Posted in Uncategorized on August 30, 2013|
Press Release
From the Office of the Mayor of Tower Hamlets
For immediate release – 30 Aug. 2013
Tower Hamlets Mayor prepares legal challenge over failure to ban EDL
Demands urgent meeting with Home Secretary, Commissioner and local MPs
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, announced today that the council is preparing for a judicial review of the Metropolitan Police’s failure to exercise its power to apply to the Home Secretary for prohibition of the proposed racist march by the English Defence League (EDL) in Tower Hamlets on 7 September.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman said:
“I have been proud of the united response of the community in response to this grave threat of violence and disorder on our streets.
“We will not tolerate racist carpet-baggers being bussed in to stir up divisions in our diverse community.
“I’m deeply disappointed that the police and the Home Secretary have failed to act, despite my formally requesting them to do so. Clearly they are not on the same page as the scores of prominent national and local figures who joined me in calling for a ban.
“I call upon them to see sense, but in the absence of an adequate response I intend to take this matter to the High Court.”
A pre-action letter was issued by the council today, indicating that Judicial Review of the Metropolitan Police’s decision will be sought in the High Court unless the Metropolitan Police Commissioner applies without delay to the Home Secretary for a prohibiting order under section 13 the Public Order Act 1986.
The Mayor has also demanded an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary and the Commissioner on Monday, to include the local MPs Jim Fitzpatrick and Rushanara Ali and London Assembly member John Biggs.
Mayor Rahman has written to the MPs, urging them to join his demand for an urgent meeting to push for a ban.
Mayor Rahman concluded, “We need to get around the table and sort this out. Otherwise, lives and livelihoods, as well as our community cohesion, are at stake.”
(more…)
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Posted in Lutfur's Blog on August 24, 2013|
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE BANNED FROM GATHERING IN ALTAB ALI PARK, TOWER HAMLETS, ON SEPTEMBER 7TH
MAYOR RAHMAN ACCUSES EDL OF; “DEEPLY PROVOCATIVE AND GRATUITOUS” INSULT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY
DEMANDS INTENSIFY FOR HOME SECRETARY TO ACT
Mayor Lutfur Rahman has condemned the far Right English Defence League for attempting to get permission to use Altab Ali Park following their planned march through the borough on September 7th. He has already written to the Home Secretary and local police chiefs calling for a ban on the march.
Mayor Rahman said; “This was a deeply provocative and gratuitous attempt by the EDL to use a park named after a young garment worker who was murdered by racist thugs in 1978. I am delighted that Tower Hamlets Council officers have refused permission for our park and the name of Altab Ali to be abused in this way. I am today redoubling my efforts to make sure that the Home Secretary stops the racist EDL from marching though our borough on September 7th.”
Glyn Robbins of United East End said; ‘Our unity is stronger than ever. The EDL is not welcome here. The people of Tower Hamlets will stand shoulder to shoulder to defend our community against those who seek to divide us.’
An unprecedented number of national and local figures have joined with Mayor Lutfur Rahman in calling upon the Home Secretary to ban a proposed march in Tower Hamlets being organised by the English Defence League and being planned for September 7th.
The Mayor has been joined by the former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, former Cabinet Minister, Clare Short and the Chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, Keith Vaz as well as leaders of Britain’s trade unions, faith group leaders and local community and campaigning groups in the biggest protest directed at the EDL.
They have also written an open letter to the Guardian newspaper, published Friday, declaring;
‘The EDL intend to bring a message of hate to our borough. They seek to exploit the shocking murder of Drummer Lee Rigby for their own destructive ends. Their target is the largest mosque in the country.
On previous protests, the EDL have abused worshippers and threatened to destroy mosques. Their protests invariably result in violence against local communities, property and the police.
In light of the recent street disturbances in Birmingham as a result of an EDL visit, we have real fears that the EDL presence will act as a catalyst for further violence, disorder and destruction of property.
We oppose anyone who would wish to incite hatred against others because of their religious belief, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. We will continue to work together to peacefully demonstrate that Tower Hamlets is ‘No Place for Hate’.
The Home Secretary must act, and act now, to ensure that the EDL is not able to continue with its tour of hate through the streets of East London on September 7th’.
The call for action has come from Mayor Lutfur Rahman and is supported by the following;
Ken Livingstone, former Mayor of London
Len McCluskey General Secretary, Unite the Union
Rt Hon Clare Short
Billy Hayes, General Secretary Communication Workers Union
Jim Fitzpatrick MP
John Cryer MP
Grahame Morris MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Christine Shawcroft, Labour Party NEC
Maulana Shams-ul Haq, Chair, Council of Mosques Tower Hamlets
Rev preb. Alan Green, rector St John on Bethnal Green
Leon Silver, Nelson Street Synagogue
Max Levitas, veteran; Battle of Cable Street
Sajjad Miah, Acting President, Brick Lane Mosque
George Iacobescu, Canary Wharf Group
Salma Yaqoob
Giles Fraser
Neil Jaminson, London Citizens
Dilowar Khan, Executive Director, London Muslim Centre
James Grayson, Chair Tower Hamlets Co-operative Party
Jan McHarry, London Buddhist Centre
Phil Sedler, Chair Tower Hamlets Federation of Tenants & Residents Associations
Jenny Fisher, Secretary Tower Hamlets Federation of Tenants & Residents Associations
Jack Gilbert, Rainbow Hamlets
Len Aldis, Tower Hamlets CND
Guy Harper, Organiser, Tower Hamlets Left Unity
David Rosenberg Jewish Socialist Group
Julia Hunt, Secretary, Stepney Historical Trust
Steve Hart, Chair, Unite Against Fascism
Sabby Dhalu, Joint Secretary, Unite Against Fascism
Pasha Khandaker
President, Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA)
Mukim Ahmed
Chair, British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce (BBCC)
Dr Hasanat M Hussain, MBE
Leader, Voice for Justice World Forum
KM Abu Taher Choudhury
Secretary, Voice for Justice
Barrister Ataur Rahman
Chair, Greater Sylhet Council (GSC)
Islam Uddin
President, SoyttenSen School for Preforming Arts & UDICHI( Cultural Group)
Aziz Choudhury
Chair, Spitalfield Small Business Association (SSBA)
Shiraj Haque
Dilu Naser
General Secretary, Sommilito Sanskritik Parishad (Cultural collection)
Sirajul Basith Choudhury
General Secretary, Bangledeshi Teachers Association UK
Tower Hamlets interfaith Forum
East London Mosque
United East End
Searchlight Magazine
Trade union Friends of Searchlight
Islamic Forum of Europe
Redbridge and Epping Forest Together
For further information, please contact;
Mark Seddon
Seddonm:@verizon.net
07918 759780
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Mayor Lutfur Rahman 