Birmingham City Council removes racist and anti-Muslim graffiti

May 3, 2018 Article

Birmingham City Council swiftly removed a spate of racist and anti-Muslim graffiti in the Small Heath area of the city.

The graffiti used the racial epithet ‘P*ki’ and crudely reference paedophilia, written as ‘Pedo’, and other graffiti includes the use of the word ‘c***t’.

Identical graffiti appeared in the Small Heath area in August 2017, locals did their best to cover the graffiti and reported it to the council for removal.

Tell MAMA has, on both occasions, reported incidents of anti-Muslim and racist graffiti in the area, liaising further with the council to ensure its removal.

The acts of graffiti, whilst months apart, may be connected, as the letter ‘I’ is the only letter written in lowercase.

Graffiti reported in August 2017 (L), graffiti reported in May (Centre & Right).

Locals confirmed on Facebook yesterday that the most recent graffiti was removed. One resident wrote, “It’s all gone now” yesterday evening. Another resident wrote “The walls are clean, the graffiti has been removed and the matter is being dealt with by the Police”, on May 3.

According to West Midlands Police, the council will try to remove any racist graffiti within 48 hours, and you can report graffiti for removal online.

Anyone can report graffiti in public areas – be it on bins, benches, and public buildings – to their local council.

Local group ‘The Bearded Broz’ documented similar graffiti in the Hob Moor Road area of the city in March.

You can get advice through our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

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Categories: Birmingham, graffiti, hate crime, News

In Tunisia, Jews gather at Africa’s oldest synagogue under tight security

May 3, 2018 Article

Under tight security at Africa’s oldest synagogue, Jewish pilgrims on Wednesday staged their biggest religious ceremony in Tunisia since a 2011 revolution undermined security in the North African country.

Mainly Muslim Tunisia is home to one of North Africa’s largest Jewish communities. Though they now number less than 2,000 people, Jews have lived in Tunisia since Roman times.

In 2011, after the uprising that toppled former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali the annual celebration was cancelled, and in following years only a few hundred attended, fearing attacks by hardline Islamists.

This year, revellers chanted and danced in a two-day pilgrimage to the El Ghriba synagogue at the popular tourist island resort of Djerba 500 km (310 miles) south of Tunis.

“The security situation is excellent here and this has encouraged us to come back … Today we feel safer in Tunisia than in Paris,” Isabel Guez, a Jewish visitor from Paris, told Reuters.

“This celebration is a great opportunity for approchement between Muslims, Jews and other religions and an opportunity to call for peace and love across the world,” she added.

Some 5,000 pilgrims attended, organisers said, a significant increase on 2,000 last year. Tunisia has not seen a major militant attack since scores of foreigners were killed in two strikes claimed by Islamic State in 2015.

Hundreds of pilgrims prayed, lit candles and wrote wishes on eggs. Others celebrated by sipping glasses of boukha, a liqueur made from figs.

In 2002 militants linked to al Qaeda attacked the synagogue with a truck bomb killing 21 Western tourists.

Authorities took no chances this time with hundreds of police, soldiers and members of anti-terror units patrolling streets. Checkpoints were set up around the synagogue.

“With the good security situation now, the number of visitors exceeds 5,000 from Israel, Russia and Europe,” said Perez Trabelsi, the head of the Jewish community in Djerba.

The El Ghriba synagogue, home to most of Tunisia’s Jews, is built on the site of a Jewish temple that is believed to date back almost 1,900 years.

The post In Tunisia, Jews gather at Africa’s oldest synagogue under tight security appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: el ghriba synagogue, Jews, Muslim, News