Right wing anti-Muslim demonstrators calling themselves the 'English Defence League' have announced that they are planning a demonstration on the streets of Glasgow in November. The same group has recently been causing havoc on the streets of London and Birmingham. On Friday 11 September, over 2,000 people turned out to defend the Harrow Mosque in Middlesex against the demonstrators, resulting in several police clashes and the confiscation of weapons.

Convenor of the Scottish Parliament cross party group on racial equality and MSP for Glasgow, Bob Doris, has today urged Strathclyde Police and Glasgow City Council to work together to make sure this potentially dangerous event does not take place.

The SNP's Bob Doris today (Thursday) lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament calling for unity against racist organisations. He said: "I have written to Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Police to see if we can stop this divisive and potentially violent event from taking place.

"Politicians, unions, police, ethnic minority groups and the good citizens of Glasgow must stand firm and send out the message that our city does not allow this behaviour or condone this groups aims.

"We reject the poisonous and hate filled message of the English Defence League and we must ensure such groups do not get as much as a toe hold in Scottish society"

The SNP MSP said in his letter to Chief Constable Stephen House of Strathclyde Police that police will receive full political support in their attempts to halt these activities. It is not clear where the group plan to target but it is understood that all mosques in the city will be on alert.

Mr Doris added: "There is a distinct difference between groups who peacefully demonstrate to make a legitimate point and those who just want to cause mayhem.

"Those who seek to heighten racial tensions and terrorise people on account of religion or ethnic background will never be welcome in Glasgow or Scotland."

Notes:

Motion lodged 01/10/09 S3M-04963: United Against Racism
That the Parliament expresses deep concern at the activities of the group calling itself the English Defence League, which was recently involved in a demonstration outside the Harrow Central Mosque in London; notes the stated intention of this group to demonstrate in Glasgow in November; applauds the efforts of Manchester City Council in its attempts to halt the group from repeating such scenes in Manchester and offers to support any similar action by Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police and local community groups in minimising the chances of such an unedifying disturbance going ahead in Glasgow; affirms that protesters of all opposing persuasions are encouraged to make their voices heard in Scotland's democracy, and distinguishes clearly between legitimate causes and trouble-making gangs whose sole pursuit is to intimidate and cause hurt.

2. The Guardian report on Harrow incident can be found here.