We welcome the Home Secretary’s decision to ban a planned march by the far-right English Defence League (EDL) through Tower Hamlets on Saturday 3rd September 2011.

The march had the potential to cause major public disorder. Far from its claims of wanting ‘peaceful’ protest, time and again the EDL has attempted to sow disharmony and hatred, singling out and targeting Muslims.

Hundreds of its members have been arrested for violent disorder. Hundreds more have been associated with far-right groups such as the British National Party (BNP) and Combat 18 (C18), whilst even more had direct links to the right-wing fundamentalist, Anders Behring Breivik, who murdered 76 mostly-young people in Norway recently.

Our priority has been to ensure the safety of the communities we serve. The East London Mosque has been proud to work alongside United East End, the Metropolitan Police, local MPs, and Tower Hamlets Council and its Executive Mayor to secure this ban.

This diverse community has seen off the hatred of Oswald Moseley’s Black Shirts directed towards the Jewish community in the 1930s, and racism and violence towards the Black and Asian communities in the 1970s. We must stand united to ensure “Never Again” and prevent the dark cloud of history repeating itself.

[ENDS]