Council urges ban on East End Islamic meeting over EDL demo
TOWN Hall leaders tonight have called for an Islamic conference to be scrapped in London’s East End on June 20, in the wake of a demo planned outside by the English Defence League. The date was deliberately chosen by the EDL to coincide with the conference, Tower Hamlets warned
TOWN Hall leaders tonight have called for an Islamic conference to be scrapped in London’s East End on June 20, in the wake of a demo planned outside by the English Defence League.
The date was deliberately chosen by the EDL to coincide with the conference at the Troxy venue in Commercial Road, said Tower Hamlets council.
The Troxy must comply with the law and have regard to the impact such an event will have on social cohesion in the East End, the council warned today.
Deputy Leader Josh Peck said: “This Islamic conference is not supported by the council and we call on the Troxy to call it off in the interests of public safety and social cohesion.
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“If necessary, we will review our working relationship with the Troxy.”
Council Leader Helal Abbas has been holding talks with police urging them to find any way to make sure both the conference and the EDL demo don’t take place.
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“Neither is representative and will cause great distress,” said Cllr Abbas. “I call on the community to hold their nerve, but be vigilant in the face of the EDL’s blatant attempt at division along crude racial and religious lines.”
A day of demonstrations’ has been given the go-ahead by police, despite the call for a ban.
Police confirmed they can’t stop either event. Tower Hamlets borough police commander Paul Rickett said: “The Met has no legal power to ban this event or any protest proposed against it.”
Activists have set up a United East End’ campaign to oppose the EDL’s presence with a peaceful protest to send the message that they are “not welcome in the East End.”
