Far-right protesters today staged a demonstration outside a London mosque as worshippers attended Friday prayers.
Around 100 members of the English Defence League held a demonstration outside the London Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre near Regent's Park.
EDL members were heard chanting - to the tune of the Beach Boys' Sloop John B - "it's our country, we're taking it back" as prayers were held.
Radical cleric Anjem Choudary was among those worshipping at the mosque as protesters chanted anti-Islamic messages and wielded banners and placards outside.
Around 100 police kept them away from the front of the mosque, although trouble threatened to escalate when a handful of far-right demonstrators surged down the pavement towards a group of Muslims.
The protesters, who said they were antagonised by some of the worshippers, had to be restrained by officers.
Scotland Yard said there were no arrests during the protest.
Speaking outside after prayers, Mr Choudary told Muslims not to vote at the forthcoming election.
He also handed out leaflets entitled "why it is strictly forbidden to vote in Islam".
One passage read: "Only God can make things lawful and unlawful. If a human being does this ... this is considered the most heinous crime."
However, he was accused by some worshippers of encouraging anti-Islamic protests
No comments:
Post a Comment