ENGLISH nationalist campaigners have remained silent over their reasons for staging a protest against a Muslim peace conference at Wembley next weekend.

The English Defence League (EDL) is gather supporters via the Internet for a mass protest outside Wembley Arena aimed at the Al-Khair Peace Conference.

The EDL Facebook page denounces the conference, on Saturday, June 26, as a vehicle for “preachers of hate” and are reportedly hoping to bus in supporters from across the country for the demonstration.

But EDL leaders have so far declined to speak to the Harrow Times about the reasons behind the protest and their intended plans for the day.

Since news of the protest filtered online, members of Brent and Harrow Unite Against Fascism (UAF) have rallied support for a counter-protest, denouncing EDL as “racists and fascists” and promising to oppose any action taken in Wembley.

Leaders of the Brent community, including council leader Ann John and Bishop of Willesden Pete Broadbent, have signed up to a “statement of unity” against the planned protest.

It reads: “The EDL is an organisation of violent, bigoted thugs with proven links to the Nazi British National Party.

“They should be condemned everywhere, but will be particularly unwelcome if they come to Wembley, part of this country’s most diverse borough.

“We are proud of our diversity. In the London Borough of Brent, people live and work together, children study, play and grow up together in peace and mutual respect, regardless of faith or skin colour.

“As residents and workers in this borough, we will not tolerate attempts to divide us or stir up hatred. We stood united to show that there was no place for racism or islamophobia in the neighbouring borough of Harrow.

We stand prepared to do the same in Brent.”

The EDL protest so far has 146 attendees on Facebook.