This is an Islamic Area Now: Police investigation in East London Park
An area of east London has become 'Islamic' overnight according to a poster that has appeared outside an east London Park.
The warning in Bartlett Park, Poplar, reads: "Do not walk your dog here! Muslims do not like dogs. This is an Islamic area now."
Police are now investigating the matter after being alerted to the
sign by Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick, who was himself informed by a
concerned constitutent.
The Poplar and Limehouse MP wrote to police to find out if the
"highly divisive" sign was put up by Islamists or a far-right group such
as the English Defence League (EDL), and to see what action they were
taking to prevent posters from appearing in future.
He told the Standard: "The question is whether it was put up to be provocative or by religious zealots to be racist.
"It's another facet of intolerance, or, because there's no guarantee
it was done by Islamists, it could be those in society who are trying to
polarise and divide us.
"Whichever side it was ought not to be able to get away with it and whoever's responsible ought to pack it in."
Police have removed the signs and a number of officers are guarding the area after being alerted by the MP.
The council actively promotes the No Place for Hate campaign,
whereby people of different faiths, cultures, lifestyles and backgrounds
live in harmony.. It doesn't seem so...
(
By Samantha Payne)
