Islamic group leader vows to continue with Wootton Bassett march (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Islamic group leader vows to continue with Wootton Bassett march

6:33am Monday 4th January 2010 in Local By Gazette Reporter

A previous repatriation in Wootton Bassett

The leader of a controversial Islamic group vowed to continue with plans for a march through Wootton Bassett in an online letter to families of fallen soldiers.

Anjem Choudary of Islam4UK - a branch of the extremist al-Muhajiroun movement - sparked dismay with plans to parade through the town famous for honouring service personnel killed in Afghanistan.

Civic leaders begged Mr Choudary to reconsider his proposal for 500 members to walk up the Wiltshire town's High Street, carrying empty coffins.

A Facebook site dedicated to preventing the march has already attracted over 120,000 members.

But last night Mr Choudary - who wants a withdrawal of troops from the country - re-stated his reasons for the march on his website.

In the long letter entitled "To the families of British soldiers who have fallen", he also mis-spells the name of the market town.

Mr Choudary said: "It is worth reminding those who are still not blinded by the media propaganda that Afghanistan is not a British Town near Wootton Basset but rather Muslim land which no one has the right to occupy, with a Muslim population who do not deserve their innocent men, women and children to be killed for political mileage and for the greedy interests of the oppressive US and UK regimes.

"The procession in Wootton Basset is therefore an attempt to engage the British publics minds on the real reasons why their soldiers are returning home in body bags and the real cost of the war."

Earlier Mr Choudary, 42, a former lawyer, explained that the march was being held "not in memory of the occupying and merciless British military" but of the Muslims he says have been "murdered in the name of democracy and freedom".

The event - if permitted by police - will be a peaceful one, with "symbolic coffins" being carried to honour Muslim victims of the conflict.

But the walk will not coincide with the return of a dead soldier's body, Mr Choudary added.

Hundreds of people line the market town's High Street regularly to watch servicemen's bodies being driven through from RAF Lyneham.

Ex-mayor and councillor Chris Wannell said of the idea: "We don't do what we do at Wootton Bassett for any political reason at all, but to pay our respects to those who have given their lives for our freedom.

"We are a Christian country and a traditional old English market town who honour very much our Queen and country. We obey the law and pay respects to our servicemen who protect our freedom.

"If this man has any decency about him he will not hold a march through Wootton Bassett."

He also called on the media not to give the group any attention.

The Wiltshire Islamic Cultural Centre has called on Islam4UK to scrap plans for the march.

A spokesman said: "We, along with all other Muslim community groups in Wiltshire and the surrounding area, including Bath Islamic Centre and Swindon Thamesdown Islamic Association, unreservedly condemn this march and call on the organisers, Islam4UK to not go ahead with it in the interests of public safety and the Muslims they claim to represent as well as to respect the rights of the people of Wootton Bassett and Wiltshire.

"We will hold Anjum Choudhury and Al-Muhajiroon responsible for any backlash against any Muslim in Wiltshire or elsewhere as a result of their proposed irresponsible and irrational actions and any insecurity brought upon the majority peaceful Muslim population.

"The media will no doubt grossly over-react, as usual to such a protest, whether it is peaceful or otherwise, giving the impression that all Muslims follow this tiny minority of extremists.

"Therefore we are putting the record straight and letting the media and general public know that the vast majority of Muslims have nothing to do with this group who are upon the methodology of the deviant sect known as the Khawaarij.

"The Khawarij were historically the first sect to bring insecurity upon the Muslims, right after the time of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) and even killed some of the close companions of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him).

"We desperately request Wiltshire Police to ban the proposed march in the interests of public order, public safety and community cohesion."

North Wiltshire MP James Gray said the thousands who appear on the roadside at Wootton would not be drawn into political conflict with the group.

He said: "They will say, these are foolish people making a silly point - we'll get on with our ordinary lives thank you.

"This also misunderstands the nature of what the people of Wootton Bassett do. They are not blood-thirstily in favour of the war. Most people would say they were not qualified to comment on the rightness or wrongness.

"The people of Wootton Bassett are decent, quiet, pragmatic people and they'll stay at home instead (of reacting to the march)."

Secretary of Wootton Bassett British Legion Anne Bevis urged the group to think "long and hard" before marching.

Wiltshire Police said they were aware of the "significant community concern" caused by the proposal. A spokeswoman said the force would have to approve details before permitting the march and may even prohibit it.

Setting out its purpose, the Facebook group which opposes the march states: "This group is a non-political group. This group is to stop the proposed March by Islam4Uk extremists through the town of Wootton Bassett. The Highway for Heroes and wonderful people of WB do not deserve this march to happen.

"This group can march anywhere it wishes in the country but have chosen to cause outrage and offence."

Some postings suggest blocking the roads or writing to local councillors, while others take a more strident line. One contributor said simply: "I want my England back."