Despite hurdles, organizers say
(CNSNews.com) – Anti-Islamist activists are still planning to demonstrate in Brussels next Tuesday to mark the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks and protest against the “Islamization of Europe,” but organizers are grappling with legal difficulties and warnings that violence may erupt.
Organizers from Denmark, England and Germany planned the event several months ago, but ran into legal hurdles when Brussels Mayor Freddy Thielemans banned the demonstration, citing the potential risk to public order.
Thielemans wrote in an op-ed on August 20 that by choosing 9/11 for the demonstration the organizers obviously intended to draw a link between terrorism and the religion of Islam, a move he called “incitement to discrimination and hatred.”
A loose alliance calling itself SIOE (“Stop Islamization Of Europe”) said it would go ahead regardless of the ban, while appealing against the ruling. The activists deny the racism allegation, saying their aim is to prevent Islam from becoming the dominant political force in Europe and stop the “creeping” introduction of Islamic law (shari’a).On August 30 an administrative appeals court upheld the mayor’s ban, but SIOE took its case to another tribunal, and a Brussels civil court decision is expected shortly.
Socialist lawmakers in the European Parliament wrote Wednesday to Thielemans – also a socialist -supporting his decision to ban the rally.
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/11553529/