Muslim Graves attacked again in hate campaign

Article published: Thursday, November 26th 2009

Muslim gravestones have been desecrated for the third time in as many months in what Greater Manchester Police are treating as a racially motivated crime.

The incident occurred at the South Manchester Cemetery on Barlow Moor Road sometime between Friday 20 and Monday 23 November when around 20 headstones were pushed over and damaged. At the time of reporting there have been no arrests and the police are appealing to anyone with information to contact them.

As only Muslim graves were targeted and due to the repeated nature of the attacks, the incident is being treated as a hate crime, said Detective Chief Inspector Steve Eckersley: “This sort of mindless, racist behaviour must be utterly condemned and I’m sure the whole community will be outraged, that is why I want to reassure them, and in particular the families affected that we are doing all we can to catch the culprits”.

Similar vandalism occurred at the end of September, just days before the English Defence League (EDL) staged a protest in Piccadilly Gardens. A repeat incident saw 26 graves damaged five weeks later on 2 November.

In response to this latest wave of attacks, anti-racist group Unite Against Fascism have announced a protest vigil to be held this Sunday for people to show support to the Muslim community. Organiser Mark Krantz spoke to MULE: “I expect Sunday’s protest vigil to be well supported. The last vigil was given at only a day’s notice but was 80 strong”.

“This attack is designed to hurt the living. It is meant to bring hurt, hatred, and division. Our response will be to build unity and solidarity,” he added.

Community leaders from other religious denominations have also condemned the attacks. “We have to act immediately,” said Reverend Sarah Brewerton, from Chorlton Central Church. “When you go to visit loved ones at a grave you are already in a distressed state. Even worst to then find the desecration. This is a racist attack. I will be supporting the peace vigil on Sunday. We will be announcing it in church.”

Manchester has experienced a lamentable spate of similar religious and racially motivated acts of vandalism in recent years. Prior to this year’s incident, around 100 Jewish graves were smashed and defaced in a cemetery in Prestwich in 2005.

Michael Pooler

Solidarity Peace Vigil! Nazi hands off our graves! 2pm, Sunday 29 November, Southern Cemetery. Barlow Moore Rd. Chorlton

Anyone with information is urged to call Greater Manchester Police on 0161 856 6151 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Comments

1. This is dreadful. In my view papers such as the Mail and the Express bear some responsibility here. For years they’ve been spreading fear and animosity towards the Muslim community and it astonishes me they haven’t been prosecuted for some of the bile they’ve come out with.

   The vigil’s a smashing idea. Let’s show support and not get sucked into the divide and rule game.

   Comment by John on November 26, 2009 at 11:30 am

2. Organisers of the vigil say support is growing day by day. Local MP John Leech has said he will be supporting the vigil.

   He heard about it as it
   was announced across chuches in his Withington, South Manchester,
   Constituency.

   Cllr Val Stevens, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, is also supporting
   the event.

   Church leaders will be joined by Jewish and Muslim representatives speaking
   at the event.

   Comment by michaelp on November 28, 2009 at 3:07 am

3. […] reported by MULE last year a spate of three separate incidents occurred in September and November, in which headstones were broken, pushed over and smashed at Southern Cemetary. In response various […]

   Pingback by Man arrested in connection with attacks on Muslim graves  —   MULE on February 5, 2010 at 9:07 pm

4. […] have made a second arrest in connection with the vandalism of Muslim graves which took place last year in Southern […]

   Pingback by Another arrest made over Muslim grave attacks  —   MULE on February 15, 2010 at 3:37 pm

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