Teens target Muslim mother and daughter with shooting sounds and gun gestures

March 22, 2019 Article

A group of teenagers made machine gun sounds and directed gun gestures at a Muslim mother and her young daughter as they passed each other on a London street.

The incident took place at around 10:23 am today (March 22) in the north-western part of the city.

Speaking to Tell MAMA, the mother, who wears the hijab, agreed to have her story told anonymously.

The incident mirrors similar incidents in Oxford and Southampton which were reported to Tell MAMA following last week’s terror attack which left 50 Muslims dead in New Zealand.

She described her fears and a desire to protect her daughter by walking away from the abuse, which she felt was directed at her as a Muslim because of her hijab.

Given the young age of her daughter, she described how she did her best to distract them from the abuse and downplay the gravity of the situation as to not worry them further.

Tell MAMA reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police for intelligence as the woman did not want to take the matter further.

She described the teenagers as being a mix of males from white and black backgrounds.

We have seen an unprecedented spike in reports to our service, rising by 593 per cent, in the week which followed the Christchurch mosque terror attack, with 95 reports. Of which, 89 per cent made direct reference to New Zealand.

Of the online cases reported to Tell MAMA, examples included praise for the suspect Brenton Tarrant, a self-avowed white supremacist, to dehumanising and racialised comments celebrating the murder of ‘P*kis’ (despite the victims coming from a range of ethnic backgrounds), and generalised Islamophobic statements which justified this form of terrorism as a form of retaliation. Some accounts went as far as to argue that Islam should be removed from society regardless.

Other recent examples of Islamophobic incidents this week include the vandalism of five mosques in Birmingham, which is being investigated by counter-terror police. Counter-terror police are still questioning a 50-year-old man in connection with a far-right inspired stabbing in Surrey last Saturday.

Tell MAMA has documented more than 150 incidents against mosques and Islamic institutions, where information is held in the public domain, since May 2013, in an interactive map.

Given this sharp rise in reports to Tell MAMA, both online and offline, we urge Muslims, Islamic institutions, and members of the public to follow our safety tips.

You can get advice from 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: gun, hate crime, New Zealand, News, shooting sounds

New Zealand Killer Will Spend Life in Isolation in Prison says Prime Minister

March 22, 2019 Article

New Zealand’s deputy prime minister says the man accused of killing 50 people in two mosques will spend the rest of his life in isolation in prison and called for solidarity to eradicate “hate-filled ideologies”.

Winston Peters was speaking at an emergency session of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Co-operation’s executive committee called by Turkey to combat prejudice against Muslims after the attack.

Mr Peters’ attendance comes amid controversy sparked by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who, at election campaign rallies, has been screening video clips of the attack, despite efforts by New Zealand to prevent the video’s spread.

Mr Erdogan also drew Australia’s anger for comments suggesting Australians and New Zealanders with anti-Muslim sentiments would be sent back in coffins like their ancestors who fought against Turks in the First World War Battle of Gallipoli.

Mr Peters took a conciliatory tone on Friday, welcoming comments by Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who said at a news conference at the end of the OIC meeting that Australians and New Zealanders visiting Turkey would be greeted at Gallipoli remembrance ceremonies next month with the same welcoming hospitality “as they always were”.

Mr Peters said: “We are returning home to New Zealand with a grateful assurance that our people will come here to commemorate Anzac and will be as welcome as they always were.”

He said he did not discuss Mr Erdogan’s use of the footage with Turkey’s foreign minister or president.

“I did not see any sound, peaceful purposes in raising it,” Mr Peters said, adding that they had received “very assuring information” from the Turkish presidency.

Mr Peters told representatives of Muslim nations: “No punishment can match the depravity of (the gunman’s) crime but the families of the fallen will have justice.”

He also screened moving photographs of New Zealanders mourning the victims.

Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, was arrested and charged with murder. The gunman livestreamed the attack and released a manifesto describing his white supremacist views and how he planned the shootings.

The OIC urged all countries to refrain from statements and policies that associate Islam with terror and extremism. It also demanded that March 15 – the day of the Christchurch attack – be marked as the International Day of Solidarity Against Islamophobia.

Addressing the OIC meeting on Friday, Mr Erdogan praised New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, saying her “reaction, the empathy displayed, and her solidarity with Muslims” should serve as an example to all leaders.

He condemned populist politicians who he said encouraged attacks on Muslims and refugees.

“Politicians who pave themselves the road to power by alienating Muslims and creating enemies out of refugees must pull themselves together.”

He also called for neo-Nazi groups to be considered terrorists.

He said: “If we don’t show our reaction in a strong manner, the neo-Nazi virus will engulf the body even more. If we don’t raise our voices, Western governments will not disrupt their comfort.”

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Categories: Brenton Tarrant, Christchurch, Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand, News

Mosques Remain Under Security One Week After the Christchurch Massacre

March 22, 2019 Article

Mosques will remain under heightened security for Friday prayers a week after the Christchurch terror attack, while counter-terror police investigate a spate of “abhorrent” vandalism.

The West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit was working with police after five mosques in Birmingham had their windows smashed in a “despicable act” on Thursday.

The motive is unknown but a series of suspected Islamophobic hate crimes have blighted the UK following the massacre of 50 people at two mosques in New Zealand by a suspected right-wing extremist.

Two were charged after a report a taxi driver in Rochdale was abused and threatened by people referencing the terror attack, and far-right symbols were spray-painted near a school in Oxford.

An Asian man in London was left with a head injury following a “horrible hate crime assault”, and a man was being questioned following a suspected terror attack in Stanwell, Surrey.

Scotland Yard said on Thursday that officers would be continuing increased patrols, while working with Muslim communities and faith leaders to give security advice.

Commander Mark McEwan said: “This approach will continue … as well as over the week ahead with policing tailored in response to local community concerns and needs.

“This has specifically taken into account Friday prayers and vigils in response to the attack in New Zealand.”

There has been no intelligence linking the events in the UK with the attack in Christchurch during Friday prayer last week, but the efforts have been taken to reassure communities.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, speaking after a meeting between Muslim leaders and police at the capital’s City Hall on Thursday night, said: “Mosques should always be sanctuaries, places where people feel safe to worship and practise their faith in peace.”

Farooq Aftab, a spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, stressed the need to be alert to danger.

“We have heard what’s going on in Birmingham, and we have to be on our guard and we have to be vigilant,” he said.

A sledgehammer had been used to smash some of the windows during those attacks.

Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said: “This is an abhorrent, despicable act that is clearly designed to create fear in our communities who are actually cherished in Birmingham.”

Police were collecting forensic evidence and examining CCTV to identify a suspect.

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Categories: Christchurch, Christchurch massacre, Islamic, mosques, News