Anti-Islamists, Opposition Clash in U.K.

90 Arrested as English Defense League, Counter-Demonstrators Collide in Birmingham

(AP)  Authorities arrested 90 people after racially charged violence erupted between a group protesting Islamic extremism and counter-demonstrators in the central English city of Birmingham, police said Sunday.

The clashes erupted Saturday when a rally by the English Defense League ran into counter-demonstrators including anti-fascists and youths of South Asian descent, West Midlands Police said.

About 200 people were involved in the clashes in downtown Birmingham, police said.

Television footage showed masked or hooded youths throwing projectiles and running from riot police through the diverse city's downtown area.

Police said the 90 people detained - all males aged 16 to 39 - were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and violent disorder.

It was not immediately clear how many were protesters and how many were counter-demonstrators.

Clashes also erupted last month at a similar demonstration in Birmingham, a diverse city of about 1 million where nearly a third of the population is nonwhite.

The English Defense League blames counter-demonstrators for inciting violence at its rallies. It has planned protest marches in other cities, including one next month in Manchester.

[bzzpd]

The muslim religious fanatics believe that it is perfectly acceptable to kill a "khaffer", or non muslim, just like a cow. They have been caught on video saying it. I've watched the video. They plan on turning Europe into a Muslim Empire.
With their religious prejudice against non muslims, and the commitment to turn Europe into a Muslim empire....how can any peace be established with these fanatics.

It is no wonder there is rioting in the streets. The muslim community tells people in their demonstrations, that they plan on taking non muslims freedoms away from them. They tell them they have no choice but to convert to Allah.

They don't believe in freedom of choice. This is just the start of the violence to come from religious muslims who plan to overthrow a western government with religious fanaticsm.

[jimmyc1955]

In the west is was customary for immigrants to adapt and adopt to their new environment by integrating themselves into the culture and customers of their new home.

We are now dealing with a group of immigrants who insist that their new home become like their old home. It is interesting that even though they left their native lands for better opportunities they insist that the new land become modeled after their old one - and they feel no obligation or desire to become integrated into the the local culture or adhere to new customs. In fact they demand that local customs change to suit them.

Additional - radical factions of these new immigrants have brought violence and hatred into the lands the immigrate to.

Those who wish to obfuscate on this basic fact are simply politically correct and rather ignorant of history. As they are more interested in appearing what they define as culturally enlightened then in any actual outcome those who are buckling under to every demand from minority immigrants are willing to flush their own culture and all it has brought the world (value beyond measure) for one that stagnated over 700 years ago.

I don't think you need to pass anti-immigration laws, but you simply don't bend laws and customs at the behest of every whinny immigrant who feels THEIR culture is superior - even though it failed them and they had to flee to survive.

[mysteriousjz]

That is called Imperialism-just walk the other shoe

[babooph]

What we need is NO fighting ,but a clear note ,almost all religions are simply fairy tales-if one had not been brainwashed as a child,being approached as an adult would only bring laughs.

[jimmyc1955]

You are certainly entitled to that narrow minded opinion but there are many highly educated and knowledgeable people who will disagree with you.

[mysteriousjz]

We have found a new scapegoat-a religion and its followers being slaughtered with mighty force all over-and yet the victim is the victimizer

[Mkw789]

The Gordon Brown government, is shuffling chairs on the RMS Titanic. Iceberg, directly ahead! ;^) -- found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth

[signseeker1717]

The BBC reports on this story refer to the "anti-Islamists" as "nea-fascists". Take note, CBS.

[coc7uthe]

UK took it upon themselves to colonize Asia and Africa .Brits didn't need passports to slaughter Indians or fight a war to sell opium in China. Now this is coming home to roost. Good. Brits , Belgians, French etc killed millions of Africans and Asians . History must be balanced .

[Hosheen]

This is going to get far worse. WWII will be between religious fundamentalist of Islam and everyone else. It will involve even those who care nothing about any religion.

Most of the world's problems are, and always have been, caused by religion. Mankind will never truly be free until the dark cloud of religion is swept away by the light of facts and reason.

[ibsteve2u]

by hbevis September 6, 2009 4:55 PM EDT "And, saying that Religion will be swept away some day?? This will never happen because there will always believe that we came from some other place..."

Religion does focus entirely too much upon where we came from, when what spells trouble is where our religions are leading us.

[jimmyc1955]

Modern Christianity believes in love and peace - and it is taught that way. It is also tolerant of other religions. There is no nation on earth in which Christianity is integrated into the government and prevents the teaching or practice of other faiths. You can not same the same for Islam.

[Thorinz]

These clashes are only the beginning and indeed they are tragic as this has been building for years. Can we say that diversification is going to cost more than governments ever bargained for. Once entrenched impossible to remove??? Oil and water do not mix.....................western culture verses religious fundamentalism.

[ToolMangler1]

Well Said and true!!!!

[slownewsday_5]

"western culture verses religious fundamentalism. "


There is plenty of religious fundamentalism within our western culture. Bush and Palin are examples of their leaders.

[slownewsday_5]

I hope they send the Christian extremists off, too. Just as dangerous to society...