Muslims Against Crusades

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Muslims Against Crusades

Postby coldharvest » Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:23 pm

Millions on Britons fell silent on Thursday led by services in London to remember those who have died in war.

But in the capital the solemn moment was marred by a small group of protesters styling themselves Muslims Against Crusades, who burned a model of a poppy.

As the clock struck 11am, the nation paused to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day, when peace returned to Europe at the end of the First World War. The agreement between Germany and the Allies after four years of fighting took effect at the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.

Wearing their poppies with pride, people joined in the two-minute silence as various commemoration services and events were held around the country.

The protest, in Exhibition Road, Kensington, involved about 30 people. About 50 counter demonstrators gathered nearby but the two sides were kept apart by police. Police clashed briefly with members of the Muslims Against Crusades group at one stage and at least one man was dragged to the floor and arrested. But order was quickly restored as officers completely surrounded the small group. Three men were arrested at the scene.

Three men were arrested at the scene in Exhibition Road, Kensington. Two were for public order offences and one for assaulting a police officer. Around 50 counter demonstrators from the English Defence League gathered nearby but officers kept the two sides apart. As the clock struck 11am the Islamic protesters burned a model of a poppy and chanted "British soldiers burn in hell".

Asad Ullah, of Muslims Against Crusades, said: "We are demonstrating because this day is a day of remembrance to remember every single fallen soldier, including those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. We find it disgusting that innocent people, innocent children, have been killed in an illegal and unjust war and we are demonstrating against that.

"We want the Government to pull the troops out from these countries and to stop interfering in our affairs. We would like to have a protest closer to the memorial but it is difficult to get access. We want to break the silence and say: 'what about the silence for others that have died?'"

Defence Secretary Liam Fox and the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams joined war heroes, service personnel, veterans, military associations and schoolchildren for a service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London. The road was closed and crowds lined the street for the poignant ceremony and wreath-laying. Amid grey skies and damp conditions, there was applause as Victoria and George Cross holders took their places around the monument.

Among those attending was Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, of the Royal Marines Reserve, who was awarded the George Cross for bravery after he threw himself on to a bomb to smother the explosion while serving in Afghanistan in February 2008. The 26-year-old, from Birmingham, survived the blast unhurt. He said: "Even without the medals it's great there is so much support. People in the military don't really ask for much but just to have the support of the crowds here, it means a lot more than anything else."
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