Poppy Burning Leads to Protests Outside Portsmouth's Jami Mosque
Categories: Latest News
Monday November 15 2010
 |
Police have launched an investigation in to reported offences committed during a protest outside Jami Mosque in Portsmouth on Saturday. |
An article Portsmouth Today states:
“Scores of demonstrators gathered outside Portsmouth’s Jami Mosque. They were protesting after a small group of Muslims – not from the city – burned poppies in London during the two minutes’ silence on Armistice Day.”
”The protest, led by former soldier David Tallard, congregated outside the mosque at midday and numbered about 40.”
”It broke for Pompey’s home game against Doncaster, and gathered again shortly after 5pm this time with about 100 taking part.”
”The protest, led by former soldier David Tallard, congregated outside the mosque at midday and numbered about 40.”
”It broke for Pompey’s home game against Doncaster, and gathered again shortly after 5pm this time with about 100 taking part.”
“The protest was joined by far right extremists from the English Defence League who are reported to have made the coach trip up from London to take part.”
Once again, an occurrence by a handful of people is cause for the EDL and their sympathisers to launch an attack against the whole Muslim population. As is reported, none of the Muslims who took part in the Armistice Day fiasco were from Portsmouth so why choose this location to demonstrate your disdain at the actions in London?
Tallard is quoted as saying that the reason the demonstration was held outside this mosque was not racially motivated but was because “someone had already painted a poppy on the outside of the mosque.”
This does not tie in with the same article stating that EDL members had made the coach trip up to the location – suggesting it was pre-planned rather than a spontaneous act on a “busy road.”
Among the other areas of the country where the EDL have targeted the Muslim community include Leicester and Bradford. One EDL member was arrested on suspicion of being involved in a plot to blow up a mosque in Bournemouth. Their antics have proven time and again that their sentiment spreads to all Muslims rather than specifically to anyone engaging in extremism.
Had they just wanted to condemn the poppy protests, they would have found willing members in the Muslim community of Portsmouth. As the article further states:
“The Muslim community in Portsmouth said they condemned the burning of the poppies and that they would have joined any protest, had it not been directed at the Jami Mosque.”
”Akf Suyeb, of the mosque, said: ‘When these people are pointing their fingers at us about this, it’s not right.
“We condemn the people who burnt the poppies, and we do show our respect to the people who died in war.”
”After all, Indian people, Muslim people, also died during the first and second world wars. We should remember that.’”
“We would have absolutely joined in a protest, because the Muslim community condemns this act, but not when it is against our mosque.”
For their part, the poppy burners – despite their claims to be Muslims – were evidently trying to inciting hatred and violence against Muslims with their actions. The events in Portsmouth and the rise of the EDL show that they are having quite a bit of success.