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News Summary
27th April 2007
Muslim community unites with anti-fascists to call for vote
against the British National Party on May 3rd
Today the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) will call for a vote
against the fascist British National Party (BNP) during
Friday prayers and distribute leaflets, produced jointly with
the Unite Against Fascism campaign, to highlight the danger of
the BNP to the Muslim community.
The BNP has vilified the Muslim community, calling its local
election campaign last year a "referendum on Islam". It has
spread racist myths about Muslim men 'grooming' white girls for
sex and asserts that Islam has expanded by rape and violence.
BNP Leader Nick Griffin has labelled Islam a "wicked vicious
faith". In the run up to this May's elections the BNP has
whipped up Islamophobia to oppose plans to build mosques in
Dudley in the west midlands and in Stratford in London.
In 2006 the BNP gained a record 238,000 votes, which brought its
councillors up to an unprecedented 49 seats.
A strong alliance between the Muslim and the anti-fascist
majority including the trade union movement has been crucial to
defeating the BNP previously in Tower Hamlets and Oldham.
Dr. Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the MCB said:"The Muslim
community is an integral part of British society - fascism is
not. We believe that it is both a civic and Islamic duty for
Muslims to use their votes, to defend democracy and to oppose
hatred. We are proud to join the diverse coalition of Unite
Against Fascism to stand against fascism - we call on all
Muslims, and fellow Britons everywhere, to use their vote
on May 3rd."
Denis Fernando Joint Secretary of Unite Against Fascism said:
"The Fascist BNP are utilising the same tactics as the Nazis did
before them - attempting to make electoral gains by
whipping up hatred against minority and vulnerable
communities. A recent Gallup poll showed that almost three
quarters of Muslims had a loyalty to Britain, whilst less than
half of non-Muslims shared the same view. UAF is proud to work
with the Muslim community to oppose the extremist policies of
the BNP which pose a threat to Muslims, and all those who value
democracy."
For more information and for interviews contact Joint National
Secretaries of Unite Against Fascism Denis Fernando 07790022472/
Weyman Bennett 07734032314
For more information and to view jointly produced materials
visit www.uaf.org.uk or contact 020 7833 4916 unite@ucu.org.uk
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