Harrow Council pledges unity amid fears of mosque protest 'mayhem' (From Harrow Times)

Harrow Council pledges unity amid fears of mosque protest 'mayhem'

9:50am Friday 30th October 2009

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AN Islamaphobic group planning a mosque protest were labelled a “small band of fanatics” as Harrow Council signed a unity pact yesterday.

Stop the Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) intends to hold a rally outside Harrow Central Mosque, in Station Road, on December 13.

There are fears the move could drive a wedge between Harrow's diverse communities and concerns there may be a repeat of violent scenes witnessed during the group's first Harrow demonstration on September 11.

Leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem parties signed the declaration of unity, during a meeting in which the full council passed a motion rejecting “all those who bring division and hatred”.

Councillor Paul Scott, deputy leader of the Lib Dems, whose family came to Britain fleeing Fascism in Portugal, described protesters' opposition to the mosque as “the paranoid rantings of fascists and fanatics”.

He said: “I would remind residents and citizens also that this is a small band of fanatics. They cannot be reasoned with and they cannot be spoken to like civilised people because they are not.”

Councillor David Ashton, leader of the Tory council, urged anyone seeking to defend the mosque to do so peacefully, if the rally does go ahead.

He said: “Many residents were disturbed by the relatively small scenes of mayhem that happened. I can only make a plea to anyone who does come from outside Harrow to protect the mosque to do it with dignity.”

He said SIOE “court fear and they court descent and the big problem is all they have to do threaten to come.”

Councillor Bill Stephenson, leader of the Labour Group, said a delegation will meet Home Secretary Alan Johnson to discuss a possible route to banning the protest.

He warned the council not to be complacent about concerns existing below the surface in Harrow, and stressed the possibility of a repeat of violence seen across the country at other anti-Islam demonstrations.

He said: “Quite frankly we don't need a repeat. Enough is enough. It's no longer a Harrow or a Luton or a Birmingham issue. It's now a national issue”

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