This summer. Coming to a town near you. Football hooliganism's answer to Muslim extremists.
Armed with Youtube videos and Facebook pages a group calling itself Casuals United is organising protests in areas with large Muslim populations.
The main targets of their vengeance are Anjem Choudary and his followers.
Anjem Choudary used to be the right-hand man of Omar Bakri – an extremist preacher who has been deported by the government. Bakri's organisation – Al Muhajiroon – was banned but it continues to operate with the same leaders and followers under the name Islam 4 UK.
In the past it has held protests threatening Europe with another Holocaust and calling for those who insult Islam to be beheaded. It refers to the 7/7 bombers as the "fantastic four" and 9/11 hijackers as the "magnificent 19". Far from your average Muslims.
Most recently it has been responsible for demonstrating with inflammatory placards at the homecoming parade of British troops from Afghanistan. And it is this that has sparked this round of protests.
Incensed at seeing British troops being harangued by lunatics, people in Luton demonstrated against the extremists. Since then, protests have been held in Whitechapel and Birmingham with England football shirts and football chants being customary.
However, Casuals United's Youtube videos betray the roots of their grievances. Churches turned into mosques, women in veils and photos doctored to include Islamic symbolism are among the images used to appeal to the rest of their brethren. Although it is Anjem Choudary who is the bogeyman, it is all Muslims who are potential targets.
They fear that Muslims will conquer Britain and establish Shariah law. Evidently, after years of muttering to themselves in pubs about "muzzies", they have finally decided to take a stand to protect their way of life (although it's unclear what their "way of life" is).
At last week's protest in Birmingham there were shouts of "We want our country back", the chorus of "God Save the Queen" and quickly hushed shouts of "We want Muslims out".
The group seems very eager not to come across as racist. It appeals to "all communities" to come together to protest extremism but at the same time its list of grievances includes apparent no go areas for whites and Birmingham fast becoming the first non-white majority city.
However, the reach of the group is quite minimal, with the protests attracting around 100 people at most. Which is around the same amount that Al Muhajiroon can gather.
In the bigger scheme of things Casuals United is as irrelevant as Al Muhajiroon. But as the two groups follow each other around the country and gain the attention of a media in the grasps of summer madness, things may get very nasty.
Further demos are planned for Luton, Birmingham and Manchester.
The sooner World Cup 2010 gets here the better.
Links
Casuals United's Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107676721904
One of Casuals United's Youtube videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKvHld-H4Qs
Promoting the Birmingham protest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8GN_40IA5o
The protest in Birmingham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoOwtPJNsAM
Al Muhajiroon's latest front - Islam 4 UK
http://www.islam4uk.com/
Comments
This was a relatively peaceful protest and if the placards had been better worded I would have held this up as a model of non violence.
As for Casuals United - are they the same ones who's recent protest went wrong when instead of gathering outside a mosque, many decided to go down the pub instead?
I think giving the prejudice a name and a face is a good thing - it is something that can be confronted, shown to be stupid, while ideas that just fester in people's minds do more harm.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
I think it would be good to get an interview done with them and stuck on this site. Would be a fun read.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Are you volunteering?
I ain't got nothing to ask them, but as for logistics, stick up a bunch of questions (on here) that people feel are important and then either email them to them or post on the facebook page. collate the answers, create the article.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Here's three:
Why are Muslims bad people?
What aspects of the British way of life are threatened by Muslims?
Do you think that Anjem Choudry is representative of British Muslims?
Gentleness and kindness were never a part of anything except that it made it beautiful, and harshness was never a part of anything except that it made it ugly.
Through cheating, stealing, and lying, one may get required results but finally one becomes
Maybe the "Casuals United" fear a threat that is real?
When Islam was preached by the prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him to the Meccans, many saw it as a threat to their way of life. They were right.
(this comment is copied in part from here)
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
If the Casuals were confident of the strength and merit of their "way of life" then they wouldn't feel threatened.
I've knocked on their door. Let's see if they let me in.
True, but it is not always the superior side that wins - think of the spanish civil war where Islam was eventually totally expelled.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
You are being too dichotomous.
EDIT - Moved to Questions for Casuals United
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Grrr! Facebook banned me from adding more content to their wall due to "abuse"! Not my fault that they asked questions that I wanted to answer!
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
They weren't ACTUALLY asking questions though, were they? I mean, in terms of wanting an answer.
Like my friend who wanted a 'proper' email debate with an evangelical Christian; the guy asked loads of emotive questions about the Muslim conquest of Africa, abuse to women, lack of freedom-of-speech etc which my friend answered (actually seeking out proper responses from scholars and researching etc). But when my friend took his turn to ask the evangelist about textual issues in the Bible etc, the guy stopped responding to him.
It's a bit like Speaker's Corner next to Hyde Park in London. There Muslims, as well as many Christians, Socialists, Zionists and Conspiracy Theorists, shout at each other - under the pretence of 'debate' or 'exchange of ideas' - but never listen, thereby never reaching any conclusions (which would be quite a stretch anyway), let alone common ground (which IMO is what they should be aiming to reach).
And there are a lot of similarities between both of these examples and the Israel-Palestine situation.
And of course with the George Bush-led idea of "if you're not with Us, you're against Us".
Of course, most of us are guilty of similar behaviour in a social spectrum with our families and friends too.
The common link:
-Shaitan?
-Human Nature?
-Something Else?
-All of the above?
Don't just do something! Stand there.
The aim of this is not to shout or to be rude or to cause chaos (even though such outcomes could be fun). Nay, Project Trojan Horse is much more Noble.
Once upon a time there was a man. He was angry. He was murderous with rage and decided to act on his feelings. He set off to find his target. When he arrived, He accepted Islam. He was Umar ibn al-Khattāb.
Most of these people are not in such locations to have reasonable debate - or any whatsoever. Their view is adequately described by one sentence on one of their groups: "I am angry at Islam and I hope you are, too".
So Project Trojan Horse is to join such groups and then.... to be nice. Give answers where possible and these are ripe hunting grounds for people who are afraid or angry for the wrong reasons.
In our favour is that these people are not apathetic. They have opinions and should not be afraid to air them. Then they can be countered, informed, influenced, show them the lies that are being peddled, fed to them. We may not be able to convince them all, or any of those that are asking the questions as a form of shouting, but the discourse is public and others will also read along.
If all that fails, you can still have fun.
The biggest challenge to Project Trojan Horse is that I am lazy and whimsical - by tomorrow I will have probably forgotten about it/decided it is too much effort.
For Project Trojan Horse to be successful, others will have to take part and talk to such groups and minded individuals, show them the love, engage in dialogue with them, show them how warm and fluffy we all really are. Like teddy bears.
Or we can all simply forget about project Trojan Horse.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
I decided to give it a name. You in?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Is it an appropriate name?
A large, supposedly peace-making gesture which was actually a trap that left hundreds of people dead?
Don't just do something! Stand there.
Ofcourse its not appropriate! but it's a fun name.
Besides, it may have been just a one day thing.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
c'mon! It's like calling an energy provider 'Chernobyl Power' or a restaurant 'McGastroenteritis'
Don't just do something! Stand there.
I so would (like to) do (something like) that! (maybe I should stay out of business...)
But yeah, I get your point.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
If you want, you can call it "Operation Peace and Love"
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
I think I have been banned from Casuals United... (How can you tell? I think I have been - I can see no join/leave link and neither the wall...) but its ok, I found another one.
Saying that though, I am in a more combative mood today, so my first post is less polite:
I think its a good idea to stand together from the start, fight a unified cause against these Irish. Is this true integration?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
It was more a generic call to arms to everyone.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Are you Omrow?
Or did you just copy his assertive language for one or two of those sentences?
Either way, I'm impressed!
Don't just do something! Stand there.
I joined casuals united after getting annoyed about anti soldier protests in luton, i am father of soldier. am not here to argue, read blog and respect your honesty.
Casuals United/EDL, is a complete sham, whole thing is someone gonna write a book, using others for profit.
will answer any question in cofidence, am totally sick, someone will be hurt.
as god is your judge, he is mine, find me if u interested in fact, no silly please.
god bless all his children , p.s.
alrite fella. im not here to argue with you or dis-miss what you sayin bout the leaders makin a profit but who have i got to turn to other than the edl,Theres the BNP and i dont wanna be involved with dickheads that dont like any minority,but i do hate these muslim extremists and any1 who wants to change our way of life,i dont want mosques playin pray music over the back of my house,labour,conservetives ect dont give a fuck bout what happens on the street there tucked away down south in there plush houses
1. How do you define an extremist
2. Are you equally vociferous in your protest if a neighbour plays loud music?
3. Who is forcing you to change?
As a side note, something I heard today.
Person A: "Smokers are a dying breed"
Smoker: "Mainly because we smoke"
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.