Waltham Forest community condemns EDL march as counter-demo planned

In a provacative statement released by the EDL on Monday (May 4), the group claim it has specifically chosen to march through Walthamstow because it is "Islamist Bandit Country".

It is understood the far-right group is referring to the convictions in 2012 of two Walthamstow men for a plot to blow up translatlantic flights and more recent convictions for harrassment relating to so-called Muslim Patrols. 

The EDL action follows a march in Walthamstow in 2012, which saw a number of arrests.  

Group Unite Against Fascism say hundreds will again turn out for a counter demonstration, with speakers including Green MEP Jean Lambert and comedian Ava Vidal.

Assistant secretary of Waltham Forest Islamic Society, Irfan Akhtar, reacted to the EDL claim about Walthamstow by saying the problem of radicalisation can be found across the country.

"There is extremism everywhere," he said. 

"We are not going to deny the 2008 transatlantic bomb threat and the trouble in the past.

"The EDL are coming here because they think they can start trouble.

"They have seen the headlines and think there is instability that they can make worse. 

"But they are not from the area, they don't know about the strength of our community.

"They saw it in 2012 when they were out-numbered 15 to one.

"We had Sikhs Muslims, Atheists, Christians all in unity.

"That is the best answer to them.

"We as a mosque must give extremism no platform.

"[Radical preacher] Anjem Choudary is never allowed inside. You can see all those videos of him are taken from outside.

"He has a group of around ten people and he is given all this media attention for his comments but he is representative of 0.001 per cent of Muslims.

"He tried to film outside our mosque but our trustees, one elderly, ended up pushing him down the street.

"We have to engage in dialogue with young people before they become brainwashed into extremism.

"Foreign policy can make people angry, injustices in Syria, but it is our job as a Mosque to not be silent on these issues.

"That is why we write open letters to the Foreign Office or the prime minister to show there is a democratic route.

"We work together with the police, councillors and we even hosted a hustings last week. This is our community."

Dr Shaukat Khan of Walthamstow Migrant Action Group said a strong showing will prevent the EDL from coming back to the borough.

He said: "A show of force against the EDL will display a collective responsibility to vulnerable immigrants who are living in fear.

"Immigrants are struggling for housing, the health service and access to education the real problems that get buried around an election.

"A large demonstration will show them 'We are here, we support you, we want you in an active role in society.'

"They come from outside the borough and then will go home after creating a bigger problem.

"We want to make sure they never come back again."

Mohammed Ilyas, general secretary of Waltham Forest Islamic Society, said the EDL march will not cause division but said MPs could do more to challenge the far-right organisation.

He said: "There is nothing new in the march and we condemn everything about the EDL.

"These activities may aim to create chaos but they can have the opposite effect of bringing the community closer than ever before.

"The EDL can't succeed because the majority of people in Great Britain are too sensible.

"But this is a time for Great Britain to wake up politicians from all the major political parties.

"Politicians play this same dirty game especially around election times to cash this card and they end up encouraging these groups."

Waltham Forest Islamic Association committee, with Mohammed Ilyas (centre).

Yusuf Hansa, chairman of Waltham Forest Council of Mosques, called on the community to remain calm in the face of provocation.

He said: "We all know what they are like and we have to allow them their freedom of speech.

"But I will not be going down there personally because I have better things to do this weekend.

"Some of us have to get on with our lives.

"The community in Waltham Forest has gone through all this before, and I would urge anyone going to counter demonstrate not to react or excite them."

Yusuf Hansa, Chairman of Waltham Forest Council of Mosques.

Unite Against Fascism said it expects a large turnout for the counter demnstration.

In a statement, it said: "Waltham Forest has a proud history of standing up to fascism and celebrating diversity. Its peaceful protest in 2012 united the community against the EDL and contributed to the collapse of this violent street-fighting organisation.

"The fascist EDL group had planned to march through Woolwich in a sickeningly cynical attempt to exploit the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. 

"The EDL should apologise to Lynn Rigby, not turn its politics of hate and division on the multicultural borough of Waltham Forest again."

Labour's candidate for Walthamstow Stella Creasy on May 7 criticised the police for not banning the march on Twitter.

angry & disappointed Police not listening 2 concerns of local residents and banning EDL from coming 2 Walthamstow-hope Home Sec sees sense!

— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) May 5, 2015

Election candidates including Carl Quilliam, Ashley Gunstock and John Cryer hold 'Stop EDL' signs after a Leyton & Wanstead hustings