[reece(:]

Communities across the UK have been responding to violent threats contained in a letter promising that 3 April would be “Punish a Muslim Day”.

The phrase was coined in an anonymous letter distributed to some homes and businesses last month, with recipients in east London, the Midlands and Yorkshire. The letter suggested people could win “points” for a range of activities aimed at Muslims, including removing a headscarf from a woman or beating a person up. Muslim MPs were also sent the letter.



Events have been planned across the country to show opposition to the threats. Nottingham is hosting a Love a Muslim Day event, scheduled to take place at the city’s Brian Clough statue between 2pm and 8pm. It will feature music and poetry, and organiser Farouk Azam says the event is an “opportunity for good people in Nottingham to stand together in solidarity, to show we can live side by side in a city we love”.

There are also #LoveAMuslimDay events planned in Bradford, Wakefield, Sheffield and Leeds, and Stand Up to Racism Edinburgh will hold a demonstration in the Scottish capital.

The #LoveAMuslimDay hashtag originated with an alternative letter circulated by the charity Muslim Engagement and Development (Mend). Written by its Yorkshire & Humber regional manager, Shahab Adris, it suggests getting points for smiling at a Muslim or inviting them into your home.



Some sections of the Muslim community have arranged measures to help people worried they may suffer violence on the day. Using the hashtag #ProtectAMuslimDay, volunteers are manning phone lines to take calls from people worried about travelling to arrange help. “We’ve already had a few calls today asking if we could get volunteers to accompany females out and about, and a couple just wanting to stay on the phone with us as they felt unsafe. It’s been a positive response with over 100 volunteers signed up from across the country,” said a spokesperson.

The hashtag #PunishAMuslimDay began trending on Twitter in the UK early on Tuesday. The vast majority of the tweets condemned the idea. However, some from accounts using the logos of far-right organisations suggested the letter had been a “false flag” operation.

There were also some instances of fake claims about the day being spread on social media, with one tweet suggesting that “10 Muslims have been killed today in the name of ‘Punish a Muslim Day’” being shared more than 100 times, and other tweets claiming “attacks have already begun”.

The viral letter also crossed the Atlantic, with Portland Public Schools in Oregon issuing a statement saying: “We became aware this afternoon that an anti-Muslim flier has been circulating to some of our schools and families. The flier, which appears to have originated in the United Kingdom, declares tomorrow, 3 April, as ‘Punish a Muslim Day’. We find this, and other offensive language in the flier, to be deplorable. While we are unaware of any direct threats based on these fliers, we have alerted the Portland Police Bureau, as well as our PPS security staff.”

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police in London said no credible information had been received to suggest any attacks were planned, and that an investigation led by counter-terrorism policing north-east, and supported by the Metropolitan police counter-terrorism command, was ongoing to identify those responsible for the letter.

They added: “These messages seek to cause fear and mistrust amongst our communities and to divide us. Yet in spite of this our communities have shown strength in their response to such hatred and in their support for each other.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...lim-day-letter

Proud of US

[Oliver_W]

"Throw flowers on a muslim"

I can just imagine a muslim woman trying to walk to work, but she keeps getting pelted by bunches of flowers by overly enthusiastic wellwishers, and she scuttles into her office block or whatever, and flowers pelt against the glass, and she's like, "phew, safe!"

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

"Throw flowers on a muslim"

I can just imagine a muslim woman trying to walk to work, but she keeps getting pelted by bunches of flowers by overly enthusiastic wellwishers, and she scuttles into her office block or whatever, and flowers pelt against the glass, and she's like, "phew, safe!"

That first letter is disgusting, nice response though

[reece(:]

'They have made you so many curries and kebabs'

[_Tom_]

"Sheep follow orders and are easily led"

Indeed.

[Strictly Jake]

I'm so shocked at that first letter how disgusting is that!!!!

And these people think they are better than the terrorists they are angry at??

Terrorists come from all walks of life so this is absurd and upsetting

[user104658]

Originally Posted by reece(:

'They have made you so many curries and kebabs'

At least their heart was in the right place

[kirklancaster]

The senders of the original letters are mere cowardly cretins and no reasonable person will take any notice of such bigoted tripe.

All Muslims cannot be blamed for ANY deviant acts by extremists or perverts.

[ethanjames]

the first letter is just disgusting oh my god

[DemolitionRed]

Wow, I hope they can catch whoever made that first letter.

[Tom4784]

It's uplifting (despite the....awkward aspects...of the second letter) to see people respond to this horrid story with love and empathy for their fellow man.

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

It's uplifting (despite the....awkward aspects...of the second letter) to see people respond to this horrid story with love and empathy for their fellow man.

It is creepy... but, understandably logical counter-response?

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

That first letter is disgusting, nice response though

In particular the Acid attack and the torture rack stuff shocked me the most.

Thankfully it does seem like most people will have ignored the letter which is a relief considering how most people in the UK feel about the Muslims.

[Kizzy]

I meant to make a thread about this the other day and forgot, thanks it really is a massive representation of the rot in this country.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

In particular the Acid attack and the torture rack stuff shocked me the most.

Thankfully it does seem like most people will have ignored the letter which is a relief considering how most people in the UK feel about the Muslims.

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I meant to make a thread about this the other day and forgot, thanks it really is a massive representation of the rot in this country.

I'm with Mock on this one

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I meant to make a thread about this the other day and forgot, thanks it really is a massive representation of the rot in this country.

It is the work of one or two cowardly nutjobs and does not represent any endemic rot in this country, any more than ISIS Terrorism represents terrorist tendencies in all Muslims or a minority of rogue USA cops shooting unarmed black men is representative of any endemic corrupt racist hatred among ALL US Police Officers.

The great and pleasing REACTION to this unacceptable incident FROM diverse communities within this country substantiates that it is NOT any 'massive representation' of the general populace.

I find it ironic and telling that you discern that this HUGE country is 'rotten' with anti-Muslim sentiment because of this incident, yet refuse to concede that anti-Semitism is NOT a 'massive problem' within the relatively TINY Labour Party despite over 50+ expulsions of anti-Semitic members and a vast catalogue of HARD evidence that the Labour Party is ROTTEN with anti-Semitism.

Please stop putting Britain and the British people down.

[Cherie]

I have not heard of once person who got attacked on 3rd April, but this letter has been brought to the attention of the authorities, not too much rotton about that

[Tozzie]

do they know the evil twat who published the first letter? Pillocks like them who cause unrest, they should be locked up and the key thrown away, whoever was isn't a human being they are a demon.

[jet]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

It is the work of one or two cowardly nutjobs and does not represent any endemic rot in this country, any more than ISIS Terrorism represents terrorist tendencies in all Muslims or a minority of rogue USA cops shooting unarmed black men is representative of any endemic corrupt racist hatred among ALL US Police Officers.

The great and pleasing REACTION to this unacceptable incident FROM diverse communities within this country substantiates that it is NOT any 'massive representation' of the general populace.

I find it ironic and telling that you discern that this HUGE country is 'rotten' with anti-Muslim sentiment because of this incident, yet refuse to concede that anti-Semitism is NOT a 'massive problem' within the relatively TINY Labour Party despite over 50+ expulsions of anti-Semitic members and a vast catalogue of HARD evidence that the Labour Party is ROTTEN with anti-Semitism.

Please stop putting Britain and the British people down.

You've hit the nail on the head there Kirk.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

It is the work of one or two cowardly nutjobs and does not represent any endemic rot in this country, any more than ISIS Terrorism represents terrorist tendencies in all Muslims or a minority of rogue USA cops shooting unarmed black men is representative of any endemic corrupt racist hatred among ALL US Police Officers.

The great and pleasing REACTION to this unacceptable incident FROM diverse communities within this country substantiates that it is NOT any 'massive representation' of the general populace.

I find it ironic and telling that you discern that this HUGE country is 'rotten' with anti-Muslim sentiment because of this incident, yet refuse to concede that anti-Semitism is NOT a 'massive problem' within the relatively TINY Labour Party despite over 50+ expulsions of anti-Semitic members and a vast catalogue of HARD evidence that the Labour Party is ROTTEN with anti-Semitism.

Please stop putting Britain and the British people down.

You've bopped the jew on the kippah there Kirk.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by jet

You've hit the nail on the head there Kirk.

Thank you, Jet.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

You've bopped the jew on the kippah there Kirk.

Thank you T.S. You are a Master of Picturesque Speech.

[Northern Monkey]

When they catch the knobheads who wrote this thing we should have ‘punish a brain donor day’ and take turns at dropping em on their head.

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

The senders of the original letters are mere cowardly cretins and no reasonable person will take any notice of such bigoted tripe.

All Muslims cannot be blamed for ANY deviant acts by extremists or perverts.

Well said Kirk.

There is a problem in the mind set taught in the religion regards women (as there is in other faiths as well) but going around abusing people is completely counter productive and morally wrong. You have to educate people to help them find a better way of behaving, interacting and inclusiveness and that goes for all people, including the ignorant idiots promoting the abuse.

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

It is the work of one or two cowardly nutjobs and does not represent any endemic rot in this country, any more than ISIS Terrorism represents terrorist tendencies in all Muslims or a minority of rogue USA cops shooting unarmed black men is representative of any endemic corrupt racist hatred among ALL US Police Officers.

The great and pleasing REACTION to this unacceptable incident FROM diverse communities within this country substantiates that it is NOT any 'massive representation' of the general populace.

I find it ironic and telling that you discern that this HUGE country is 'rotten' with anti-Muslim sentiment because of this incident, yet refuse to concede that anti-Semitism is NOT a 'massive problem' within the relatively TINY Labour Party despite over 50+ expulsions of anti-Semitic members and a vast catalogue of HARD evidence that the Labour Party is ROTTEN with anti-Semitism.

Please stop putting Britain and the British people down.

Another great post, particularly the last line.

With regard the 'Love a Muslim' circular I'm a bit dubious about the idea of throwing flowers at people. The floweree, the one being flowered might not be too thrilled and it might actually hurt.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

It is the work of one or two cowardly nutjobs and does not represent any endemic rot in this country, any more than ISIS Terrorism represents terrorist tendencies in all Muslims or a minority of rogue USA cops shooting unarmed black men is representative of any endemic corrupt racist hatred among ALL US Police Officers.

The great and pleasing REACTION to this unacceptable incident FROM diverse communities within this country substantiates that it is NOT any 'massive representation' of the general populace.

I find it ironic and telling that you discern that this HUGE country is 'rotten' with anti-Muslim sentiment because of this incident, yet refuse to concede that anti-Semitism is NOT a 'massive problem' within the relatively TINY Labour Party despite over 50+ expulsions of anti-Semitic members and a vast catalogue of HARD evidence that the Labour Party is ROTTEN with anti-Semitism.

Please stop putting Britain and the British people down.

Just what are you accusing me of now... Are you going to trawl across the forum policing my opinions?

I feel it is representative of the weight of Islamophobia, this topic does not address antisemitism or 'Britishness' so can you please stop baiting