A war of words has broken out in the UK over a planned exhibition in London of cartoons of the ‘prophet’ Mohammed.
On the one side is the exhibition’s organiser, Anne Marie Waters, above, and her supporters, and on the other is a far-left outfit called Hope Not Hate, which this week issued a report accusing Waters of being part of a conspiracy to ignite a civil war in the UK between far-right factions and Muslims.
Nick Lowles
According this Guardian report, Nick Lowles, Hope Not Hate’s Chief Executive, said:
Our concern is that the event is intended to provoke a reaction from British Muslims. It is not about freedom of speech, it is about incitement. The authorities cannot allow this event to go ahead. Communities shouldn’t rise to their bait, we must stand together as a show of strength.
Waters, on Sharia Watch, yesterday described the Hope Not Hate report as “a little bundle of lies”.
Groups like Hope Not Hate are incredibly sinister and dangerous for quite a few reasons. So utterly convinced are they that their totalitarian vision of the world is what’s best for all of us, they do not do not question the morality of activities they undertake.
Their sole consideration is how on much damage they can inflict on to those who disagree with them. Disagreeing with a leftist vision for the world is an unpardonable sin, as anti-Islamist, communist activist Maryam Namazie knows well.
Enter a group of Labour MPs who have called for an investigation into a far-right website – The Gates of Vienna – which has been “heavily” promoting the exhibition, due to take place on September 18 at a central London location (entry fee £35.00).
Organisers say among those attending will be Geert Wilders, the right-wing Dutch politician who has expressed controversial views on Islam.
The MPs – Ian Austin, Ruth Smeeth, Imran Hussain, Paula Sherriff, Wes Streeting and John Cryer – have written to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, asking her to consider if the site’s owners are breaching the law. The letter reads:
It is clear that these are the ideas that inspired Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik and as such it is deeply troubling that they are available to inspire others. We would urge you to investigate the Gates of Vienna website and take appropriate action if anyone involved is deemed to be promoting terrorism and civil disorder.
Austin told the Guardian he would also be raising the issue with Theresa May.
I am shocked that the Gates of Vienna website can publish articles promoting a strategy for civil war. At a time when we should all be concerned about terrorism it is imperative that the police investigate this website and those behind the calls for civil war and I’ll be raising this with the home secretary.
He added that the exhibition of Mo cartoons was:
Clearly [intended] to provoke a reaction from British Muslims and we must all ensure this does not happen
A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said an appropriate policing plan would be put in place for the event but would not comment further.
Hat tip: Asad Abbas and Antony Niall.