This article appears on the front pages of today's Leicester Mercury:
Pig's head man told he could go to jail
A man who placed a pig’s head outside a community centre used for prayers by Muslims has been warned he faces a possible jail sentence for the offence.
Liam Ferrar (24) appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court today to admit religiously aggravated harassment aimed at the Muslim community.
The court heard that Ferrar had acquired the pig’s head at a wedding the previous summer, and kept it in a freezer at his home in Brook Road, Thurnby Lodge, Leicester.
On Christmas night last year, December 25, he went to Thurnby Lodge Community Centre, in Thurncourt Road, and placed the head by the locked doors.
The head was facing out, towards the worshippers from Muslim group As Salaam who arrived at the centre the following morning, Boxing Day.
Louise Cox, prosecuting, said: “He was drunk and had been to a party and decided to get it out of his freezer and leave it outside the community centre.
“He did know the impact it would have.”
The community centre has been the scene of regular protests since the summer over a former Scout hut nearby, which Leicester City Council was going to allow As Salaam members to use for prayers instead of the community centre.
The protesters wanted the Scout hut to be kept for use by the wider community.
Miss Cox said the community centre keyholder, who was the first member of As Salaam on the scene on Boxing Day, later told police he was upset by the sight of what he at first had thought was a cat.
“He said he was sickened and disgusted and quickly returned to his vehicle,” she said.
Miss Cox added that the keyholder “said the protest had led to people congregating outside at prayer time and shouting racist comments”, and that “he has heard a number of those racist comments.”
She said Ferrar was a member of the Forgotten Estates campaign group “that has been involved in the protests about the use of the Scout hut”.
“There’s intelligence about this defendant playing a fundamental role in the protest group,” she said.
Ferrar, who at times acted as a liaison between the protest group and the police, was recognised by officers viewing CCTV footage, the hearing was told.
After being arrested on December 28, Ferrar “became tearful” and confessed, the court heard.
After the worshippers found the pig’s head, As Salaam imam Moulana Mohammed Lockhat decided to call the police, who removed it.
Miss Cox told the court Mr Lockhat said in his statement that the incident was “extremely distressing” for the worshippers, “The pig is a creature Muslims are forbidden from using any part of,” she said.Miss Cox added Mr Lockhat had said that “prior to the pig’s head incident, he received malicious communications in relation to pig’s heads and blood”.
There was no suggestion in court of who might have sent the “malicious communications”, nor by what means they were sent.The case was adjourned for a probation report.
District judge John Temperley told Ferrar it was an “extremely serious case”, and that “all options, including custody” were being considered.
Ferrar has been required by a court order to live outside the Thurnby Lodge area, and has been staying with a relative in West End, Leicester.
Steve Morris, representing Ferrar, made an application for his client to be allowed back onto the Thurnby Lodge estate, but the application was declined.
Ferrar is due back at Leicester Magistrates’ Court next month for sentencing.
After the hearing, Maxine Williams, licensee of the estate’s Stirrup Cup pub, and a founding member of the Forgotten Estates group, said: “When it happened I was so saddened by the whole affair and it was very sad and distressing for the Muslims, no doubt.
“I think it’s very sad that it’s so out of character for Liam to do anything like this at all.
“He’s a lovely boy and I still can’t believe it was him.”
She added: “It’s so sad he’s done it and the consequences are so harsh.”
At Phoenix this afternoon for the first meeting of a steering group working toward this year's celebration of An Indian Summer, Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 June.
Bipin Anand (in photo above, standing) presents a short video to kick off the meeting, recalling some of the highlights of the 2012 event.
The Council of Faiths had a strong presence in the first celebration of An Indian Summer, offering an informal seminar entitled How Diverse is Leicester? We didn't really get the chance to do anything last year. I'm looking forward to us playing a fuller role in the upcoming event.
An Indian Summer is one of just two annual events that take place across the Cultural Quarter (the other being Oxjam). An ambitious and extensive programme of activities will make this third celebration of An Indian Summer the most memorable yet. The absence of Summer Sundae Weekender this year should allow An Indian Summer to make an even bigger impact.
MP pledges to combat intolerance
An MP has pledged his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and to help combat prejudice and racism.
Sunday marks the 68th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
In the weeks leading up to it, the Holocaust Educational Trust has placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons.
Jon Ashworth, Labour MP for Leicester South, who has signed the book, said: "Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity to remember the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.
"Having visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, I saw for myself the full extent of the industrialised nature of the Holocaust.
"I encourage all constituents to mark the day and to join the fight against prejudice and intolerance."
Faith leaders and agencies in bid to tackle world poverty
Faith leaders, charity workers and councillors gathered in the city to urge the Government to tackle hunger and poverty.
Assistant city mayor Manjula Sood joined the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, and representatives from Oxfam, Save the Children and Christian Aid at the cathedral this week to help launch Enough Food for Everyone – a campaign by Christian Aid.
The national campaign is asking the Prime Minister to tackle four problems to ensure there is enough food for everyone – stop poor farmers being forced off their land and use the available agricultural land to grow food for people, make governments keep their promises on aid, close loopholes to stop big companies dodging tax in poor countries and force governments and investors to be honest and open about the deals they make in the poorest countries.
Councillor Sood said: "The campaign will highlight the plight of many who still struggle to have one decent meal a day."
The bishop said: "I am delighted the churches and faith communities are coming together to support this campaign, which draws attention internationally to one of the great issues of justice in our day."
This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury (but not on its website):
No legal right to display religion
It is very welcome that most of the cases that came before the European Court recently regarding the merits of religious privilege were thrown out.
Why do the religious among us believe their beliefs and prejudices must always trump everyone else? If we all started claiming the right to discriminate based on our own personal philosophy, the rule of law would disintegrate overnight. How arrogant these religious folk are.
A person's religious conviction is not entitled to special expression simply because it is religious in nature.
Political stances are felt just as strongly, but can you imagine the outcry if a Marxist claimed special privilege to discriminate against the owner of a business simply because he din't believe in private capital?
Religious beliefs should never allow a person to renege on their duties in public service, and religious obligation should always play second fiddle to the democratic rule of law.
Mark Sperry, National Secular Society member, Leicester
Harry Perry has written the First Person column in today's Leicester Mercury (which is not on the website):
Koran case shows flaw in the legislation
Secularist Harry Perry calls for the removal of the word "insulting" from part of the Public Order Act
Tearing
up a holy book is not an effective way to take issue with religion but the
right to free expression valued by jury members is so fundamental to our way of
life that it must be protected even when its exercise involves bad taste or
insult.
A
criminal prosecution was recently brought by Leicester’s Crown Prosecution
Service (CPS) against a man who publicly demonstrated his opposition to
religion by ripping up a Koran in public and throwing it to the ground.The
case ended with a hung jury and a decision by the CPS not to pursue it
further. The failure of the jury to reach a verdict reveals a
problem with the law.
Many
religions take it on themselves to seek to persuade people of other religions
or of no religion to convert. Dire consequences of failing to
believe in this or that god are often cited in these attempts. Likewise,
atheists sometimes seek to expose the fallacies in religion, hoping to persuade
people to give it up. They can all do this because what they are
seeking to change is a matter of personal conviction. With race,
gender, sexual orientation or disability the position is completely
different. You cannot persuade someone to change these
characteristics.
The
legislation that rightly protects people in these categories from being
harassed and abused or put in fear of their life on account of their
characteristics has been developed over recent decades. But the
addition of protection on grounds of religion more recently has brought with it
a threat to the right of free speech because the police and the CPS have not
got clear in their minds the qualitative difference involved. It is
because of this that a broad coalition, including religious opinion, is
currently trying to get Parliament to remove the word “insulting” from Section
5 of the Public Order Act as it has been used by the police in several
instances to silence critics of one or other persuasion.
There
is no special protection from insult or abuse on matters like politics,
vegetarianism, astrology, homeopathy, and so on, beyond that which ordinary
citizens expect purely in virtue of being a citizen.
The same should
apply to religious belief and non-belief.
Leicester
Secular Society is a “Freethought” organisation dedicated to the idea that the
best way to change people’s convictions is through the rational debate of
available evidence. People in Leicester who wish to show their
disagreement with others’ beliefs should normally do so in a calm and reasoned
way, showing respect for persons even when condemning or lampooning their ideas
or station. This is common courtesy and politeness, after all, and
exemplifies the kind of city and country that most of us would like our
children and grandchildren to inherit from us.
But
by the same token, those whose beliefs are challenged, even when done
discourteously, would be best advised to ‘turn the other cheek’ rather than
calling for prosecutions.
Harry Perry, Leicester Secular Society
Hundreds celebrate birth of the Prophet
Nearly 2,000 Muslims took part in a procession to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad.
The Milad Un-Nabi celebration took place in Leicester on Sunday.
The procession started with prayers at the Islamic Centre in St Peter's Road and followed a long route through the city, despite persistent snow, to the Central Mosque, in Conduit Street. It was followed by a meal for 3,000 people.
Organiser Mustafa Malik Salim said: "It was a very peaceful procession with between 1,500 and 2,000 people.
"The procession was held on the Sunday nearest the birthday, on Thursday."
Malik Salim, chairman of the committee in charge of the Islamic Centre and Central Mosque, said: "After the procession, 3,000 people sat down to a meal.
"It was a joyful and peaceful event."
The "jewel of Leicester's churches" needs support
I was pleased to hear a "significant grant" of £40,000 was made just before Christmas to St Mary de Castro, from the National Churches Trust.
Known as the "jewel of Leicester's churches", grade I-listed St Mary de Castro is nationally important: it is where King Henry VI was knighted in 1426 and it is thought the poet Geoffrey Chaucer was married there.
King Richard III's body is also believed to have lain in rest there after his death at the Battle of Bosworth.
Today, with Leicester Castle, it forms one of the important heritage areas of the city.
However, at more than 900 years old, its 80ft-tall spire is needing urgent financial attention, as Vic Allsop, of St Mary de Castro explains: "We are delighted English Heritage/Heritage Lottery Fund has made a significant in principal grant of £187,000 towards restoration.
"We're in phase one, the development project. Phase two is the work itself.
"When the project started and scaffolding was erected inside the spire, close inspection revealed bad news.
"Previous inspections with 'cherry pickers' and binoculars did not identify cracks in the tower that were severe, putting the potential stability and future viability of the spire at stake.
"We had to act quickly: permission was given to carry out advance works to stabilise what was potentially a serious situation for the church.
"At the churches own cost of £30,000, the spire was stabilised and made safe by introducing nine stainless steel bands inside the spire."There is a possibility the spire will need to be taken down and rebuilt, which could potentially exceed £500,000. The phase one specification will confirm the final figure.
"The damage to the spire was caused by previous restorations, inappropriate stone and concrete pointing at the top of the spire, which has put pressure on and is eroding the stonework below.
"Regular inspections take place from the internal scaffolding. In the summer, the SOS (Save Our Spire) Appeal started. We have been overwhelmed by many offers of support and it is clear St Mary de Castro has the support of the community.
"We recently launched the Save our Stones Appeal with the help of one of our sponsors Newby Castleman. This is a practical way in which people can make a contribution to the restoration of the spire."
For more information on how you can help, contact appeal co-ordinator Rosemary Mason on 07710 531792 or via: sosstmarydecastro@ btinternet.com
www.stmarydecastro.org.uk
This letter appears inn today's Leicester Mercury:
An open letter to the community of the Masjid Umar mosque in Evington Road, Leicester
I want to thank your community for the most amazing selfless act that happened on Friday night – it has truly moved me and has changed my attitude and I am feeling very humble today. Let me explain why.
Along with most of Leicester, I was crawling home at a snail's pace and was facing the long hill of Evington Road. What I saw in front of me was truly wonderful.
There were many Muslim men, wrapped up and facing icy winds and freezing temperatures, stopping the traffic to guide cars out of side roads, to make sure the traffic flowed and pushing the more modern computerised cars up the hill.
They were putting themselves in front of heavy vehicles that could have slid and crushed them – still they carried on.
I knew my old car would make it – no computer to tell it not to.
I chugged up the hill, but also saw your men pushing the less able and the whole event really opened both my eyes and my heart.
It didn't matter who was in these cars – black, white, any creed and any colour, all were assisted, without any prejudice.
At 52, I have grown up with prejudice in my heart.
My cousin was blown up in a market in Afghanistan, serving his Queen and country, so my prejudice was strengthened even further.
A bit of snow and community spirit has changed my outlook on many things. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Annie Ward-Pearson, Leicester
A snow Yoda (or "Snowda", if you will) spotted in Leicester and tweeted by Dr Paul Abel, Astronomer at the University of Leicester and Co-Presenter of BBC's The Sky at Night.
In the 2011 Census, 176,632 people in England and Wales identified themselves as Jedi under the "Other Religion" section (out of more than 240,000 respondents who selected "Other").
I know it's meant to be Yoda; however I can't help but be reminded of Batfink!
