A STEP TOO FAR
BBC NEWS | UK | England | London | Activist convicted under demo law On Wednesday a woman was convicted of breaching section 132 of the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Her crime? To stand by the Cenotaph in Whitehall, reading out the names of British Servicemen killed in Iraq and ringing a bell. She was arrested with a man, Milan Rai, who was accused of being an organiser because he telephoned the police to inform them he and Maya would be there. The basis of the prosecution rests on the banning of demonstrations within one kilometre of Westminster. Okay, so what's this about then...
BBC NEWS | England | London | Islamic group holds protest march Protesters have gathered in London's Hyde Park to demonstrate against the government's anti-terror laws.
About 8,000 Muslims from across the UK took part in the march staged by radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT), according to organisers.
It began in Parliament Square taking in Whitehall and Piccadilly Circus, before arriving in Hyde Park for speeches by leaders of Muslim groups.
HT, banned in some countries, says the legislation is oppressive.
Now this not about the validity of the complaints. The administrators of this site support the Iraq war, even though we accept that Blair lied to engage us in it. But we also wholeheartedly support Ms Evans right to peacefully protest against it. To us the prospect of 8,000 Muslims gathered in one place is intimidating and dangerous, especially when many of them are proven to have terrorist connections. Nevertheless, assuming they all have a legal right to be in this country and are neither illegals not awaiting a decision on their asylum claims, then we support their right to peacefully demonstrate.
WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW IS WHY 8,000 MUSLIMS CAN MARCH IN WHITEHALL AND PARLIAMENT SQUARE, WITHOUT A SINGLE ARREST BEING MADE, YET A COUPLE OF PEOPLE QUIETLY STANDING BY THE CENOTAPH ARE ARRESTED, CHARGED AND CONVICTED.