MASSACRE IN MADRID: Memory book at mosque

Source:Birmingham Evening Mail (England) (March 13, 2004): p.2. (109 words)

Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2004 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd

A BOOK of condolence has been opened at a city mosque in memory of the 199 people killed in
the bomb outrage in Madrid. Tributes are being paid to the victims of Thursday's atrocity by visitors to the Birmingham Central Mosque in Highgate.

The book was opened at lunchtime yesterday before an address by the chairman of the mosque, Dr Mohammed Naseem.

A spokesman for Birmingham Central Mosque said: 'The Muslim community has been deeply affected by the bomb attacks.

'We want to convey to the community that we do not condone terrorist acts and also show solidarity with the victims.'

CAPTION(S):
RESPECTS: Adam Yosef of Saltley at mosque

Source Citation:"MASSACRE IN MADRID: Memory book at mosque." Birmingham Evening Mail (England) (March 13, 2004): 2.

Tributes book opened at city mosque

Source:Birmingham Evening Mail (England) (March 13, 2004): p.2. (115 words)

Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2004 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd

A BOOK of condolence has been opened at a city mosque in memory of the 199 people killed in the bomb outrage in Madrid. Tributes are being paid to the victims of Thursday's atrocity by visitors to the Birmingham Central Mosque in Highgate.

The book was opened at lunchtime yesterday before an address by the chairman of the mosque, Dr Mohammed Naseem.

A spokesman for Birmingham Central Mosque said: 'The Muslim community has been deeply affected by the bomb attacks.

'We want to convey to the community that we do not condone terrorist acts and also show solidarity with the victims.'

CAPTION(S):
RESPECTS: Adam Yosef of Saltley signs the book of condolence at the mosque

Source Citation:"Tributes book opened at city mosque." Birmingham Evening Mail (England) (March 13, 2004): 2.

THOUSANDS OFF TO RALLY

Source:Birmingham Evening Mail (England) (March 20, 2004): p.2. (330 words)

Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2004 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd
Byline: LISA MCCARTHY
THOUSANDS of Bir-mingham anti-war protesters, some dressed in Guantanamo Bay-style orange boiler suits, set off for London today to join a mass demonstration against the continuing occupation in Iraq.

Amongst the protesters heading for the march, which marks the first anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, were a thousand Birmingham Muslims. They were calling for Birmingham terrorist suspect Moazzam Begg to be set free from the Cuban prison camp.
Three of the coaches set off from Birmingham's Central Mosque this morning including chairman

Dr Muhammad Naseem and several supporters dressed in orange boiler suits imitating the prisoners at Guantanamo. It was not clear whether Azmat Begg, Moazzam's father, who has recently been in America to campaign for his son's release, had joined the march.

Adam Yosef, spokesman for the mosque, said: 'We have got about 1,000 people heading to London.

'Our aim is to demand the release of Moazzam and justice for the other detainees.' Moazzam Begg was arrested in Islamabad, Pakistan in February 2002 under the orders of US officials.
The 35-year-old father of four from Sparkhill, who is suspected of having links with Al Qaida, has been holed up in Guantanamo Bay for the past two years. He is being held with fellow Briton Feroz Abbasi, aged 23.

Stop The War Coalition (STWC), CND and Muslim Association of Britain, who organised today's march, claim tens of thousands of people from across the country were joining the London event. Speakers at the rally, which started at Hyde Park before finishing at Trafalgar Square, included London mayor Ken Livingstone, MPs George Galloway, Alice Mahon and Jeremy Corbyn and
MI5 whistleblower David Shayler.

FORTY suspects have so far been captured as fierce fighting in northwestern Pakistan continued today.
Pakistani troops have surrounded a group of Al Qaida fighters.

It is thought that Osama Bin Laden's right hand man, Ayman Al Zawarhi, may be among them.

CAPTION(S):
MARCH: Protesters leaving Birmingham today, and right, Moazzam Begg. Picture: John Reavenall

Source Citation:"THOUSANDS OFF TO RALLY." Birmingham Evening Mail (England) (March 20, 2004): 2

Mosque's Bigley shrine wrecked (Home news)

Source:The Sun (London, England) (Oct 13, 2004): p.6. (250 words)

Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2004 News Group Newspapers Ltd.

Byline: John Scott

Thugs steal Ken's condolence book

CALLOUS thugs have wrecked Ken Bigley's shrine in one of Britain's biggest mosques.
They stole a book of condolence signed by 300 people in honour of the beheaded hostage.
And they also snatched a framed photo, sympathy cards and candles for Ken.
Another picture of the Liverpool engineer was turned upside down and posters were torn down at Birmingham Central Mosque.

Worshippers said an Iraqi-born man, upset by the tribute, had unsuccessfully tried to destroy it on Saturday -the day after official confirmation of Ken's death.

The book was stolen after being put on display at the weekend. It had been signed by the city's Muslim leaders and members of the public. Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of the mosque, said: "There's always an element who's not part of the mainstream and does what's wrong. They are sick people. It's very distressing both for us and Mr Bigley's family." Another official, AdamYosef, added: "It was a horrible and callous thing to do."

A new condolence book will be kept safe and sent to Ken's family once signed.
In March, a book of sympathy for the victims of the Madrid bombings was stolen from the same mosque.

Ken, 62, was beheaded by Jordanian-born extremist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi three weeks after being kidnapped.

Yesterday US war jets blitzed a terrorist "safe house" in Fallujah.

Intelligence sources said it was being used at the time by al-Zarqawi's cohorts.

CAPTION(S):
Targeted...the mosque and Ken Bigley, right

Source Citation:"Mosque's Bigley shrine wrecked." The Sun (London, England) (Oct 13, 2004):