EDL?. no problem, just offer them tea and biscuits!. :)

[Maaddeey]

Leanne Spaven, an EDL supporter who said she hadn't come to cause trouble but wanted a voice, has tea with York mosque members. Photograph: Ann Czernik for the Guardian

 

 

 

A York mosque dealt with a potentially volatile situation after reports that it was going to be the focus of a demonstration organised by a far-right street protest movement - by inviting those taking part in the protest in for tea and biscuits.

 

Around half a dozen people arrived for the protest, promoted online by supporters of the EDL. A St George's flag was nailed to the wooden fence in front of the mosque.

 

However, after members of the group accepted an invitation into the mosque, tensions were rapidly defused over tea and plates of custard creams, followed by an impromptu game of football.

A young member of York mosque displays his message. A young member of York mosque displays his message. Photograph: Ann Czernik

 

Leanne Staven, who had come for the protest, said that she had not come to the mosque to cause trouble but because "We need a voice". "I think white British who have any concerns feel we can't speak freely," she said.

 

"Change has been coming for a long time and in light of what happened to that soldier in Woolwich there have to be restrictions on people learning extremist behaviour and it has to stop."

 

Mohammed el-Gomati, a lecturer at the University of York, said: "There is the possibility of having dialogue. Even the EDL who were having a shouting match started talking and we found out that we share and are prepared to agree that violent extremism is wrong.

 

"We have to start there. Who knows, perhaps the EDL will invite us to an event and the Muslim community will be generous in accepting that invitation?"

 

Ismail Miah, president of York mosque, added: "Under the banner of Islam there are very different politics: democratic politics, the far right, left, central, all over. You can't target a whole community for what one or two people have done.

 

"What they've done in London is for their own reasons but there's no reasoning behind it from an Islamic point of view."

[Alpha Blondy]

inside the cult-like world of 'muslim ghettos'(oldham, leicester, bradford, whitechapel, walthamstow etc), it's been alleged there are laws which run parallel to UK laws. the local self-appointed 'emir', who goes by the name 'leader of the faithful', issues judgments, which the local residents feel compelled to respect or else his enforcers aka 'religious police' take action. this is unacceptable. it is within these places that potential 'homegrown suicide-bombers' and ''machete-wielding human hackers'' are recruited from.

[Somalia]

I agree with Beta Brun, there are several underground societies in the so-called "UK", most prominent is that of Blackburn, a suttle hint in its name to add insult to injury. The former recruits are now potential terrorists-gone-childhunter/rapists, only a "mini revolution" revolting against that particular underground culture, sparing the rest of us who call ourselves Muslims, will solve the problem and not aggravate tensions.

[Alpha Blondy]

Somalia;957647 wrote:

I agree with

Beta Brun

, there are several

underground

societies in the so-called "UK", most prominent is that of Blackburn, a suttle hint in its name to add

insult to injury

. The former

recruits

are now

potential terrorists-gone-childhunter/rapists

, only a "

mini

revolution" revolting against that particular

underground culture

, sparing the rest of us who call ourselves Muslims, will

solve

the problem and not

aggravate

tensions.

are you being sarcastic?

[D.O.C]

EDL are bunch attention seeking and cowards with few cups of tea could defuse their angers. Such poor lads.

[Reeyo]

They were in my area maanta- I walked pass and waved.

[Saxansaxo]

Good work initiating a dialogue. We have a similar project going on in Norway called tea-time, but it¨s not intended for the small group of Norwegian defence League members, its open for every non muslim. Some have changed their perception of muslims to the better and others not. But at least its worth a try.

[Alpha Blondy]

Saxansaxo;957827 wrote:

Good work initiating a dialogue. We have a similar project going on in Norway called tea-time, but it¨s not intended for the small group of Norwegian defence League members, its open for every non muslim. Some have changed their perception of muslims to the better and others not. But at least its worth a try.

+ 1

[warsamaale]

Instead of offering tea to delinquents on the streets, they should get a grip on these mosques where all manner of radical indoctrination is taking place. talk about cheap PR stunts.

[Haatu]

warsamaale;957861 wrote:

Instead of offering tea to delinquents on the streets, they should get a grip on these mosques where all manner of radical indoctrination is taking place. talk about cheap PR stunts.

You know there was an imam on Birmingham that tipped the police off about radical characters in the community spreading their filth. Guess what the haters' response was?

[warsamaale]

i don't get you haatu