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12 Responses to “Islam4UK an Islamic group said to have links to the Islamic extremist group al-Muhajiroun is planning to march through the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett.”

1. Mohammed the Prophet Says:
   January 2nd, 2010 at 8:22 pm

   Who EVEN cares if a few muslims depart this mortal coil?

2. Pew Sitter Says:
   January 4th, 2010 at 9:32 am

   Anjem Choudary is simply a bad man:-

   Telegraph

   Islamic leader vows to march through Wootton Bassett

   The leader of a controversial Islamic group vowed to continue with plans for a march through Wootton Bassett in an online letter to families of fallen soldiers.

   Anjem Choudary of Islam4UK – a branch of the extremist al-Muhajiroun movement – sparked dismay with plans to parade through the town famous for honouring service personnel killed in Afghanistan.

   Civic leaders begged Mr Choudary to reconsider his proposal for 500 members to walk up the Wiltshire town’s High Street, carrying empty coffins.

   A Facebook site dedicated to preventing the march has already attracted over 120,000 members.

   But last night Mr Choudary – who wants a withdrawal of troops from the country – re-stated his reasons for the march on his website.

   In the long letter entitled “To the families of British soldiers who have fallen”, he also mis-spells the name of the market town.

   Mr Choudary said: “It is worth reminding those who are still not blinded by the media propaganda that Afghanistan is not a British Town near Wootton Basset but rather Muslim land which no one has the right to occupy, with a Muslim population who do not deserve their innocent men, women and children to be killed for political mileage and for the greedy interests of the oppressive US and UK regimes.

   “The procession in Wootton Basset is therefore an attempt to engage the British publics minds on the real reasons why their soldiers are returning home in body bags and the real cost of the war.”

   Earlier Mr Choudary, 42, a former lawyer, explained that the march was being held “not in memory of the occupying and merciless British military” but of the Muslims he says have been “murdered in the name of democracy and freedom”.

   The event – if permitted by police – will be a peaceful one, with “symbolic coffins” being carried to honour Muslim victims of the conflict.

   But the walk will not coincide with the return of a dead soldier’s body, Mr Choudary added.

   Hundreds of people line the market town’s High Street regularly to watch servicemen’s bodies being driven through from RAF Lyneham.

   Ex-mayor and councillor Chris Wannell said of the idea: “We don’t do what we do at Wootton Bassett for any political reason at all, but to pay our respects to those who have given their lives for our freedom.

   “We are a Christian country and a traditional old English market town who honour very much our Queen and country. We obey the law and pay respects to our servicemen who protect our freedom.

   “If this man has any decency about him he will not hold a march through Wootton Bassett.”

   He also called on the media not to give the group any attention.

   North Wiltshire MP James Gray said the thousands who appear on the roadside at Wootton would not be drawn into political conflict with the group.

   He said: “They will say, these are foolish people making a silly point – we’ll get on with our ordinary lives thank you.

   “This also misunderstands the nature of what the people of Wootton Bassett do. They are not blood-thirstily in favour of the war. Most people would say they were not qualified to comment on the rightness or wrongness.

   “The people of Wootton Bassett are decent, quiet, pragmatic people and they’ll stay at home instead (of reacting to the march).”

   Secretary of Wootton Bassett British Legion Anne Bevis urged the group to think “long and hard” before marching.

   Wiltshire Police said they were aware of the “significant community concern” caused by the proposal. A spokeswoman said the force would have to approve details before permitting the march and may even prohibit it.

   Setting out its purpose, the Facebook group which opposes the march states: “This group is a non-political group. This group is to stop the proposed March by Islam4Uk extremists through the town of Wootton Bassett. The Highway for Heroes and wonderful people of WB do not deserve this march to happen.

   “This group can march anywhere it wishes in the country but have chosen to cause outrage and offence.”

   Some postings suggest blocking the roads or writing to local councillors, while others take a more strident line. One contributor said simply: “I want my England back.”

3. webmaster Says:
   January 4th, 2010 at 9:35 am

   I agree with you Pew Sitter. This is all over the MSM again today and note this little snippet from Anjem Choudary quoted at the BBC:

   Mr Choudary said: “The procession is not actually about the people of Wootton Bassett and it never was about them.

   “We are having a procession, it’s in Wootton Bassett but it’s not about the people there and it’s not against them personally – rather it’s to highlight the real cost of war in Afghanistan.

   “The sad reality of the situation is that if I were to hold it somewhere else it would not have the media attention that it has now.

   “If I am to balance between the sensitivity of having it in Wootton Bassett and the possibility of continuing the quagmire and cycle of death in Afghanistan, then quite honestly I’m going to balance in favour of the latter.

   http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8438915.stm

4. Susan Says:
   January 4th, 2010 at 9:41 am

   “Mr Choudary said: “It is worth reminding those who are still not blinded by the media propaganda that Afghanistan is not a British Town near Wootton Basset but rather Muslim land which no one has the right to occupy, with a Muslim population who do not deserve their innocent men, women and children to be killed for political mileage and for the greedy interests of the oppressive US and UK regimes.”

   Why doesn’t Islamic Choudary, who feels that the UK is an oppressive greedy regime, fuck off back to his ‘Muslim lands’ then?

   Choudary obviously loves the oppressive Taliban and their violent treatment of women and children and intimidation and murder of those of other faiths.

   Choudary, piss off out of our country, the UK shouldn’t allow treason.

5. Susan Says:
   January 4th, 2010 at 11:58 am

   The Telegraph have profiled Anjem Choudary:-

   Anjem Choudary’s latest insult to the families of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan is in keeping with a career of controversial attacks on military operations in the country.

   In March last year, the 42-year-old leader of the Islamic group, Islam4UK, branded British soldiers returning from Afghanistan as “cowards” and “brutal murderers”.

   Formerly a member of the now-illegal organisation al-Muhajiroun, he has also claimed it is an “obligation upon Muslims everywhere to support the Jihad against those who fight Muslims anywhere in the world or who occupy Muslim land”.

   Born in 1967 to a market trader, Choudary was raised in a semidetached house in Welling, Kent, and began a medical degree after taking his A-levels.

   Choudary switched to law after failing his first year exams and went on to become a qualified solicitor and chairman of the Society of Muslim Lawyers. He was removed from the Roll in 2002.

   But he later embraced radical Islamism and co-founded the extremist organisation al-Muhajiroun, working with the Islamist militant leader Omar Bakri Muhammad.

   Since the organisation was banned in 2004 under anti-terrorist legislation, the married father-of-four has been embroiled in controversy on numerous occasions.

   In 2006, on the eve of the first anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings, Choudary said Muslims in Britain were “oppressed” and had the right to defend themselves “by whatever means”.

   He has also urged Muslims not to cooperate with police in tacking terrorism and called for the assassination of the Pope.

   In March last year, Choudary posted a message on an extremist Islamic website in which he called a homecoming parade of 2nd Bn The Royal Anglian Regiment a “vile parade” of “brutal murderers”.

   The servicemen, who had lost a dozen comrades in tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, were subsequently confronted with placards branding them killers, rapists and terrorists as they marched through Luton.

   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/6930447/Anjem-Choudary-profile.html

6. webmaster Says:
   January 4th, 2010 at 12:01 pm

   Ah, that’s ironic Susan as the BNP had their headquarters in Welling, where Choudary was raised.

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_National_Party

7. Susan Says:
   January 4th, 2010 at 12:58 pm

   There is two Facebook campaigns opposed to this proposed march called:-

   Wooton Bassett protest march by islam4uk needs to be stopped!!!

   &

   NO TO THE PLANNED ISLAM4UK MARCH THROUGH WOOTTON BASSETT

8. Pew Sitter Says:
   January 4th, 2010 at 1:11 pm

   Blimey even Gordon Brown had jumped on the badwaggon:-

   Wootton Bassett march: Gordon Brown warns it would be ‘completely inappropriate’ Any protest march which offended the families of soldiers killed and injured in Afghanistan would be considered ”completely inappropriate” by Gordon Brown, Downing Street has said.

   Gordon Brown’s spokesman issued the warning after the leader of a controversial Islamic group vowed to continue with plans for a march through Wootton Bassett.

   Anjem Choudary of Islam4UK – a branch of the extremist al-Muhajiroun movement – sparked dismay with plans for 500 members to parade with empty coffins symbolising Muslim victims through the town, which has become famous for honouring service personnel killed in the conflict.

   Civic leaders have begged Mr Choudary to reconsider his proposal and a Facebook site dedicated to preventing the march has already attracted more than 120,000 members.

   Mr Brown’s spokesman said: ”We do not yet know what his plans are. The only thing he seems to have said is that it is an idea he is considering. He would need to have the appropriate contact with the right people in Wootton Bassett to secure approval.

   ”The Prime Minister’s view would be obviously that anything that is considered to be offensive to, or of concern to, families of troops wounded or killed in Afghanistan would be completely inappropriate.”

   Mr Choudary, who wants a withdrawal of troops from the country, re-stated his reasons for the march on his website last night.

   In a long letter entitled “To the families of British soldiers who have fallen”, he also mis-spells the name of the market town.

   Mr Choudary said: “It is worth reminding those who are still not blinded by the media propaganda that Afghanistan is not a British Town near Wootton Basset but rather Muslim land which no one has the right to occupy, with a Muslim population who do not deserve their innocent men, women and children to be killed for political mileage and for the greedy interests of the oppressive US and UK regimes.

   “The procession in Wootton Basset is therefore an attempt to engage the British publics minds on the real reasons why their soldiers are returning home in body bags and the real cost of the war.”

   Earlier Mr Choudary, 42, a former lawyer, explained that the march was being held “not in memory of the occupying and merciless British military” but of the Muslims he says have been “murdered in the name of democracy and freedom”.

   The event – if permitted by police – will be a peaceful one, with “symbolic coffins” being carried to honour Muslim victims of the conflict.

   But the walk will not coincide with the return of a dead soldier’s body, Mr Choudary added.

   Hundreds of people line the market town’s high street regularly to watch servicemen’s bodies being driven through from RAF Lyneham.

   Local politicians have accused Mr Choudary of misunderstanding the nature of the town’s roadside tributes to dead soldiers.

   North Wiltshire MP James Gray said the thousands who appear regularly would say the protesters were “foolish people making a silly point”.

   “This also misunderstands the nature of what the people of Wootton Bassett do. They are not blood-thirstily in favour of the war. Most people would say they were not qualified to comment on the rightness or wrongness.

   “The people of Wootton Bassett are decent, quiet, pragmatic people and they’ll stay at home instead (of reacting to the march).”

   Wootton Bassett British Legion secretary Anne Bevis urged the group to think “long and hard” before marching.

   Wiltshire Police said they were aware of the “significant community concern” caused by the proposal. A spokeswoman said the force would have to approve details before permitting the march and may even prohibit it.

   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/6931015/Wootton-Bassett-march-Gordon-Brown-warns-it-would-be-completely-inappropriate.html

9. Wembaster Says:
   January 4th, 2010 at 2:06 pm

   I likes these comments from George Pitcher over at the Telegraph:-

   I particularly like the response of Minhaj-ul-Quran International UK (MQI UK) to the proposed anti-war march by Muslims in Wootton Bassett, proposed by Islamist clown Anjem Choudary.

   MQI UK, which was founded by Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri in 1981 to promote religious moderation and modern Islamic sciences, expresses its deep concern about a march that would consist of “extremists and trouble-makers”:

   “Extremists like these always claim to speak for Islam and British Muslims yet they are not qualified to do either. These kind of extremists do not represent British Muslims.This march will achieve nothing other than to incite hate crime against innocent law abiding British Muslims.”

   Of course Choudry won’t do it. And not for the perfectly decent and sensible reasons that the British Army wouldn’t parade through the streets of Kabul. Choudry is just simply engaged in a silly publicity stunt – and more fool the BNP, English Defence League and other low-foreheaded Little Englanders who allow themselves to get wound up by him.

   Admittedly the Police would have grounds for stopping Choudary if he looked like causing a breach of the peace. But I say let’s just eclipse him. If he wants a “peace march” let’s give him one. Perhaps the MQI UK could propose one, all faiths and none welcome, all ethnicities together, politicians, soldiers, British and Afghans. It might even turn-out to beat the million-plus who marched to oppose the invasion of Iraq. And it would be more helpful than Choudary’s silly little look-at-me game.

10. webmaster Says:
    January 4th, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    Check out this excellent cross-post from the Spittoon Blog:-

    A modest proposal for wootton bassett: islamists love underpants!

11. NicOffofCanada Says:
    January 5th, 2010 at 12:15 am

    Well, I agree with Choudary on one thing, and that is that we all should not be in Afghanistan, and the Brits and US should not be in Iraq. It is clear to me that war does not do any good. Has it made anything better? No. Loads of young people have died for nothing, and continue to do so. Does terror seem to be lessening? No. Silly wars are not going to put a stop to “terror”. It’s like having a war against hate, or love. If anything, it’s just going to make things worse. People should really start opening their eyes and pull those kids out of where they don’t and never belonged.

12. Annie Says:
    January 5th, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    I don’t think a parade will achieve anything useful about unecessary civilian deaths in Afghanistan (do the majority of us really care?) and the PM Gordon Brown and Alan Johnson’s responses are predictable political posturing.