Come Saturday, there will be at least four groups protesting in central London:
(1) Islam4UK. They write:
On 31st October 2009, at approximately 1 pm, Muslims will be marching in a spectacular procession in support of Shari’ah law. Never before has such an event taken place in the United Kingdom, as thousands of Muslims plan to take to the heart of the Capital and demand the full implementation of Shari’ah law… This march will begin from the Houses of Parliament, followed by 10 Downing Street and culminate in Trafalgar Square, to let the people of Britain know that Islam and Shari’ah is coming to them very, very, soon….
This is, of course, just the latest in a long line of stunts by the small cadre of fundamentalists grouped around Anjem Choudary.
(2) The English Defence League. According to a video message on Paul Ray’s website (sic for spellings):
London October 31st is a pivotol moment in our modern history and could change the course of history. Sharia law and militant Islam have no place upon English soil. There is a counter protest to Anjem Choudary that starts at 12 in Picadilly Circus. But if you cant make that then descend on Picadilly Circus in protest after the football.
The official EDL website adds:
Whilst British troops have been fighting and dying, your Members of Parliament have submitting inappropriate expense claims for duck islands, porn films and luxurious second homes. Their obscene behaviour had to be leaked to the press before some of them reluctantly repaid the money taken from tax-payers.
They have also bailed-out the fat-cats, the privileged few, in the City with hundreds of billions of pounds of tax-payers money whilst leaving 2.47 million British people to rot unemployed, or on unliveable wages.
In the absence of effective Government the English Defence League has been forced to rise up.
If you share the EDL’s values please attend the peaceful demonstrations at Leeds City Square at 1pm on Saturday 31st October 2009, and also at London Piccadilly Circus at 12pm on the same day.
The EDL had originally declined to endorse the London event, and one would have thought that Paul Ray’s recent alliance with a man who glorifies Northern Irish Loyalist groups would have made the organisation even less inclined to be associated with Ray’s “St George Division”. However, apparently an “EDL London” group has now come onto the scence, making it official.
(3) Muslims4UK. According to their website:
Muslims4UK are planning, God Willing, to hold a counter-demonstration on Saturday October 31st 2009 at Piccadilly Circus against al-Muhajiroun (Islam4UK), the English Defence League – who are both scheduled to hold protests there that day – and the Daily Express.
Muslims4UK are proud to live in a multifaith and multicultural Britain. We are proud to be both Muslims and British.
We are very concerned by the ongoing provocative actions of al-Muhajiroun, the English Defence League and the Daily Express who all seem to be working to undermine social cohesion in the UK and incite hatred and intolerance towards British Muslims.
The mover behind this is Inayat Bunglawala of the Muslim Council of Britain and ENGAGE; he explains:
In recent days I have seen some emails from anxious Muslims saying that they have got to publicly put clear distance between themselves and al-Muhajiroun. Others have wondered whether they should organise a counter-demonstration on the same day at the same venue. I happen to think that is an excellent idea and have contacted the Metropolitan police to obtain permission for a counter-demo. I have no idea how many people will turn up if it goes ahead but I would hope that it won’t be too difficult to surpass the numbers mustered by al-Muhajiroun.
(4) British Muslims for Secular Democracy. As has been announced on a number of blogs (including my own, see below):
British Muslims for Secular Democracy today announces the launch of its plans to organise a demonstration on Saturday 31st October to counter a demonstration by Al Muhajiroun, at which they will call for the abolition of democracy in Britain and the imposition of Shariah Law on all… British Muslims for Secular Democracy are organising the counter demonstration, bringing together a number of religious and non-religious groups…Invite your friends, help get the word out, and see you in Piccadilly Circus, 1 pm, Saturday 31 October.
According to spokesperson Shaaz Mahboob:
My organisation, British Muslims for Secular Democracy (BMSD), had been working closely with likeminded British Muslim and non-Muslim democrats in planning a demonstration to coincide with Anjem’s anti-democracy march and protest against freedom. Last week a Facebook group was also set up to float the idea and ignite people’s interest. We had planned to make a formal announcement on Monday, but it makes sense, in the circumstances, to bring that announcement forward.
Our counter-demonstration is based on our belief in, and commitment to, those liberal values that define the British state, including legal and constitutional equality for all, equal rights for women and minorities, and religious freedom, including the right to be free of faith. We are turning out to defend all of these virtues of a secular democracy that Islam4UK so despises and daydream of taking away from the British public.
…I am excited that Bunglawala is also joining the fight for liberalism. It seems obvious to me that he has been on a quite extraordinary personal journey in recent months.
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