The willing censor -
NuLabcur not even bothering to disguise their police state aims
from The Independent & The Independent on Sunday
Photographers criminalised as police 'abuse' anti-terror laws
Fury as stop-and-search powers are used to block and confiscate legal
pictures
By Jonathan Brown
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
WILL WINTERCROSS
The artist Reuben Powell was arrested and imprisoned for photographing
an old government building
Reuben Powell is an unlikely terrorist. A white, middle-aged,
middle-class artist, he has been photographing and drawing life around
the capital's Elephant & Castle for 25 years.
With a studio near the 1960s shopping centre at the heart of this area
in south London, he is a familiar figure and is regularly seen snapping
and sketching the people and buildings around his home – currently the
site of Europe's largest regeneration project. But to the police
officers who arrested him last week his photographing of the old HMSO
print works close to the local police station posed an unacceptable
security risk.
"The car skidded to a halt like something out of Starsky & Hutch and
this officer jumped out very dramatically and said 'what are you doing?'
I told him I was photographing the building and he said he was going to
search me under the Anti-Terrorism Act," he recalled.
For Powell, this brush with the law resulted in five hours in a cell
after police seized the lock-blade knife he uses to sharpen his pencils.
His release only came after the intervention of the local MP, Simon
Hughes, but not before he was handcuffed and his genetic material stored
permanently on the DNA database.
But Powell's experience is far from uncommon. Every week photographers
wielding their cameras in public find themselves on the receiving end of
warnings either by police, who stop them under Section 44 of the
Terrorism Act 2000, or from over-eager officials who believe that
photography in a public area is somehow against the law. Groups from
journalists to trainspotters have found themselves on the receiving end
of this unwanted attention, with many photographers now fearing that
their job or hobby could be under threat.
So serious has the situation become that the MP and keen photographer
Austin Mitchell, chairman of the Parliamentary All-Party Photography
Group, tabled an early day motion last March deploring the "officious
interference or unjustified suspicion" facing camera enthusiasts around
public buildings, where they are increasingly told that it is against
the law to photograph public servants at all – especially police
officers or community support officers – or that members of the public
cannot be photographed without their written permission. The Labour MP
is now calling for a photography code for officers so that snappers can
continue going about their rightful business.
Yet, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers, the law is
straightforward. "Police officers may not prevent someone from taking a
photograph in public unless they suspect criminal or terrorist intent.
Their powers are strictly regulated by law and once an image has been
recorded, the police have no power to delete or confiscate it without a
court order. This applies equally to members of the media seeking to
record images, who do not need a permit to photograph or film in public
places," a spokeswoman said.
But still the harassment goes on. Philip Haigh, the business editor of
Rail magazine, said the bullying of enthusiasts on railway platforms has
become an unwelcome fact of life in Britain. "It is a problem that
doesn't ever seem to go away. We get complaints from railway
photographers all the time that they are told to stop what they are
doing, mainly by railway staff but also by the police. It usually
results in an apologetic letter from a rail company," he said.
In the summer, armed police swooped on a group of trainspotters known as
the Steam Boys as they waited with high-powered photographic equipment
to capture a 1950s engine called The Great Marquess as it crossed the
Forth Bridge near Gordon Brown's constituency home in Fife. The National
Union of Journalists (NUJ) has also taken up the cause, highlighting the
case last month of the photographer Jess Hurd, whose camera was taken
from her when she was detained for 45 minutes under Section 44 while
documenting a traveller wedding in London's Docklands. Last week police
were filmed obstructing photographers covering a protest at the Greek
embassy in London. Scotland Yard promised to investigate. Jeremy Dear,
the general secretary of the NUJ, said: "It's time the police realised
that taking photographs doesn't automatically mean you're a terrorist.
Every month the NUJ finds itself dealing with yet more cases of officers
infringing journalistic freedoms and, very often, exceeding their legal
powers. "Even the police's own guidance makes it clear that there's
nothing in the Terrorism Act that can be used to prohibit the taking of
photos in a public place. The authorities have got to do more to ensure
that those people charged with upholding the law don't keep on
contravening it by trampling over well-established civil liberties."
Title: Home Office clarifies street photography bans
Feature: Daily News
Date: 16 December 2008The Home Office has written to the National Union
of Journalists, outlining cases when photography may be legally limited.
BJP reports.In a letter dated 03 December, which BJP saw, Vernon Coaker,
the Minister for Security, Counter-terrorism, Crime and Policing, has
written to the National Union of Journalists to inform it of measures
that have taken since their meeting on 05 November.
The meeting was arranged after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith shocked
photographers by appearing to condone increasing police restrictions,
despite confirming there is no legal
framework to prevent them shooting in public.
In the letter, the Minister has confirmed that photography can be
limited in public places in special circumstances. The letter reads:
'This may be on the grounds of national security or there may be
situations in which the taking of photographs may cause or lead to
public order situations or inflame an already tense situation or raise
security considerations. Additionally, the police may require a person
to move on in order to prevent a breach of the peace or to avoid a
public order situation or for the person's own safety and welfare or for
the safety and welfare of others'.
The broad definition could allow police officers to legally prevent
photographers, including press photographers, to document events such as
protests or any kind of incident.
Developing...Click here to print this page Title: Heavy-handed policing
against photographers caught on video
Feature: Daily News
Date: 12 December 2008The National Union of Journalists has criticised
the Metropolitan Police for heavy-handed policing against two
photojournalists in London this week. The incident was caught on
video.On Monday 08 December, two photojournalists were covering protests
outside the Greek embassy in London when a police officer deliberately
obstructed them in their work. The photojournalists, Jason Parkinson and
Marc Vallée have complained of being physically removed from any area
from which they could document events.
'The police must remember that they have responsibilities towards the
media,' said NUJ Legal Officer Roy Mincoff. 'Even where a
protest is itself illegal, the media have a right to report on events
and the police should not be taking action with the intention of
obstructing journalists in their work.
'There are clear guidelines which discuss how the police should work
with the media and officers policing demonstrations need to be made
aware of their responsibilities. The police know very well our concerns
around cases like this and it’s simply unacceptable for our members to
continue to have problems when covering protests. Such basic
infringements of our members’ rights must stop.'
The incident was caught on video, which BJP published on its blog –
1854.eu.
For more information, visit Marc
Vallée's website.
Source: © Incisive Media Ltd. 2009
Incisive Media Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y
4RX, is a company registered in the United Kingdom with company
registration number 04038503
Title: Press photographer detained under Terrorism Act
Feature: Daily News
Date: 15 December 2008
A press photographer covering a wedding reception in the Docklands has
been stopped and detained under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, in an
act the Metropolitan Police claims was legitimate.
[UPDATE: Audio file of altercation released + NUJ's reaction]
Jess Hurd was detailed for more than 45 minutes after she was stopped on
Wednesday 10 December. The press photographer had been covering the
wedding of a couple from Dale Farm in Essex. Young couples have been
rushing to tie the knot before the final legal challenge that may see
the largest travellers' site in Britain destroyed.
Hurd had been covering the wedding and had followed the couple to the
Ramada Docklands hotel in east London for the wedding reception. At
around 5.10pm, guests started leaving the reception. Hurd followed them
and while shooting stills and video she bumped into a police car parked
outside the hotel.
Hurd continued shooting the guests, but was called back by the officers.
She was detained under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which allows
police authorities to question anyone they suspect are acting
suspiciously. Her camera was forcefully removed from her, BJP has
learnt, and while she showed her press card, three police officers
insisted on viewing the footage she had taken. Hurd was detained for 45
minutes and told not to use any of the footage that showed the police
car or officers.
'Any officer that suspect an offence has been committed has the right to
detain you,' a Metropolitan press officer tells BJP. 'Because you are a
press photographer does not preclude you from being stopped under
section 44 of the Terrorism Act. If the officer thought the photographer
acted suspiciously and especially if it was in a sensitive place, he had
a right to detain and question the photographer.'
The Police have argued that Hurd was filming in a sensitive place due to
its proximity to the London City Airport.
The news comes less than three weeks after the National Policing
Improvement Agency reassured press photographers and journalists that
their rights are not under threat from the Terrorism Act. Read BJP's
article here.??
daily telegraph
Leading Chinese dissident stands by call for freedom of speech China's
most prominent liberal philosopher is defying demands by the Communist
Party to retract his signature from a ground-breaking call for reform,
elections and freedom of speech that has infuriated the government.
By Richard Spencer in Beijing
Last Updated: 8:31PM GMT 11 Jan 2009
Police and Party officials have threatened and harassed more than 100 of
the 300 leading intellectuals, lawyers and activists who signed Charter
08, a call for a new politics consciously modeled on dissident movements
in the former Soviet bloc. The Charter's alleged organiser was taken
from his home shortly before the document was launched on the 60th
anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights last
month, and is still being held. Scores of people have been interrogated,
from young lawyers to elderly veterans of Chairman Mao's early purges.
But none has attracted more attention than Xu Youyu, professor of
philosophy at the most prestigious Party-run think-tank, the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences. He has written an open letter, circulated on
the internet, describing how the Institute of Philosophy's director rang
him, accused him of breaching the national constitution and demanding he
withdraw his support. "He called me and gave me a very harsh warning,"
Prof Xu, 61, told The Telegraph. "He said the Charter violated the
existing constitution and laws of China so I must withdraw my signature.
"My reply was, 'That's nonsense'. The Charter is absolutely in
accordance with the constitution and law so it's absolutely impossible
for me to withdraw my name." He was then summoned to an interrogation
with the institute's Party Secretary - its most senior apparatchik - but
is refusing to attend. "I don't think it's my duty to obey their
orders," he said. Four months after the end of the Olympics, there is
still no sign of the political liberalisation many outsiders hoped the
Games would bring to China. The leadership has issued repeated warnings
that it is determined to ensure "social stability" in 2009 - code for
not tolerating any unrest generated by the economic crisis. Liu Xiaobo,
a former political prisoner suspected by the authorities of being a
chief organiser of Charter 08, remains under arrest outside Beijing.
Prof Xu, speaking at an outlet of Kentucky Fried Chicken in the capital
because of police visits to his home after other interviews, said if the
government had not over-reacted the Charter might have gone unnoticed.
But the threats against him forced him to write his open letter. "A
friend has told me that the 'higher-ups' [believe the Charter to be] ...
a movement of domestic and overseas hostile forces to collude with each
other and plot to overthrow the Chinese government," he wrote. "Such an
interpretation of the Charter and the allegations of criminality are
absurd, but that is not new in China." Prof Xu, a former Red Guard who
has confessed to taking part in beatings during the Cultural Revolution,
rejected his Communist past and studied logic at Oxford University in
the 1980s. A number of the Charter's other signatories are elderly
survivors of Mao's regime who, in a twist from the traditional
assumption that in China geriatric leaders hold out against reform, are
now telling conservative younger leaders to reject Mao's inheritance.
One, Bao Tong, 85, is well-known for regular polemics against his
successors in the inner leadership. "Would the powers that be please
tell 1.3 billion people why freedom is a crime?" he wrote in defence of
the Charter. "The older generation still believe in ideology, in ideas
like justice and democracy," said Mao Yushi, 79, an economist who was
first condemned as a "rightist" in 1957. For signing Charter 08, he was
picked up by police while taking his daily walk at his local park with
his wife and interrogated at the local police station about the
document's provenance. "Luckily we are too old to make any difference,"
he said. "We also have some social influence, so if they touch us they
will lose more than they gain." Prof Xu has been told all signatories
will be banned from having their work published on the mainland, or
appearing in newspapers. "And of course, at any moment as I sit at home
I await the arrival of the police," he said.
daily telegraph
Taliban underlines its growing power with killing of 'dancing girl' in
Pakistan Pakistan's celebrated dancing girls are fleeing in fear of
their lives as Taliban militants increase their strength in Pakistan's
North-West Frontier Province.
Taliban kill local dancing girls including Shabana, one of Pakistan's
celebrated dancers. The bullet-ridden body of Shabana left in the centre
of Mingora city's Green Square sent two clear messages to the locals in
the Swat Valley's largest town: 'unIsla The bullet-ridden body of
Shabana in the centre of Mingora's Green Square sent two clear messages
to the locals in the Swat Valley's largest town: "un-Islamic vices" will
no longer be tolerated, and the Taliban is now effectively in control.
Shabana's body was found slumped on the ground, strewn with bank notes,
CDs of her dance performances and pictures from her photo album. In case
anyone had not grasped the message the local Taliban commander Maulana
Shah Dauran broadcast a warning on one of its FM radio stations in the
valley: his men had killed her and if any other girls were found
performing in the city's Banr Bazaar they would be killed "one by one".
This weekend the last of the bazaar's dancing girls, many of whom had
trained under Shabana's wing and lived in her house, were seen loading
their belongings on to trucks and fleeing to the relative safety of
Karachi and Lahore, where their talents remain in great demand. The
banishment marks a key turning point in the battle for the Swat Valley
between Taliban militants and the Pakistan Army. It followed recent
orders to close down girls' schools in the valley, shut shops selling
music CDs and films, and edicts on barbers to stop shaving beards.
The performances of the dancing girls in Banr Bazaar had been one of the
city's last "vices", but in the narrow street where, until last week,
they plied their trade, signs were posted on doors stating: "We have
stopped dancing, please do not knock on the door." The street now closes
at 8pm and only those who live there can leave or enter.
More than 1,000 girls have now fled, though some who remained told The
Daily Telegraph that Shabana had paid the price for publicly defying the
Taliban's radio mullahs and that she had ignored personal warnings to
stop the performances and the training of young dancers in her home.
"On the eve of January 2, some men knocked at the door and asked for a
dance party," said Shabana's father Qamar Gul. "She instantly agreed and
opened the room and asked the men to wait while she prepared herself."
When she returned the four men said: "Let us start." They seized her at
gunpoint and told her they were going to slit her throat.
Shabana begged repeatedly while crying for help but they dragged her out
of the house, took her to the Green Square and shot her. Fayaz, a Banr
Bazaar resident, said he had now moved to a safer part of the city, and
only arranges dance events for selected known clients. He said dancing
could earn about 50,000 rupees (£415) a night, but the business was now
finished. The Taliban had denounced the dancing as prostitution, he
said, but only 1 per cent of the community was involved. Farzana, a Banr
Bazaar dancer who has moved to Peshawar, said: "We are here for a
temporary period. We entertain only selected people and not everyone
because we are threatened even in Peshawar. Several of our colleagues
have already shifted to Lahore and Karachi, but Banr Street is where we
opened our eyes, passed our youth and have acquaintances and fans." She
tearfully broke into verse: "This street, this house, don't come here
again - now I have left the place, so there is no one for you."
daily telegraph
BBC forced to apologise for misquoting depression expert, Dorothy Rowe
The BBC has been forced to apologise after a producer edited a radio
interview with leading clinical psychologist and writer, Dorothy Rowe,
to have her say the "opposite" of her view.
By Aislinn Simpson
Last Updated: 6:27PM GMT 11 Jan 2009
Dorothy Rowe complained to the corporation that her comments about
depression, for the Radio 2 programme What Do You Believe?, had been so
heavily edited that the final version misrepresented her views. Photo:
Robin Grierson Mrs Rowe complained to the corporation that her comments
about depression, for the Radio 2 programme What Do You Believe?, had
been so heavily edited that the final version misrepresented her views.
The subject up for discussion was "Why so many people want to believe in
God and search for faith." In an email to the corporation, published on
her website, Rowe said: "My words were edited to make it sound that I
held a favourable opinion of religion in that it gave a structure to a
person's life. What was not broadcast was what I had said about how such
structures can be damaging to people. "Religion does give structure to
many people's lives, but it can be the kind of structure that Guantanamo
gives to the lives of its inmates." The Australian, who has a home in
the UK, has written 13 books including Depression: The Way Out of Your
Prison and was voted one of the world's 100 living geniuses in a global
poll of creativity and innovation experts. She insisted she is one of
the BBC's biggest fans, adding: "This is a complaint about the way a
recorded interview was edited by a producer working for the BBC Religion
and Ethics Department. The result was that what was broadcast was the
opposite of what I had actually said. Why this producer failed to
maintain the high standards of the BBC I do not know." She received an
apology from Christine Morgan, executive producer at the BBC's religion
and ethics department, who said she was "very concerned to find that, as
you say, the programme did not accurately reflect the view you
expressed". A spokeswoman for the corporation said: "The BBC's religion
and ethics department acknowledged that extracts from an interview with
Dorothy Rowe - broadcast in the programme What Do You Believe? -
misrepresented her views on religion and has apologised to her." Rowe
was also invited to write an article published on the BBC's religion and
ethics website explaining her views.
daily telegraph
Presenter sacked for 'supporting the Bible's teachings' on radio A radio
presenter is taking legal action after he alleged he was sacked for
offending Muslims by defending Christianity on air.
By Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter
Last Updated: 1:51AM GMT 11 Jan 2009
The Rev Mahboob Masih was sacked for offending Muslims by defending
Christianity on air Photo: EPICSCOTLAND The Rev Mahboob Masih, a Church
minister, claims he was unfairly dismissed and that the action taken
against him was a case of religious discrimination. He had been host of
a regular Saturday morning show on Awaz FM, a community radio show in
Glasgow, for six years before the row with the station's management blew
up. After a lively religious debate, the radio station management took
exception to the content of the discussion. The Rev Masih was accused of
not being balanced enough on air. However, Awaz FM refuses to detail
anything specific he said that might have offended its listeners.
The Rev Masih and his co-presenter Afzal Umeed were discussing the views
of a prominent Muslim speaker, Zakir Naik, who the Rev Masih accuses of
belittling the Christian faith on Peace TV, a digital channel.
The Rev Masih says that Mr Umeed asked Asif Mall, a Christian on-air
guest, about Mr Naik's remarks. Mr Mall said Mr Naik's comments showed a
lack of knowledge of the Bible and of the Koran.
In particular, Mr Mall disputed a claim by Mr Naik that Jesus Christ was
not the only prophet to be "the way, the truth and the life". The Rev
Masih, 37, who is the minister in West Kirk, East Kilbride, says that he
reluctantly made an on-air apology in an attempt to defuse the row.
However, he says he refused a request from a senior station official to
deliver an apology in person at the Central Mosque in Glasgow because he
felt intimidated and his safety could have been endangered. He also
insists he had nothing to apologise for to Muslims. Initially, he and
his co-presenter were temporarily suspended for breaching the station's
code of conduct. The Rev Masih, who is married with two children, was
later dismissed after sending a letter criticising his treatment to the
station's management committee. In the letter, he demanded "our
immediate reinstatement to our radio show and a full apology".
He added: "Our comments were directed to 'insulting' and/or
'controversial' remarks made by Mr. Naik in relation to Christianity.
This was no more than religious debate under the general principles of
British law and within the Ofcom Code. No intemperate language was used
on our show."
In a reply, Javaid Ullah, the director of the radio station, terminated
the Rev Masih and his co-presenter's "voluntary agreement... with
immediate effect". He said that they had "failed to remain neutral and
as such allowed the guest to make comments which led in [to] offending
various members of the community."
He added: "The comments made in your letter were inaccurate and not
true. The tone of the letter was deemed offensive to the management of
Awaz FM." The Rev Masih told The Sunday Telegraph: "I am very distressed
at the way I have been treated. I presented the show for six years and
am sad to have been forced to give it up."
Awaz FM was set up in 2001 and went on air the following year after
receiving a license from the radio regulator, Ofcom. According to the
radio station's "mission statement" on its web site: "Awaz FM serves the
Asian population (originating from Indian Sub Continent) in Glasgow,
delivering entertainment, community information, local, national and
international news broadcasting in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and English."
The website also claims: "Awaz FM will be the voice of Glasgow's ethnic
communities and their respective faiths. A voice to let the people of
Glasgow express their needs and desires. It will provide organisations
an opportunity to use Awaz FM as a platform to deliver their aims and
objectives. "
The Rev Masih says the station, which is operated by volunteers, is
predominantly run by Muslims and concentrates on targeting Muslim
listeners.
The Rev Masih has now instructed Paul Diamond, a barrister specialising
in religious discrimination cases. As a result, the Rev Masih is taking
the radio station to an employment tribunal over the dispute which led
to his dismissal.
He has also lodged a complaint with Ofcom, the radio regulator, claiming
that Awaz FM is in breach of the terms of its licence. It alleges
"discrimination against members of Asian Christian Community by [the]
Muslim management of Awaz FM." Awaz FM is contesting the Rev Masih's
claims – and it denies that he was asked to go to a mosque to
apologise for his actions. Awaz FM asked for question about the dispute
to be put in writing, but then failed to answer any of the 14 points put
to them.
daily telegraph
Church of England to debate whether Christians should try to convert
Muslims Church leaders are to debate the contentious issue of whether
Christians should be doing more to convert Muslims.
By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent Last Updated: 5:50PM
GMT 17 Dec 2008
Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali earlier this year
warned that Church leaders had 'gone too far' in their sensitivity
towards Muslims Photo: ELEANOR BENTALL A discussion on the sensitive
topic has been tabled for the next meeting of the Church of England's
governing body amid fears that some clergy are ignoring their
traditional missionary role. Some members of the General Synod believe
Christ ordered all Christians to recruit nonbelievers and followers of
other faiths, and they want to see how many bishops and vicars agree
with this view. Among the speakers is likely to be the Bishop of
Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who earlier this year warned
that Church leaders had "gone too far" in their sensitivity towards
Muslims and were not doing enough to spread the word of God.
At the end of the debate at next February's Synod meeting in London,
bishops, clergy and lay members will vote on whether bishops should
report to the Synod on "their understanding of the uniqueness of Christ
in multi-faith Britain", and give examples of how the gospel should be
shared.
Paul Eddy, a lay member of the Synod, started the Private Members'
Motion and accused the Church of censorship earlier this year when it
was taken off the agenda of the July meeting at the last minute. He
believed it was shelved because it would have shown up deep divisions in
the Church over its attitude to converting believers in other faiths.
Mr Eddy said today that he was delighted the discussion will now be
heard. He told The Daily Telegraph: "I'm looking forward to what I think
will be a very positive debate. I'm hoping that the Church will affirm
the historic tenets of our faith. "We have a huge responsibility to
share our faith with everyone in the UK including those of other
faiths." The Synod meeting will also debate whether clergy should be
banned from being members of the far-right British National Party,
following another Private Members' Motion. There will be a presentation
on "the implications of the financial crisis and recession", triggered
by fears that the economic downturn could damage the Church's
billion-pound stock market investments as well as takings in the
collection plate.
Church of England accused of censoring debate on Islam The Church of
England has been accused of censorship for shelving a controversial
debate about Islam.
By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent Last Updated:
12:53PM BST 04 Jun 2008
A meeting of the Church's "parliament" was due to discuss whether clergy
should be doing more to convert British Muslims to Christianity. The
sensitive issue was highlighted last week by a senior bishop who accused
Church leaders of failing to reach out to other faiths, and warned that
radical Islam is filling a gap in society caused by the decline of
traditional Christian values. But now the Church has put off the debate
on recruiting Muslims until next February at the earliest and will
discuss the promotion of churches as tourist attractions instead. Paul
Eddy, a lay member of the General Synod, said his Private Members'
Motion should have been on the agenda at next month's meeting in York as
more than 100 other members had supported it including three bishops. He
believes it has been shelved because it would have shown up wide
divisions in the Church over its attitude to converting believers in
other faiths, at the same time as it faces schisms over the appointment
of women bishops and homosexuality. The debate would have taken place
just 12 days before the once-a-decade summit of Anglican bishops, the
Lambeth Conference. It would have piled more pressure on the embattled
Archbishop of Canterbury, who earlier this year sparked a storm by
claiming some parts of Islamic law would be adopted in Britain. Mr Eddy
said yesterday (tue): "I think they're censoring it on theological
grounds and because of the timing. "Ten days before Lambeth there would
be lots of bishops who would not be comfortable voting on the uniqueness
of Christ. "I believe after the Archbishop's comments on sharia he would
know there would be such press interest in it." He went on: "From the
telephone calls and emails I have received, people feel very aggrieved
that, at this particular time in the church's history, Synod was not
given an opportunity to be debate evangelism. "Now that Synod has
electronic voting, it would have been very easy to show how many of our
bishops believed in the uniqueness of Christ as the only means of
salvation, something which would have shown the division on orthodox
views in the House." Mr Eddy believes Christ himself ordered all
Christians to actively recruit nonbelievers and followers of other
faiths, but that many bishops now downplay this missionary role. He
fears by eroding the central place of Christianity in Britain,
everything the country stands for is "up for grabs". His motion called
on church leaders to clarify their strategy on whether they think
Muslims and believers in other religions should be actively converted to
Christianity in modern Britain. Mr Eddy's concerns echo those of the
Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who last week said
Church leaders had "gone too far" in their sensitivity to Muslims and
had not done enough to spread the word of God. He put forward a striking
account of how the cultural revolution of the 1960s had destroyed
Christian values and Britishness, creating a "moral vacuum" which
extremist Islamic groups are now exploiting. A spokesman for the Church
of England insisted the debate on the missionary role of clergy had only
been dropped because the other Private Member's Motion had more
signatures. He said: "Owing to time constraints, the Business Committee
has been able to schedule only one such motion for July, on the subject
of Church Tourism, which heads the list in terms of the number of
signatures from members." Yesterday the Archbishop announced he had held
a meeting in London with representatives from 40 Christian groups from
around the world to discuss how to strengthen ties with Muslims. Dr
Rowan Williams said: "It has, I think, renewed for us all the
significance of the church's work in this area of cooperation with other
faiths for the sake of peace in our common home."
daily telegraph
Church of England accused of censoring debate on Islam The Church of
England has been accused of censorship for shelving a controversial
debate about Islam.
By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent Last Updated:
12:53PM BST 04 Jun 2008
A meeting of the Church's "parliament" was due to discuss whether clergy
should be doing more to convert British Muslims to Christianity. The
sensitive issue was highlighted last week by a senior bishop who accused
Church leaders of failing to reach out to other faiths, and warned that
radical Islam is filling a gap in society caused by the decline of
traditional Christian values. But now the Church has put off the debate
on recruiting Muslims until next February at the earliest and will
discuss the promotion of churches as tourist attractions instead. Paul
Eddy, a lay member of the General Synod, said his Private Members'
Motion should have been on the agenda at next month's meeting in York as
more than 100 other members had supported it including three bishops. He
believes it has been shelved because it would have shown up wide
divisions in the Church over its attitude to converting believers in
other faiths, at the same time as it faces schisms over the appointment
of women bishops and homosexuality. The debate would have taken place
just 12 days before the once-a-decade summit of Anglican bishops, the
Lambeth Conference. It would have piled more pressure on the embattled
Archbishop of Canterbury, who earlier this year sparked a storm by
claiming some parts of Islamic law would be adopted in Britain. Mr Eddy
said yesterday (tue): "I think they're censoring it on theological
grounds and because of the timing. "Ten days before Lambeth there would
be lots of bishops who would not be comfortable voting on the uniqueness
of Christ. "I believe after the Archbishop's comments on sharia he would
know there would be such press interest in it." He went on: "From the
telephone calls and emails I have received, people feel very aggrieved
that, at this particular time in the church's history, Synod was not
given an opportunity to be debate evangelism. "Now that Synod has
electronic voting, it would have been very easy to show how many of our
bishops believed in the uniqueness of Christ as the only means of
salvation, something which would have shown the division on orthodox
views in the House." Mr Eddy believes Christ himself ordered all
Christians to actively recruit nonbelievers and followers of other
faiths, but that many bishops now downplay this missionary role. He
fears by eroding the central place of Christianity in Britain,
everything the country stands for is "up for grabs". His motion called
on church leaders to clarify their strategy on whether they think
Muslims and believers in other religions should be actively converted to
Christianity in modern Britain. Mr Eddy's concerns echo those of the
Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who last week said
Church leaders had "gone too far" in their sensitivity to Muslims and
had not done enough to spread the word of God. He put forward a striking
account of how the cultural revolution of the 1960s had destroyed
Christian values and Britishness, creating a "moral vacuum" which
extremist Islamic groups are now exploiting. A spokesman for the Church
of England insisted the debate on the missionary role of clergy had only
been dropped because the other Private Member's Motion had more
signatures. He said: "Owing to time constraints, the Business Committee
has been able to schedule only one such motion for July, on the subject
of Church Tourism, which heads the list in terms of the number of
signatures from members." Yesterday the Archbishop announced he had held
a meeting in London with representatives from 40 Christian groups from
around the world to discuss how to strengthen ties with Muslims. Dr
Rowan Williams said: "It has, I think, renewed for us all the
significance of the church's work in this area of cooperation with other
faiths for the sake of peace in our common home." ???
Immigration workers 'linked to BNP' - AOL News
Immigration workers 'linked to BNP'
Last Updated: Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 06:50 GMT
- Search: BNP immigration service
Immigration workers 'linked to BNP'
Immigration workers 'linked to BNP'
An investigation has been launched after two immigration staff were
revealed to be members of the British National Party (BNP), the UK
Border Agency confirmed.
The two staff worked in an immigration removal centre until a list of
BNP members appeared on the internet in November, according to a UK
Border Agency spokesman.
After the list was made public, one resigned and another was suspended,
he said.
"There is no place for racism in the immigration system," said the
spokesman.
"We ask anyone carrying out duties on our behalf to sign a declaration
stating they are not a member of the BNP, the National Front or Combat
18."
The Government agency is investigating how the two staff - who were
employed on behalf of the Home Office by a private contractor - managed
to slip through the net.
A probe was launched following the resignation in November, the
spokesman added.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 10:50 GMT
from The Independent & The Independent on Sunday
Photographers criminalised as police 'abuse' anti-terror laws
Fury as stop-and-search powers are used to block and confiscate legal
pictures
By Jonathan Brown
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
WILL WINTERCROSS
The artist Reuben Powell was arrested and imprisoned for photographing
an old government building
Reuben Powell is an unlikely terrorist. A white, middle-aged,
middle-class artist, he has been photographing and drawing life around
the capital's Elephant & Castle for 25 years.
With a studio near the 1960s shopping centre at the heart of this area
in south London, he is a familiar figure and is regularly seen snapping
and sketching the people and buildings around his home – currently the
site of Europe's largest regeneration project. But to the police
officers who arrested him last week his photographing of the old HMSO
print works close to the local police station posed an unacceptable
security risk.
"The car skidded to a halt like something out of Starsky & Hutch and
this officer jumped out very dramatically and said 'what are you doing?'
I told him I was photographing the building and he said he was going to
search me under the Anti-Terrorism Act," he recalled.
For Powell, this brush with the law resulted in five hours in a cell
after police seized the lock-blade knife he uses to sharpen his pencils.
His release only came after the intervention of the local MP, Simon
Hughes, but not before he was handcuffed and his genetic material stored
permanently on the DNA database.
But Powell's experience is far from uncommon. Every week photographers
wielding their cameras in public find themselves on the receiving end of
warnings either by police, who stop them under Section 44 of the
Terrorism Act 2000, or from over-eager officials who believe that
photography in a public area is somehow against the law. Groups from
journalists to trainspotters have found themselves on the receiving end
of this unwanted attention, with many photographers now fearing that
their job or hobby could be under threat.
So serious has the situation become that the MP and keen photographer
Austin Mitchell, chairman of the Parliamentary All-Party Photography
Group, tabled an early day motion last March deploring the "officious
interference or unjustified suspicion" facing camera enthusiasts around
public buildings, where they are increasingly told that it is against
the law to photograph public servants at all – especially police
officers or community support officers – or that members of the public
cannot be photographed without their written permission. The Labour MP
is now calling for a photography code for officers so that snappers can
continue going about their rightful business.
Yet, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers, the law is
straightforward. "Police officers may not prevent someone from taking a
photograph in public unless they suspect criminal or terrorist intent.
Their powers are strictly regulated by law and once an image has been
recorded, the police have no power to delete or confiscate it without a
court order. This applies equally to members of the media seeking to
record images, who do not need a permit to photograph or film in public
places," a spokeswoman said.
But still the harassment goes on. Philip Haigh, the business editor of
Rail magazine, said the bullying of enthusiasts on railway platforms has
become an unwelcome fact of life in Britain. "It is a problem that
doesn't ever seem to go away. We get complaints from railway
photographers all the time that they are told to stop what they are
doing, mainly by railway staff but also by the police. It usually
results in an apologetic letter from a rail company," he said.
In the summer, armed police swooped on a group of trainspotters known as
the Steam Boys as they waited with high-powered photographic equipment
to capture a 1950s engine called The Great Marquess as it crossed the
Forth Bridge near Gordon Brown's constituency home in Fife. The National
Union of Journalists (NUJ) has also taken up the cause, highlighting the
case last month of the photographer Jess Hurd, whose camera was taken
from her when she was detained for 45 minutes under Section 44 while
documenting a traveller wedding in London's Docklands. Last week police
were filmed obstructing photographers covering a protest at the Greek
embassy in London. Scotland Yard promised to investigate. Jeremy Dear,
the general secretary of the NUJ, said: "It's time the police realised
that taking photographs doesn't automatically mean you're a terrorist.
Every month the NUJ finds itself dealing with yet more cases of officers
infringing journalistic freedoms and, very often, exceeding their legal
powers. "Even the police's own guidance makes it clear that there's
nothing in the Terrorism Act that can be used to prohibit the taking of
photos in a public place. The authorities have got to do more to ensure
that those people charged with upholding the law don't keep on
contravening it by trampling over well-established civil liberties."
Title: Home Office clarifies street photography bans
Feature: Daily News
Date: 16 December 2008The Home Office has written to the National Union
of Journalists, outlining cases when photography may be legally limited.
BJP reports.In a letter dated 03 December, which BJP saw, Vernon Coaker,
the Minister for Security, Counter-terrorism, Crime and Policing, has
written to the National Union of Journalists to inform it of measures
that have taken since their meeting on 05 November.
The meeting was arranged after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith shocked
photographers by appearing to condone increasing police restrictions,
despite confirming there is no legal
framework to prevent them shooting in public.
In the letter, the Minister has confirmed that photography can be
limited in public places in special circumstances. The letter reads:
'This may be on the grounds of national security or there may be
situations in which the taking of photographs may cause or lead to
public order situations or inflame an already tense situation or raise
security considerations. Additionally, the police may require a person
to move on in order to prevent a breach of the peace or to avoid a
public order situation or for the person's own safety and welfare or for
the safety and welfare of others'.
The broad definition could allow police officers to legally prevent
photographers, including press photographers, to document events such as
protests or any kind of incident.
Developing...Click here to print this page Title: Heavy-handed policing
against photographers caught on video
Feature: Daily News
Date: 12 December 2008The National Union of Journalists has criticised
the Metropolitan Police for heavy-handed policing against two
photojournalists in London this week. The incident was caught on
video.On Monday 08 December, two photojournalists were covering protests
outside the Greek embassy in London when a police officer deliberately
obstructed them in their work. The photojournalists, Jason Parkinson and
Marc Vallée have complained of being physically removed from any area
from which they could document events.
'The police must remember that they have responsibilities towards the
media,' said NUJ Legal Officer Roy Mincoff. 'Even where a
protest is itself illegal, the media have a right to report on events
and the police should not be taking action with the intention of
obstructing journalists in their work.
'There are clear guidelines which discuss how the police should work
with the media and officers policing demonstrations need to be made
aware of their responsibilities. The police know very well our concerns
around cases like this and it’s simply unacceptable for our members to
continue to have problems when covering protests. Such basic
infringements of our members’ rights must stop.'
The incident was caught on video, which BJP published on its blog –
1854.eu.
For more information, visit Marc
Vallée's website.
Source: © Incisive Media Ltd. 2009
Incisive Media Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y
4RX, is a company registered in the United Kingdom with company
registration number 04038503
Title: Press photographer detained under Terrorism Act
Feature: Daily News
Date: 15 December 2008
A press photographer covering a wedding reception in the Docklands has
been stopped and detained under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, in an
act the Metropolitan Police claims was legitimate.
[UPDATE: Audio file of altercation released + NUJ's reaction]
Jess Hurd was detailed for more than 45 minutes after she was stopped on
Wednesday 10 December. The press photographer had been covering the
wedding of a couple from Dale Farm in Essex. Young couples have been
rushing to tie the knot before the final legal challenge that may see
the largest travellers' site in Britain destroyed.
Hurd had been covering the wedding and had followed the couple to the
Ramada Docklands hotel in east London for the wedding reception. At
around 5.10pm, guests started leaving the reception. Hurd followed them
and while shooting stills and video she bumped into a police car parked
outside the hotel.
Hurd continued shooting the guests, but was called back by the officers.
She was detained under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which allows
police authorities to question anyone they suspect are acting
suspiciously. Her camera was forcefully removed from her, BJP has
learnt, and while she showed her press card, three police officers
insisted on viewing the footage she had taken. Hurd was detained for 45
minutes and told not to use any of the footage that showed the police
car or officers.
'Any officer that suspect an offence has been committed has the right to
detain you,' a Metropolitan press officer tells BJP. 'Because you are a
press photographer does not preclude you from being stopped under
section 44 of the Terrorism Act. If the officer thought the photographer
acted suspiciously and especially if it was in a sensitive place, he had
a right to detain and question the photographer.'
The Police have argued that Hurd was filming in a sensitive place due to
its proximity to the London City Airport.
The news comes less than three weeks after the National Policing
Improvement Agency reassured press photographers and journalists that
their rights are not under threat from the Terrorism Act. Read BJP's
article here.??
daily telegraph
Leading Chinese dissident stands by call for freedom of speech China's
most prominent liberal philosopher is defying demands by the Communist
Party to retract his signature from a ground-breaking call for reform,
elections and freedom of speech that has infuriated the government.
By Richard Spencer in Beijing
Last Updated: 8:31PM GMT 11 Jan 2009
Police and Party officials have threatened and harassed more than 100 of
the 300 leading intellectuals, lawyers and activists who signed Charter
08, a call for a new politics consciously modeled on dissident movements
in the former Soviet bloc. The Charter's alleged organiser was taken
from his home shortly before the document was launched on the 60th
anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights last
month, and is still being held. Scores of people have been interrogated,
from young lawyers to elderly veterans of Chairman Mao's early purges.
But none has attracted more attention than Xu Youyu, professor of
philosophy at the most prestigious Party-run think-tank, the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences. He has written an open letter, circulated on
the internet, describing how the Institute of Philosophy's director rang
him, accused him of breaching the national constitution and demanding he
withdraw his support. "He called me and gave me a very harsh warning,"
Prof Xu, 61, told The Telegraph. "He said the Charter violated the
existing constitution and laws of China so I must withdraw my signature.
"My reply was, 'That's nonsense'. The Charter is absolutely in
accordance with the constitution and law so it's absolutely impossible
for me to withdraw my name." He was then summoned to an interrogation
with the institute's Party Secretary - its most senior apparatchik - but
is refusing to attend. "I don't think it's my duty to obey their
orders," he said. Four months after the end of the Olympics, there is
still no sign of the political liberalisation many outsiders hoped the
Games would bring to China. The leadership has issued repeated warnings
that it is determined to ensure "social stability" in 2009 - code for
not tolerating any unrest generated by the economic crisis. Liu Xiaobo,
a former political prisoner suspected by the authorities of being a
chief organiser of Charter 08, remains under arrest outside Beijing.
Prof Xu, speaking at an outlet of Kentucky Fried Chicken in the capital
because of police visits to his home after other interviews, said if the
government had not over-reacted the Charter might have gone unnoticed.
But the threats against him forced him to write his open letter. "A
friend has told me that the 'higher-ups' [believe the Charter to be] ...
a movement of domestic and overseas hostile forces to collude with each
other and plot to overthrow the Chinese government," he wrote. "Such an
interpretation of the Charter and the allegations of criminality are
absurd, but that is not new in China." Prof Xu, a former Red Guard who
has confessed to taking part in beatings during the Cultural Revolution,
rejected his Communist past and studied logic at Oxford University in
the 1980s. A number of the Charter's other signatories are elderly
survivors of Mao's regime who, in a twist from the traditional
assumption that in China geriatric leaders hold out against reform, are
now telling conservative younger leaders to reject Mao's inheritance.
One, Bao Tong, 85, is well-known for regular polemics against his
successors in the inner leadership. "Would the powers that be please
tell 1.3 billion people why freedom is a crime?" he wrote in defence of
the Charter. "The older generation still believe in ideology, in ideas
like justice and democracy," said Mao Yushi, 79, an economist who was
first condemned as a "rightist" in 1957. For signing Charter 08, he was
picked up by police while taking his daily walk at his local park with
his wife and interrogated at the local police station about the
document's provenance. "Luckily we are too old to make any difference,"
he said. "We also have some social influence, so if they touch us they
will lose more than they gain." Prof Xu has been told all signatories
will be banned from having their work published on the mainland, or
appearing in newspapers. "And of course, at any moment as I sit at home
I await the arrival of the police," he said.
daily telegraph
Taliban underlines its growing power with killing of 'dancing girl' in
Pakistan Pakistan's celebrated dancing girls are fleeing in fear of
their lives as Taliban militants increase their strength in Pakistan's
North-West Frontier Province.
Taliban kill local dancing girls including Shabana, one of Pakistan's
celebrated dancers. The bullet-ridden body of Shabana left in the centre
of Mingora city's Green Square sent two clear messages to the locals in
the Swat Valley's largest town: 'unIsla The bullet-ridden body of
Shabana in the centre of Mingora's Green Square sent two clear messages
to the locals in the Swat Valley's largest town: "un-Islamic vices" will
no longer be tolerated, and the Taliban is now effectively in control.
Shabana's body was found slumped on the ground, strewn with bank notes,
CDs of her dance performances and pictures from her photo album. In case
anyone had not grasped the message the local Taliban commander Maulana
Shah Dauran broadcast a warning on one of its FM radio stations in the
valley: his men had killed her and if any other girls were found
performing in the city's Banr Bazaar they would be killed "one by one".
This weekend the last of the bazaar's dancing girls, many of whom had
trained under Shabana's wing and lived in her house, were seen loading
their belongings on to trucks and fleeing to the relative safety of
Karachi and Lahore, where their talents remain in great demand. The
banishment marks a key turning point in the battle for the Swat Valley
between Taliban militants and the Pakistan Army. It followed recent
orders to close down girls' schools in the valley, shut shops selling
music CDs and films, and edicts on barbers to stop shaving beards.
The performances of the dancing girls in Banr Bazaar had been one of the
city's last "vices", but in the narrow street where, until last week,
they plied their trade, signs were posted on doors stating: "We have
stopped dancing, please do not knock on the door." The street now closes
at 8pm and only those who live there can leave or enter.
More than 1,000 girls have now fled, though some who remained told The
Daily Telegraph that Shabana had paid the price for publicly defying the
Taliban's radio mullahs and that she had ignored personal warnings to
stop the performances and the training of young dancers in her home.
"On the eve of January 2, some men knocked at the door and asked for a
dance party," said Shabana's father Qamar Gul. "She instantly agreed and
opened the room and asked the men to wait while she prepared herself."
When she returned the four men said: "Let us start." They seized her at
gunpoint and told her they were going to slit her throat.
Shabana begged repeatedly while crying for help but they dragged her out
of the house, took her to the Green Square and shot her. Fayaz, a Banr
Bazaar resident, said he had now moved to a safer part of the city, and
only arranges dance events for selected known clients. He said dancing
could earn about 50,000 rupees (£415) a night, but the business was now
finished. The Taliban had denounced the dancing as prostitution, he
said, but only 1 per cent of the community was involved. Farzana, a Banr
Bazaar dancer who has moved to Peshawar, said: "We are here for a
temporary period. We entertain only selected people and not everyone
because we are threatened even in Peshawar. Several of our colleagues
have already shifted to Lahore and Karachi, but Banr Street is where we
opened our eyes, passed our youth and have acquaintances and fans." She
tearfully broke into verse: "This street, this house, don't come here
again - now I have left the place, so there is no one for you."
daily telegraph
BBC forced to apologise for misquoting depression expert, Dorothy Rowe
The BBC has been forced to apologise after a producer edited a radio
interview with leading clinical psychologist and writer, Dorothy Rowe,
to have her say the "opposite" of her view.
By Aislinn Simpson
Last Updated: 6:27PM GMT 11 Jan 2009
Dorothy Rowe complained to the corporation that her comments about
depression, for the Radio 2 programme What Do You Believe?, had been so
heavily edited that the final version misrepresented her views. Photo:
Robin Grierson Mrs Rowe complained to the corporation that her comments
about depression, for the Radio 2 programme What Do You Believe?, had
been so heavily edited that the final version misrepresented her views.
The subject up for discussion was "Why so many people want to believe in
God and search for faith." In an email to the corporation, published on
her website, Rowe said: "My words were edited to make it sound that I
held a favourable opinion of religion in that it gave a structure to a
person's life. What was not broadcast was what I had said about how such
structures can be damaging to people. "Religion does give structure to
many people's lives, but it can be the kind of structure that Guantanamo
gives to the lives of its inmates." The Australian, who has a home in
the UK, has written 13 books including Depression: The Way Out of Your
Prison and was voted one of the world's 100 living geniuses in a global
poll of creativity and innovation experts. She insisted she is one of
the BBC's biggest fans, adding: "This is a complaint about the way a
recorded interview was edited by a producer working for the BBC Religion
and Ethics Department. The result was that what was broadcast was the
opposite of what I had actually said. Why this producer failed to
maintain the high standards of the BBC I do not know." She received an
apology from Christine Morgan, executive producer at the BBC's religion
and ethics department, who said she was "very concerned to find that, as
you say, the programme did not accurately reflect the view you
expressed". A spokeswoman for the corporation said: "The BBC's religion
and ethics department acknowledged that extracts from an interview with
Dorothy Rowe - broadcast in the programme What Do You Believe? -
misrepresented her views on religion and has apologised to her." Rowe
was also invited to write an article published on the BBC's religion and
ethics website explaining her views.
daily telegraph
Presenter sacked for 'supporting the Bible's teachings' on radio A radio
presenter is taking legal action after he alleged he was sacked for
offending Muslims by defending Christianity on air.
By Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter
Last Updated: 1:51AM GMT 11 Jan 2009
The Rev Mahboob Masih was sacked for offending Muslims by defending
Christianity on air Photo: EPICSCOTLAND The Rev Mahboob Masih, a Church
minister, claims he was unfairly dismissed and that the action taken
against him was a case of religious discrimination. He had been host of
a regular Saturday morning show on Awaz FM, a community radio show in
Glasgow, for six years before the row with the station's management blew
up. After a lively religious debate, the radio station management took
exception to the content of the discussion. The Rev Masih was accused of
not being balanced enough on air. However, Awaz FM refuses to detail
anything specific he said that might have offended its listeners.
The Rev Masih and his co-presenter Afzal Umeed were discussing the views
of a prominent Muslim speaker, Zakir Naik, who the Rev Masih accuses of
belittling the Christian faith on Peace TV, a digital channel.
The Rev Masih says that Mr Umeed asked Asif Mall, a Christian on-air
guest, about Mr Naik's remarks. Mr Mall said Mr Naik's comments showed a
lack of knowledge of the Bible and of the Koran.
In particular, Mr Mall disputed a claim by Mr Naik that Jesus Christ was
not the only prophet to be "the way, the truth and the life". The Rev
Masih, 37, who is the minister in West Kirk, East Kilbride, says that he
reluctantly made an on-air apology in an attempt to defuse the row.
However, he says he refused a request from a senior station official to
deliver an apology in person at the Central Mosque in Glasgow because he
felt intimidated and his safety could have been endangered. He also
insists he had nothing to apologise for to Muslims. Initially, he and
his co-presenter were temporarily suspended for breaching the station's
code of conduct. The Rev Masih, who is married with two children, was
later dismissed after sending a letter criticising his treatment to the
station's management committee. In the letter, he demanded "our
immediate reinstatement to our radio show and a full apology".
He added: "Our comments were directed to 'insulting' and/or
'controversial' remarks made by Mr. Naik in relation to Christianity.
This was no more than religious debate under the general principles of
British law and within the Ofcom Code. No intemperate language was used
on our show."
In a reply, Javaid Ullah, the director of the radio station, terminated
the Rev Masih and his co-presenter's "voluntary agreement... with
immediate effect". He said that they had "failed to remain neutral and
as such allowed the guest to make comments which led in [to] offending
various members of the community."
He added: "The comments made in your letter were inaccurate and not
true. The tone of the letter was deemed offensive to the management of
Awaz FM." The Rev Masih told The Sunday Telegraph: "I am very distressed
at the way I have been treated. I presented the show for six years and
am sad to have been forced to give it up."
Awaz FM was set up in 2001 and went on air the following year after
receiving a license from the radio regulator, Ofcom. According to the
radio station's "mission statement" on its web site: "Awaz FM serves the
Asian population (originating from Indian Sub Continent) in Glasgow,
delivering entertainment, community information, local, national and
international news broadcasting in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and English."
The website also claims: "Awaz FM will be the voice of Glasgow's ethnic
communities and their respective faiths. A voice to let the people of
Glasgow express their needs and desires. It will provide organisations
an opportunity to use Awaz FM as a platform to deliver their aims and
objectives. "
The Rev Masih says the station, which is operated by volunteers, is
predominantly run by Muslims and concentrates on targeting Muslim
listeners.
The Rev Masih has now instructed Paul Diamond, a barrister specialising
in religious discrimination cases. As a result, the Rev Masih is taking
the radio station to an employment tribunal over the dispute which led
to his dismissal.
He has also lodged a complaint with Ofcom, the radio regulator, claiming
that Awaz FM is in breach of the terms of its licence. It alleges
"discrimination against members of Asian Christian Community by [the]
Muslim management of Awaz FM." Awaz FM is contesting the Rev Masih's
claims – and it denies that he was asked to go to a mosque to
apologise for his actions. Awaz FM asked for question about the dispute
to be put in writing, but then failed to answer any of the 14 points put
to them.
daily telegraph
Church of England to debate whether Christians should try to convert
Muslims Church leaders are to debate the contentious issue of whether
Christians should be doing more to convert Muslims.
By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent Last Updated: 5:50PM
GMT 17 Dec 2008
Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali earlier this year
warned that Church leaders had 'gone too far' in their sensitivity
towards Muslims Photo: ELEANOR BENTALL A discussion on the sensitive
topic has been tabled for the next meeting of the Church of England's
governing body amid fears that some clergy are ignoring their
traditional missionary role. Some members of the General Synod believe
Christ ordered all Christians to recruit nonbelievers and followers of
other faiths, and they want to see how many bishops and vicars agree
with this view. Among the speakers is likely to be the Bishop of
Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who earlier this year warned
that Church leaders had "gone too far" in their sensitivity towards
Muslims and were not doing enough to spread the word of God.
At the end of the debate at next February's Synod meeting in London,
bishops, clergy and lay members will vote on whether bishops should
report to the Synod on "their understanding of the uniqueness of Christ
in multi-faith Britain", and give examples of how the gospel should be
shared.
Paul Eddy, a lay member of the Synod, started the Private Members'
Motion and accused the Church of censorship earlier this year when it
was taken off the agenda of the July meeting at the last minute. He
believed it was shelved because it would have shown up deep divisions in
the Church over its attitude to converting believers in other faiths.
Mr Eddy said today that he was delighted the discussion will now be
heard. He told The Daily Telegraph: "I'm looking forward to what I think
will be a very positive debate. I'm hoping that the Church will affirm
the historic tenets of our faith. "We have a huge responsibility to
share our faith with everyone in the UK including those of other
faiths." The Synod meeting will also debate whether clergy should be
banned from being members of the far-right British National Party,
following another Private Members' Motion. There will be a presentation
on "the implications of the financial crisis and recession", triggered
by fears that the economic downturn could damage the Church's
billion-pound stock market investments as well as takings in the
collection plate.
Church of England accused of censoring debate on Islam The Church of
England has been accused of censorship for shelving a controversial
debate about Islam.
By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent Last Updated:
12:53PM BST 04 Jun 2008
A meeting of the Church's "parliament" was due to discuss whether clergy
should be doing more to convert British Muslims to Christianity. The
sensitive issue was highlighted last week by a senior bishop who accused
Church leaders of failing to reach out to other faiths, and warned that
radical Islam is filling a gap in society caused by the decline of
traditional Christian values. But now the Church has put off the debate
on recruiting Muslims until next February at the earliest and will
discuss the promotion of churches as tourist attractions instead. Paul
Eddy, a lay member of the General Synod, said his Private Members'
Motion should have been on the agenda at next month's meeting in York as
more than 100 other members had supported it including three bishops. He
believes it has been shelved because it would have shown up wide
divisions in the Church over its attitude to converting believers in
other faiths, at the same time as it faces schisms over the appointment
of women bishops and homosexuality. The debate would have taken place
just 12 days before the once-a-decade summit of Anglican bishops, the
Lambeth Conference. It would have piled more pressure on the embattled
Archbishop of Canterbury, who earlier this year sparked a storm by
claiming some parts of Islamic law would be adopted in Britain. Mr Eddy
said yesterday (tue): "I think they're censoring it on theological
grounds and because of the timing. "Ten days before Lambeth there would
be lots of bishops who would not be comfortable voting on the uniqueness
of Christ. "I believe after the Archbishop's comments on sharia he would
know there would be such press interest in it." He went on: "From the
telephone calls and emails I have received, people feel very aggrieved
that, at this particular time in the church's history, Synod was not
given an opportunity to be debate evangelism. "Now that Synod has
electronic voting, it would have been very easy to show how many of our
bishops believed in the uniqueness of Christ as the only means of
salvation, something which would have shown the division on orthodox
views in the House." Mr Eddy believes Christ himself ordered all
Christians to actively recruit nonbelievers and followers of other
faiths, but that many bishops now downplay this missionary role. He
fears by eroding the central place of Christianity in Britain,
everything the country stands for is "up for grabs". His motion called
on church leaders to clarify their strategy on whether they think
Muslims and believers in other religions should be actively converted to
Christianity in modern Britain. Mr Eddy's concerns echo those of the
Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who last week said
Church leaders had "gone too far" in their sensitivity to Muslims and
had not done enough to spread the word of God. He put forward a striking
account of how the cultural revolution of the 1960s had destroyed
Christian values and Britishness, creating a "moral vacuum" which
extremist Islamic groups are now exploiting. A spokesman for the Church
of England insisted the debate on the missionary role of clergy had only
been dropped because the other Private Member's Motion had more
signatures. He said: "Owing to time constraints, the Business Committee
has been able to schedule only one such motion for July, on the subject
of Church Tourism, which heads the list in terms of the number of
signatures from members." Yesterday the Archbishop announced he had held
a meeting in London with representatives from 40 Christian groups from
around the world to discuss how to strengthen ties with Muslims. Dr
Rowan Williams said: "It has, I think, renewed for us all the
significance of the church's work in this area of cooperation with other
faiths for the sake of peace in our common home."
daily telegraph
Church of England accused of censoring debate on Islam The Church of
England has been accused of censorship for shelving a controversial
debate about Islam.
By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent Last Updated:
12:53PM BST 04 Jun 2008
A meeting of the Church's "parliament" was due to discuss whether clergy
should be doing more to convert British Muslims to Christianity. The
sensitive issue was highlighted last week by a senior bishop who accused
Church leaders of failing to reach out to other faiths, and warned that
radical Islam is filling a gap in society caused by the decline of
traditional Christian values. But now the Church has put off the debate
on recruiting Muslims until next February at the earliest and will
discuss the promotion of churches as tourist attractions instead. Paul
Eddy, a lay member of the General Synod, said his Private Members'
Motion should have been on the agenda at next month's meeting in York as
more than 100 other members had supported it including three bishops. He
believes it has been shelved because it would have shown up wide
divisions in the Church over its attitude to converting believers in
other faiths, at the same time as it faces schisms over the appointment
of women bishops and homosexuality. The debate would have taken place
just 12 days before the once-a-decade summit of Anglican bishops, the
Lambeth Conference. It would have piled more pressure on the embattled
Archbishop of Canterbury, who earlier this year sparked a storm by
claiming some parts of Islamic law would be adopted in Britain. Mr Eddy
said yesterday (tue): "I think they're censoring it on theological
grounds and because of the timing. "Ten days before Lambeth there would
be lots of bishops who would not be comfortable voting on the uniqueness
of Christ. "I believe after the Archbishop's comments on sharia he would
know there would be such press interest in it." He went on: "From the
telephone calls and emails I have received, people feel very aggrieved
that, at this particular time in the church's history, Synod was not
given an opportunity to be debate evangelism. "Now that Synod has
electronic voting, it would have been very easy to show how many of our
bishops believed in the uniqueness of Christ as the only means of
salvation, something which would have shown the division on orthodox
views in the House." Mr Eddy believes Christ himself ordered all
Christians to actively recruit nonbelievers and followers of other
faiths, but that many bishops now downplay this missionary role. He
fears by eroding the central place of Christianity in Britain,
everything the country stands for is "up for grabs". His motion called
on church leaders to clarify their strategy on whether they think
Muslims and believers in other religions should be actively converted to
Christianity in modern Britain. Mr Eddy's concerns echo those of the
Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who last week said
Church leaders had "gone too far" in their sensitivity to Muslims and
had not done enough to spread the word of God. He put forward a striking
account of how the cultural revolution of the 1960s had destroyed
Christian values and Britishness, creating a "moral vacuum" which
extremist Islamic groups are now exploiting. A spokesman for the Church
of England insisted the debate on the missionary role of clergy had only
been dropped because the other Private Member's Motion had more
signatures. He said: "Owing to time constraints, the Business Committee
has been able to schedule only one such motion for July, on the subject
of Church Tourism, which heads the list in terms of the number of
signatures from members." Yesterday the Archbishop announced he had held
a meeting in London with representatives from 40 Christian groups from
around the world to discuss how to strengthen ties with Muslims. Dr
Rowan Williams said: "It has, I think, renewed for us all the
significance of the church's work in this area of cooperation with other
faiths for the sake of peace in our common home." ???
Immigration workers 'linked to BNP' - AOL News
Immigration workers 'linked to BNP'
Last Updated: Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 06:50 GMT
- Search: BNP immigration service
Immigration workers 'linked to BNP'
Immigration workers 'linked to BNP'
An investigation has been launched after two immigration staff were
revealed to be members of the British National Party (BNP), the UK
Border Agency confirmed.
The two staff worked in an immigration removal centre until a list of
BNP members appeared on the internet in November, according to a UK
Border Agency spokesman.
After the list was made public, one resigned and another was suspended,
he said.
"There is no place for racism in the immigration system," said the
spokesman.
"We ask anyone carrying out duties on our behalf to sign a declaration
stating they are not a member of the BNP, the National Front or Combat
18."
The Government agency is investigating how the two staff - who were
employed on behalf of the Home Office by a private contractor - managed
to slip through the net.
A probe was launched following the resignation in November, the
spokesman added.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 10:50 GMT
Posts
