Tesco praised for inclusive “Together this Ramadan” billboard campaign

Tesco’s inclusive Ramadan campaign has received praise online following a viral post on LinkedIn.

Aline Santos Farhat, Unilever’s Chief Brand Officer and Chief Equity Diversity & Inclusion Officer, praised the “refreshing and creative” direction of the campaign, as the advert, “features empty plates which only fill with food after the sun sets. Just like the 1.6 billion Muslims globally, who break their fast at Iftar every evening during Ramadan.”

The post gained hundreds of shares and thousands of positive reactions on the platform, with many praising its brilliance.

Despite boasting millions of Muslim customers every year, The Drum reported that this advert forms part of their broader commitment to inclusive marketing.

The “Together this Ramadan” billboard campaign, in partnership with Bartle Bogle Hegarty, puts the onus on the significance of Iftar, as when the sun settles into the night, the billboard fills the once empty plates with food (the billboards face eastwards to capture the sun setting behind them) – for around three hours before vanishing again, according to Campaign Live.

The complete tagline reads, “Together this Ramadan: In honour of everyone fasting, these plates only fill up as the sun goes down.”

Bartle Bogle Hegarty commissioned the Muslim photographer Khalil Musa and food consultant Dina Macki for a Middle Eastern twist on Iftar.

Helen Rhodes, the executive creative director of Bartle Bogle Hegarty, said,” We really wanted to make something that spoke to the community.”

The campaign involved the inclusion consultancy The Unmistakables, and their director and founder, Asad Dhunna, said in a statement: “Our stereotype study revealed that, within the broader media landscape, 67% of Muslim people feel they are portrayed in a negative light in the media, so it is our job to help brands stand behind the community and stave off any negative criticisms.”

The campaign was meticulous in its attention to detail, with those in charge keen to ensure other adverts, for example, selling alcohol, did not play in between, with the billboards popping up in areas like Bradford, Brent, and Birmingham.

 

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Categories: Marketing, News, Ramadan, Tesco

Why the Home Office must stop these Polish far-right politicians from entering the UK

Faith Matters calls on the Home Office to stop two far-right politicians from Poland from speaking at a community event in Manchester on Sunday, May 1.

Those names include the disgraced former MEP and far-right extremist from Poland, Janusz Korwin-Mikke, and Konrad Berkowicz of the far-right Confederation bloc, which we’ve highlighted before.

We made the same call about Mikke in 2018.

We are indebted to the organisation A Million Poles for making us aware of the event next week.

Part of our updated dossier to the Home Office highlights Mikke includes recent anti-Muslim content on Twitter, including propagating outlandish conspiracies about a so-called Islamic’ takeover’.

Credit: Twitter.

On Twitter, Mikke has pushed disinformation and propaganda about the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the ICC agrees to investigate war crimes.

Credit: Twitter.

Mikke supported the far-right media personality Eric Zemmour in the French election – LGBT+ groups are suing Zemmour for Holocaust revisionism over his denial about the deportation of gay men by the Nazi machine of tyranny.

When informed on Twitter that the falangist fascist dictator of Spain, Franciso Franco was “Jewish”, Mikke scoffed, stating that he “smashed” communism, before adding, “But you have to fight the JEWISH COMMUNE, because it is an intelligent, very dangerous enemy!”. The account Mikke quoted with this reply posts highly inflammatory and racists statements like, “Being jew/muslim is far worse for me than racemixing.”

Mikke’s use of Twitter has, over the years, targeted the Swedish furniture giant in July 2019, calling for the boycott of these “homo-fascists” in Poland. Much has also been written about their political aspirations to curtail LGBT+ rights in Poland.

Credit: Twitter.

It’s easy to find other examples of racist speech on Mikke’s Twitter – including a grotesque antisemitic meme captioned with the N-word.

Mikke has called for lowering the age of consent for children as, “There are girls who are 12, 13, and completely mature.”

Janusz Korwin-Mikke, Grzegorz Braun, Artur Dziambor, Robert Winnicki and Konrad Berkowicz (of the far-right Confederation bloc) faced widespread condemnation for standing beneath a banner which read “Vaccination sets you free”, echoing the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign which hung outside the Auschwitz death camp and other Nazi concentration camps.

In 2019, Berkowicz put a kippah (skullcap) on the head of a rival lawmaker Anna Krupk, during a debate on restitution for Jewish Holocaust victims, the Times of Israel reported.

The Confederation bloc opposed a motion supporting Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.

On Facebook in 2019, Berkowicz claimed that LGBT communities have “disturbed urges”. In 2016, Berkowicz shared an anti-Muslim meme linking refugees to ISIS as a “trojan horse” to enter Europe.

In 2020, the JPost reported that Mikke said on Polish television that “Murderous pogroms against Jews in Europe had a positive outcome because the weak in the Jewish community died and the strong survived”, which he used to claim that Covid-19 was ‘eradicating’ the weak and ‘improving’ the human gene pool.

Years earlier, Mikke made a Nazi salute in the EU Parliament in 2015 and 2014, claiming that the fascist dictator Mussolini was merely “trying to protect Jews” and that Hitler’ knew nothing’ about the Holocaust in a 2014 article where he expressed abhorrent views on rape.

The Polish anti-racism organisation Never Again told Faith Matters, “”The ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association is dismayed by the planned meeting of the Polish far-right leaders in Manchester. We are seriously concerned they are going to promote their hatred and bigotry among the Polish community in the UK. This meeting has to be prevented and the preachers of hate must not be allowed to sow division and strife.”

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Categories: Janus Korwin-Mikke, Manchester, News

Woman who yelled “kill all the Muslims” and made gun threats on train jailed

A woman who shouted, “kill all the Muslims,” called fellow passengers “terrorists”, and threatened a train manager received a prison sentence of over six months.

49-year-old Trisha Clifton pleaded guilty to a religiously aggravated offence at Reading Magistrates’ Court on April 4.

The British Transport Police (BTP) investigated the anti-Muslim and Islamophobic hate crime after Clifton boarded a train to Reading on April 1.

When asked to produce their ticket, the court heard how Clifton began to remove articles of clothing, placing them next to two passengers who she then abused, calling them “terrorists”.

As the train manager challenged them, Clifton made threats of violence, saying, “don’t make me get my two handguns out.”

Trisha Clifton continued their tirade of abuse, shouting, “kill all the Muslims” as they gestured in motions like she was handling a gun.

BTP officers were then waiting for Clifton at Reading station and searched her under the Firearms Act, which unearthed no weapons, before being arrested and held in custody.

BTP Sergeant James Smith said: “Clifton’s disgusting and unprovoked actions on the train were completely unacceptable.

“We take incidents of hate crime extremely seriously. Behaviour where someone is targeted because of who they are or made to feel uncomfortable will not be tolerated anywhere on the rail network.

“I am thankful to the courts for the sentenced imposed and hope it gives her time to reflect on her behaviour.”

Tell MAMA is proud to work in partnership with the BTP, helping to ensure passengers feel safe irrespective of their identity, as we work to support those impacted by all forms of hate crime. Our safety tips, which cover the London Underground and the wider rail networks, are free to download.

 

 

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Categories: BTP, hate crime, kill all the Muslims, News, train network

APPEAL: Woman subjected to racist abuse at Tooting Bec station

The British Transport Police (BTP) are appealing for information following the racist abuse of two women at Tooting Bec station in south London.

The racist incident occurred on the afternoon of April 3 at 3 pm.

A man pushed himself between two women, on a set of stairs leading towards the platform, before subjecting one of the women to racist abuse.

The BTP has since released a photo of a man they believe can help with their investigation.

Tell MAMA is proud to work in partnership with the British Transport Police against all forms of hate crime on the rail networks, including providing safety tips and advice.

For members of the public who have any information about the racist abuse, or recognise the man pictured, they can text the BTP on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 and quoting reference 445 of 03/04/22.

For anonymous tips, individuals can contact the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Or, if you want Tell MAMA to contact the BTP anonymously or on your behalf, get in touch via our website, or call our freephone on 0800 456 1226.

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Categories: BTP, hate crime, London Underground, News, Tooting Bec

APPEAL: Woman subjected to racist abuse at Tooting Bec station

The British Transport Police (BTP) are appealing for information following the racist abuse of two women at Tooting Bec station in south London.

The racist incident occurred on the afternoon of April 3 at 3 pm.

A man pushed himself between two women, on a set of stairs leading towards the platform, before subjecting one of the women to racist abuse.

The BTP has since released a photo of a man they believe can help with their investigation.

Tell MAMA is proud to work in partnership with the British Transport Police against all forms of hate crime on the rail networks, including providing safety tips and advice.

For members of the public who have any information about the racist abuse, or recognise the man pictured, they can text the BTP on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 and quoting reference 445 of 03/04/22.

For anonymous tips, individuals can contact the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Or, if you want Tell MAMA to contact the BTP anonymously or on your behalf, get in touch via our website, or call our freephone on 0800 456 1226.

The post APPEAL: Woman subjected to racist abuse at Tooting Bec station appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: BTP, hate crime, London Underground, News, Tooting Bec

Police investigating racist attack on worshippers outside East Ham mosque

The Metropolitan Police are treating the assault of two Muslim men outside of the Masjid Bilal & Islamic Centre in East Ham as a racist hate crime.

The assault took place yesterday evening at 9 pm as worshippers attended iftar.

According to the Evening Standard, eyewitnesses reported that around 15 European males arrived outside of the mosque armed with bottles, wooden sticks, fluorescent light tubes, beer bottles, and stones.

Injuries to the two Muslim men came from broken glass which did not require hospitalisation, according to a spokesperson for Scotland Yard.

The Evening Standard also reported that the perpetrators attempted to start fires by lighting the contents of bins, resulting in charred documents.

A spokesperson for Scotland Yard said:  “Police were called to reports that a group of men in Pilgrims Way, armed with bottles and hockey sticks, had attacked members of the mosque.”

Those responsible had fled the scene before the police arrived, and the investigation remains ongoing.

As protocol, we are re-issuing our personal safety tips and advice guides for mosques, and urge that they are adhered to as worshippers remain vigilant – you can download safety advice from our Resources section.

Tell MAMA is liaising with the Met Police on this serious incident further and we will endeavour to provide further updates where possible.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 7482/19APR. Members of the public can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to report anonymously.

Or, if you prefer that we at Tell MAMA contact the Metropolitan Police anonymously or on your behalf, get in touch via our website, or call our freephone on 0800 456 1226.

 

 

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Categories: East Ham, hate crime, MET Police, mosque, News

Police investigating racist attack on worshippers outside East Ham mosque

The Metropolitan Police are treating the assault of two Muslim men outside of the Masjid Bilal & Islamic Centre in East Ham as a racist hate crime.

The assault took place yesterday evening at 9 pm as worshippers attended iftar.

According to the Evening Standard, eyewitnesses reported that around 15 European males arrived outside of the mosque armed with bottles, wooden sticks, fluorescent light tubes, beer bottles, and stones.

Injuries to the two Muslim men came from broken glass which did not require hospitalisation, according to a spokesperson for Scotland Yard.

The Evening Standard also reported that the perpetrators attempted to start fires by lighting the contents of bins, resulting in charred documents.

A spokesperson for Scotland Yard said:  “Police were called to reports that a group of men in Pilgrims Way, armed with bottles and hockey sticks, had attacked members of the mosque.”

Those responsible had fled the scene before the police arrived, and the investigation remains ongoing.

As protocol, we are re-issuing our personal safety tips and advice guides for mosques, and urge that they are adhered to as worshippers remain vigilant – you can download safety advice from our Resources section.

Tell MAMA is liaising with the Met Police on this serious incident further and we will endeavour to provide further updates where possible.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 7482/19APR. Members of the public can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to report anonymously.

Or, if you prefer that we at Tell MAMA contact the Metropolitan Police anonymously or on your behalf, get in touch via our website, or call our freephone on 0800 456 1226.

 

 

The post Police investigating racist attack on worshippers outside East Ham mosque appeared first on TELL MAMA.

Categories: East Ham, hate crime, MET Police, mosque, News

GUILTY: Paul Bussetti admits posting video of Grenfell Tower effigy on bonfire

Paul Bussetti today (April 20) pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after sending a horrific video of an effigy of Grenfell Tower burning on a bonfire.

The 49-year-old filmed the bonfire, made siren noises, and said, “that’s what happens when you don’t pay the rent” before distributing the video over WhatsApp.

Bussetti received a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, according to the Press Association.

He was previously found not guilty at a trial in 2019 before the High Court quashed that verdict, ordering a retrial.

The fire claimed the lives of 72 people – survivors and those who lost loved ones have provided powerful, devastating testimonies in the pursuit of accountability and justice.

The video of the bonfire, captured on an evening in November 2018, made headlines and wide condemnation – including from the then Prime Minister Theresa May and the former home secretary Sajid Javid, who said survivors of this immense injustice deserved to be treated with the “utmost respect”.

An impact statement read in court on behalf of the Grenfell Tower victims said: “The overall reaction of the Grenfell community was one of shock, horror and outrage.”

The video included anti-Muslim and Islamophobic language – where a Muslim woman in the effigy, depicted as wearing a niqab, was called a “ninja”. Tell MAMA has long-documented how such dehumanising language harms Muslim women.

Other comments from the footage included, “Who’s jumping?”; “Don’t worry, stay in your flats”; and “Jump out of the window”.

We have refrained from showing footage or stills of the bonfire in the story so as to not re-traumatise those impacted, and urge the media to be mindful of what footage they use when reporting on this verdict.

When news of the guilty verdict broke we tweeted, “We welcome this verdict – the content was grotesque, deeply distressing, and certainly not something to do let alone share.”

Bussetti, through his solicitor, spoke of their intent to ‘mock’ his friends privately, and not intended to cause offence.

 

 

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Categories: Grenfell Tower, hate crime, London, News, Niqab, WhatsApp

Brother of murdered UK aid worker welcomes IS ‘Beatle’ conviction

The brother of a British aid worker killed by a so-called Islamic State terror cell known as “the Beatles” has welcomed the conviction of one of their members, saying: “An eight-year chapter of pain for my family has finally come to an end.”

Mike Haines, whose brother David Haines was murdered by the barbaric group, said the conviction of 33-year-old Londoner El Shafee Elsheikh in a US court on Thursday “provided us with some closure”.

David was captured by militants in Syria in March 2013 while delivering aid to the war-torn country.

His murder the following year was used for propaganda by “the Beatles”, who were given the moniker because of their distinctive British accents.

Elsheikh and fellow Beatle Alexanda Kotey will be sentenced for their part in the gruesome plot later this month.

In a statement, Mike Haines said: “While nothing can truly compensate for the hole David’s murder left in our hearts, the verdict provides us with some closure and ensures that all three surviving members of the gang involved in my brother’s murder have now faced justice.”

The cell, also said to be made up of ringleader Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, and Aine Davis, was thought to be responsible for the brutal killings of several Western and Japanese captives, including Britons Alan Henning and Mr Haines.

The latter two did not form part of the indictment against Elsheikh and Kotey, the latter having already admitted his role in the atrocities, because the court was focusing only on US victims.

It is believed the pair may yet face court in the UK for the deaths of British nationals.

Mr Haines, who runs education charity Global Acts Of Unity in honour of his 44-year-old brother, said he is due to fly to the US for the sentencing hearing.

He said: “My brother and the many other innocent lives taken by this terrorist organisation were never afforded justice.

“This unanimous judgment is a triumph for society over ills like terrorism and helps differentiate us from the hateful, divisive ideologies that fuel these individuals.

“It must also act as a warning to anyone else seduced by the false glamour of extremism.”

Bethany Haines, the daughter of David Haines, said the conclusion of the trial was “a lot more emotional” than she expected.

Speaking after his conviction, Ms Haines told BBC One: “It was a lot more emotional than I expected.

“I expected to be happy, excited, but it’s the realisation that he’s guilty, what he’s done to all the families, all the hostages.

“I’ve not slept a full night’s sleep probably since my dad was killed in 2014 so hopefully tonight I’ll get a full night’s sleep.”

On Thursday, Elsheikh was convicted of eight counts relating to four US hostages, James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller, after a trial at the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.

Following the verdict, Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s counter terrorism command, said the force had provided evidence to the US court.

He added: “This evidence has contributed to the overall prosecution case, and enabled our colleagues in the US to ensure this man has been brought to justice for some of the most evil and terrible crimes imaginable.

“It shows how we, along with our international partners, are absolutely determined to identify and bring those responsible for extremely serious terrorist offences to justice, even if those offences have been committed on foreign soil.”

Elsheikh, Kotey and Emwazi all knew each other in England before joining IS, the court was told.

Elsheikh was captured alongside Kotey in Syria in 2018 by the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces while trying to escape to Turkey.

Last year, Kotey pleaded guilty to eight counts relating to his involvement, while Davis was jailed in Turkey and Emwazi was killed in a drone strike.

The post Brother of murdered UK aid worker welcomes IS ‘Beatle’ conviction appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Aine Davis, Alexanda Kotey, David Haines, El Shafee Elsheikh, Islamic State, Syria

Racists jailed for vicious vigilante assault on takeaway worker

Two racist vigilantes who called a takeaway worker a “Turkish terrorist” before violently attacking them were sentenced at Exeter Crown Court last month.

Louis Mearns, 25, and Brandon Burrows, 26, targeted 32-year-old Naveed Rahimi because he worked at the kebab shop which sat below the room where the horrific murder of Lorraine Cox occurred in September 2020.

Cox’s murderer, Adam Mangori (who is presently serving a life sentence), had nothing to do with the takeaway – he had rented the flat above the business.

Mearns and Burrows ambushed Mr Rahimi at his home on October 2, 2020 – falsely accusing him of being involved in the murder of Lorraine Cox and of being a “Turkish terrorist”.

Brandon Burrows hurled a can of alcohol at Rahimi’s head as a group of men arrived at the property at around 5 pm. After exiting the BMW along with Mearns, Burrows violently assaulted Rahimi with a knuckle duster as he shouted racist abuse, namely, “Turkish terrorist. You chopped up that woman, you were part of it.”

Both men told neighbours that they were “living next to a terrorist”.

Mearns punched Mr Rahimi four or five times and attempted to coerce him down an alleyway by indicating he had a knife in his pocket. He also told Mr Rahimi that he would return to the property to stab him.

After being arrested by officers from Devon and Cornwall Police, both gave false alibies, only to be caught out by GPS data from their mobile phones, DNA evidence from the alcoholic drink, and an eyewitness.

Mr Burrows has a history of racist and vigilante violence – resulting in several convictions, including assaulting two individuals he falsely accused of being paedophiles.

In mitigation, the defence put forward that Louis Mearns was ‘not racist’ and simply angered by rumours surrounding the murder of Lorraine Cox.

The judge, however, disagreed.

Judge Timothy Rose said: “There was no solid reason for you to believe Mr Rahimi was involved in the killing of Lorraine Cox beyond your vigilantist and racist views about the murder.”

The BBC reported that Mr Rahimi is not Turkish, and is of British-Afghan heritage.

Brandon Burrows admitted racially aggravated battery and whilst Mearns denied the same offence, both were found guilty, resulting in a 44-week sentence for Burrows and Mearns receiving a 44-week prison sentence.

Despite the racist nature of the violence, the BBC headline made no reference to this fact, rather, presenting a neutral headline of “Lorraine Cox: Men jailed for attacking man falsely accused of murder”. Equally, the Exmouth Journal omitted reference to the racist nature of the attack in their headline by writing, “Pair jailed for vigilante attack on kebab shop worker” on April 8. In contrast, ITV News did include it in their headline, “Pair jailed for ‘racist vigilante-style attack’ on man falsely accused of Lorraine Cox murder” last week.

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Categories: Devon and Cornwall Police, Exeter, hate crime, News, Turkish terrorist