Posted on 02/03/2007 11:09:52 AM PST by blam
Muslim unrest as police carry out new raids
By Nick Britten and Nigel Bunyan
Last Updated: 8:08am GMT 03/02/2007
Police raided three more addresses in Birmingham yesterday as they continued to question nine men over their involvement in the alleged plot to kidnap and behead a serving British Muslim soldier.
Men leave Birmingham Central mosque after Friday prayers
No further arrests were made but West Midlands Police said that a "significant quantity of exhibits" taken from the 12 other properties were being examined following Wednesday's arrests.
Officers were granted an extension to hold the men until Feb 5 and said they began questioning the first of the suspects yesterday.
Searches of six of the premises had now ended, with roads being re-opened, and the other searches would end "in the next few days".
The continuing police presence is causing major unrest in the Muslim community, particularly at Alum Rock, scene of four raids.
Yesterday, Dr Mohammed Naseem, the chairman of Birmingham Central mosque and one of the city's most senior Muslims, said members of his faith were being persecuted by the Government and compared the current political climate to Nazi Germany.
Mr Naseem, who will address a public rally this afternoon, used Friday prayers to accuse Tony Blair of "persecuting" Muslims to justify counter-terrorist legislation.
He said: "They have invented this perception of a threat. To justify that, they have to maintain incidents to prove something is going on. There is dismay and people feel they are being persecuted unjustly.
"There is no reason for that. If there is a reason, the process should be open and for everybody to see what is happening."
He said Muslims were being used to set up a "police state" and "dictatorship", adding: "They need some excuse to seize that control and they are using Muslims for that. Just look what happened in Germany — Hitler was an elected leader. He started to persecute Jews and the same is happening to Muslims today. We are being used as a political pawn. I am seeing this as the view held by non-Muslims.
"I don't think this anger will manifest itself in any unrest. We are trying to keep calm and keep our poise and dignity while this continues."
His words are likely only to feed the resentment already felt, rightly or wrongly, that a Muslim's role in Britain is that of victim and easy target.
It is less than six months since another high-profile counter-terrorism raid, in Washwood Heath, ended with no charges being bought. Mosques in the area have also been monitored by the authorities.
In Alum Rock yesterday, where three homes and a grocer's store were raided in the early hours of Wednesday, it was clear that residents were feeling the pressure.
Mazher Iqbar, 30, a taxi driver, said: "Yesterday outside the shop [Khan's grocer's, which was raided] a group of white youths stopped their car and shouted abuse at us, telling us to get back to where we came from. The police standing at the cordon looked on and said nothing."
Shabir Hussain, a preacher at the Ludlow Road mosque added: "Someone in a car shouted 'paki bastards' at me. The situation is not good.
"People are very angry. When we had problems with the IRA were all the Irish blamed? The media need to leave us alone now, all this attention does no one any good."
"The police are paranoid," said a young mother and schoolfriend of Amjad -Mahmood, one of those arrested. "Every time they see a Muslim they cry wolf and arrest him.
"How many times do they have to arrest Muslims in a blaze of publicity then release them without charge? They are terrorising a community."
Mazher Syad, 24, an IT manager, said: "They could have arrested these people a lot more diplomatically. Did they really need so many officers and to close off entire streets for days?"
At the Ludlow Road mosque, Allah Ditta, a worshipper, said: "People are very sceptical after what happened at Forest Gate and here last September. Muslims feel they have been tarnished. Still, we are urging everyone to go home and pray for justice."
Several thousand people are expected to attend today's meeting, where Mr Naseem will share a stage with, among others, Moazzem Begg, the ex-teacher who spent three years in Guantanamo Bay and who has links with one of the bookshops raided this week.
Muslim. Unrest. But I repeat myself!
If it's dawning on them only now, my God are they slow!
Muslim Unrest ?
hell, they never rest
Fixed
But you repeat yourself! :^)
Muslims have invented this perception of persecution. To justify that, they have to maintain incidents to prove something is going on. There is dismay and [British] people feel they are being terrorized unjustly.
Got a message for them.
The next Black Maria leaves for the Bailey in 5-minutes;
it's all reserved seating just for you,...
BE ON IT!
Applications for a stay at "CLUB GITMO" will continue to be gladly accepted.
If it is that bad the good doctor and his coreligionalists should beat a hasty retreat to their countries of origin
The culture of victimhood is one of Islam's main tools used to perpetuate it.
How about they carry out some more and ship the whole lot back to where they came from and then keep them out? This is like inviting into your home the neighborhood ax murderer. 120 people blown up in Baghdad today. Is this a "religion" or Murder Incorporated? Good Grief!
pc is going to be death of us
And, many are being paid (welfare) to live there.
I'm reminded of the words to an old song, "You knew I was a snake when you took me in."
I forget. Did the Jews blow up any trains in Berlin? Did they blow up anything in Germany? Did they advocate replacing German law with Torah law?
Dr. Naseem is lucky that I'm not in charge. I would declare Islam illegal in the UK. I would close all the Mosques. And anyone who objected would be killed.
ML/NJ
How long will it take for nations to deport the scum that infects them?
It's time for western civilization to come up with a plan to save their countries and send this vermin back to where they came from.
A survey of more than 1,000 UK Muslims by the Policy Exchange think-tank yesterday suggested the younger generation is more likely to be attracted by political forms of Islam.
Some 17 per cent of over-55s compared with 37 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds would prefer living under sharia law than British law, the report said.<<<<
Sounds like a real threat to British rule to me.
I don't remember the German-Jews ever wanting to set up a separate society within Germany; nor demanding Hasidic Law & courts in place of German; nor preaching openly in synagogues to wage war on 'the unbelievers'.
For a total antisemite, Naseem certainly isn't bashful to use the Jews to help him play both the race card & the victim card.
Amazing for a guy who probably would have been quite happy & proud to have joined the SS, and gas those same Jews whose plight he is comparing this Muslim "persecution" to!
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