In the run up to the European elections, the British National Party will be stoking up anti-Muslim hatred to win a seat.
Their actions lead to the worst kind of racist violence. An
Islamic centre in Luton was firebombed on 5 May this year, just weeks after the far right and Nazi thugs paraded through the town.
The BNP need 1 million votes, and once they get in, they’ll join Islamophobes on continental Europe to attack Muslims.
| Region |
No. of Seats Available |
Approx. BNP vote (%) required to get one MEP |
| North East |
3 |
17.0% |
| North West |
8 |
8.5% |
| Yorkshire & Humber |
6 |
11.5% |
| East Midlands |
6 |
11.5% |
| West Midlands |
6 |
11.5% |
| East |
7 |
10.0% |
| London |
8 |
8.5% |
| South East |
10 |
7.5% |
| South West |
6 |
11.5% |
| Wales |
4 |
16.0% |
| Scotland |
6 |
11.5% |
The BNP's record of hate
Islamophobic hatred:
2006:
The BNP declared their local election campaign a
‘referendum on Islam’. Its recruitment leaflet used
images from the London bombings — attacking Islam
as a ‘threat… to our British culture, heritage and ways
of life’. The BNP more than doubled its council seats,
bringing the total to 49 councillors across England.
The BNP have been caught on camera referring
to Islam as a ‘vicious, wicked faith’ and claims it is
perpetuated by rape.
The BNP has a record 12 councillors on Barking
and Dagenham Council. It proposed a motion in
December 2006 aimed at banning all visible head
dress — a direct attack on a woman’s right to choose
to wear hijab and the niqab.
2007:
The BNP has stirred up Islamophobia and racism in
areas where communities plan to build mosques in
areas such as Dudley and Stratford in East London.
Anti-Muslim violence:
2007:
BNP Parliamentary candidate for Hull Brian
Wainwright was found guilty after a campaign of hate
mail against the local mosque, a Muslim councillor
and a local anti-fascist activist. A letter in which he
claimed, “Muslim blood will be spilt” included ‘SS’ skull
and crossbones imagery.
BNP activist Mark Bulman was sentenced to five years
after attempting to firebomb a local mosque using a
BNP leaflet as a fuse. He also daubed swastikas and
racist graffiti on local shops and businesses that he
believed to be ‘ethnic’.
Racist lies:
2001:
The BNP stoked racist hostilities which provoked
disturbances in Oldham — spreading racist lies
about ‘no go areas for whites’ and racist attacks by Pakistani and Bangladeshi people on white people. By
challenging its racist lies and increasing voter turnout,
a united campaign against the BNP means Oldham
Council is BNP-free.
2004:
The BNP spread racist myths about Asian men
‘grooming’ white girls in Keighley; that year, they
gained four seats on Bradford Council.
Related links:
Unite Against Facism
Hope Not Hate |