outrage press release responding to Adam Yosef's Desi Xpress piece against Tatchell, and the article itself, have been posted on the Gay.com message board

Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 by Martin Sullivan in Left Wing, Secular, UK |

Copyright notice: This site copyright Islamophobia Watch collective. All material remains copyright of original author and publisher, as cited in documents. Copyright material is posted on this website for the purposes of criticism or review. 'Islamophobia Watch' is a non profit making venture documenting material already in the public domain.

Axe grinder 20.01.06

Source: http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=33014&sectioncode=1

20 January 2006

By Katie Coyne

An Anglo-Asian entertainment weekly has come under fire for "homophobia"

from gay rights groups and may be forced to issue its second apology in a month.

Desi Xpress first provoked criticism after it published a column describing civil partnerships as "a great way of evading tax".

It was forced to issue a retraction and apology on its website after it received complaints, but the same week printed another column which attacked prominent gay rights activist Peter Tatchell.

The column compared Tatchell to far-right BMP leader Nick Griffin and the head of radical group Al- Muhajiroun, Omar Bakri Mohammed, who allegedly praised the London 7/7 bombings.

Both columns were written by Adam Yosef. In the 9 December issue he wrote: "Hmmm... gay weddings... Gay people and commitment? I don't think so... They'll be shagging the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea.

Great way of avoiding tax though..."

Gay Action Media Watch (GAMW) lobbied the paper for a retraction and spokesman Stewart C Dawson said: "This type of journalism is offensive and unacceptable, and not only demonises the gay community but panders to ridiculous stereotypes."

Yosef issued the retraction, but then ran a second column attacking Tatchell, which claimed he deserved "a good slap in the face". Mugshots of Tatchell, Griffin and Omar Bakri Mohammed featured in the 6 January column with the words "vile" stamped across them above the headline "hate-filled bigots".

Aaron Saeed, from Peter Tatchell's gay rights group Outrage, described the column as "xenophobic" and "inciting violence and homophobia" and said he was pushing for a full retraction and apology.

Yosef stood by his comments. He said the slap phrase was a "figure of speech"

and he did not condone any such violence. He added that Desi Xpress contained LGBT club listings and events and was the only British Asian publication to actively promote Pride.

Desi Xpress sparked controversy among the Jewish community last June after it published an interview with Bollywood actress Rani Mukherji. In the article, Mukherji was asked to name an idol and replied: Adolf Hitler.

Source: Press Gazette

Terror arrests anger community

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6320021.stm

16:55 GMT, Thursday, 1 February 2007

One day after the nine terror arrests in the Birmingham area, the local communities have been assessing the impact of the police operation. Some claim the arrests and the vast amount of media coverage are likely to cause lasting damage to community relations. SALMA YAQOOB, COUNCILLOR SPARKBROOK WARD Councillor Salma Yaqoob is angry about damage to the community "The damage that's done when areas are referred to as hotbeds of radicalisation, it does Birmingham no good. "We have actually an excellent model of cohesion here, quite a lot to be proud of and what's happening now is the fear is going to be increased, regardless of what facts emerge later, and we're saying 'keep the legal process intact'. "We've got a strong judiciary, we've got a strong legal process, but sadly a lot of it can be contaminated and we can have a trial by media, which is the last thing we need in this country." ALLAH DITTA, COMMUNITY BUSINESS LEADER Allah Ditta, who is a member of a mosque in the Alum Rock area of Birmingham, says people should not forget what happened at Forest Gate and other sites where Muslims were arrested and later released without charge. "When they raided those premises there was a big hype in the media and everything and when those people were sort-of discharged there was nobody mentioned, even in the newspaper. "[They didn't] even get one line mention - nobody really knows about them. And then the suspicion remains with those people and with those communities and we remain to pick up the pieces." ADAM YOSEF, SALTLEY GATE PEACE GROUP "People who got along with each other perfectly fine, Muslims and non-Muslims, Muslims and Muslims even, people of different races and cultures, suddenly are looking at their neighbours and thinking is this the enemy within? "Should we be suspicious? Should my children not play with these children? Suddenly a community falls apart. "Years of bonding and bringing people up and bringing them together, working with the police and each other, suddenly falls part because of one incident and how it was maybe not dealt with as good as it could have been." TAHIR ALAM, MUSLIM COUNCIL OF BRITAIN Tahir Alam is assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain and lives in Birmingham. He feels British foreign policy has led to some Muslims becoming radicalised. "From a Muslim community point of view it's also about having a balanced understanding of Islam so that when people make suggestions which are extremist, they are actually able to rationalise them and say this is not according to the teachings of Islam and it's in fact contrary to the teachings of Islam." ASSAD BEGG, STUDENT "We need a minimum police presence in this area, where there's already increased frustration and anger. "We need police to talk to community leaders, to talk to the Muslim community, not carry out a raid then talk to the Muslim community in a feeble attempt to try to talk to Muslim leaders by giving out leaflets. This is not how we help community relations."

Source: BBC News

Anger over anti-British hate posters

Source: http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline=anger-over-anti-british-hate-posters&method=full&objectid=19184248&siteid=50002-name_page.html

May 24 2007

By Poppy Brady, Birmingham Mail

OFFENSIVE flyposters urging "Muslims to rise against British oppression" are upsetting residents who have been bombarded with such radical material for years, an inter-faith community group claimed. The Saltley Gate Peace Group has moved swiftly to condemn the latest batch of propaganda which has appeared all over Alum Rock on telephone boxes, bus stops and street lamps. The group, based at Saltley Methodist Church in Alum Rock Road, has written to West Midlands Police and the city council urging that the controversial posters are ripped down immediately. The offending material, which is littering several roads including Alum Rock Road and Coventry Road, has been there for the past two weeks. Adam Yosef, who chairs the SGPG, said: "It brings great distress to residents in Saltley and the wider inner city areas, when communities who have worked so hard over the years to build and regenerate their neighbourhoods, are suddenly faced with the problem of vandalism on such a large scale. "The material itself is radical in nature but anonymous in its origin, with no contact details for any group or organisation. "In the past similar material has upset local residents, although attempts to use any kind of propaganda, religious or otherwise, to disrupt the harmonious relations between people of various faiths in the inner city have failed." Mr Yosef said similar material had been posted in the past by radical political and religious groups Al-Muhajiroun, Al-Ghurabaa and Hizb-ut-Tahrir. Material dating back to 2003 and 2004 is still on public property. He added: "The material is political in nature, but unlike in the past, it doesn't glorify or promote terrorism. However, that said, it is still vandalism. "Flyposting an entire community does nothing but cause contempt for the individuals responsible along with their message, which could, in this case, undeservedly reflect poorly on the Islamic faith." A Birmingham city council spokesman said: "We take this issue very seriously and are looking into it."

Source: Birmingham Mail

Man gunned down in shop

Source: http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/02/25/man-gunned-down-in-shop-97319-20520670/

Feb 25 2008 By Jane Tyler

A YOUNG man was fighting for life today after being shot in a Birmingham video shop.

The 20-year-old was critically injured when a gunman opened fire in the Bollywood Music and Video Store in Washwood Heath.

The victim, who has not yet been named, was today in hospital and described as in a "critical, but stable" condition. The shooting happened at the shop in Alum Rock Road on Saturday at 11pm.

Police said they were still trying to establish a motive and appealed for witnesses and information. The shooting has rocked the local area where peace group representatives and community leaders said such incidents were very rare.

Members of the interfaith Saltley Gate Peace Group, based at the Saltley Methodist Church - situated directly opposite the site - have been talking with residents and police.

Parish priest for Alum Rock, Father Allan Townsend from St Saviour's Church, and Adam Yosef, chairman of the peace group, met with locals.

Mr Yosef said: "It's been quite a shock for local residents.

"Despite wider misconceptions, shootings in Saltley are very rare and news of Saturday night's affair has shaken many.

"Naturally, parents want to keep their families safe and, in order to do so, they need to assist police with finding the criminals who perpetrated this act.

"This incident is not only a great tragedy for the victim and his family, but a reminder that despite the Government's renewed battle against gun crime.

"There's still quite a distance to go before our streets are as safe as they need to be."

Police sealed off Ellesmere Road and Edmund Road, which are next to the scene and an incident room has been set up.

Chief Supt Tom Coughlan, from Queens Road police, said: "I would ask anyone who was in Alum Rock Road, between Saltley Viaduct and Bowyer Road, around 11pm at Saturday night and who may have seen something to contact the incident room."

The number to phone is 0845 113 5000.

Source: Birmingham Mail