Leader of British anti-Islamist protest group quits over extremism

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Leader of British anti-Islamist protest group quits over extremism

By Michael Holden
LONDON | Tue Oct 8, 2013 8:50am EDT

(Reuters) - The leader of a British anti-Islamist protest group accused of inflaming racial tensions said on Tuesday he was quitting the organization because he no longer felt able to control far-right extremists.

The Quilliam Foundation, a counter-extremism think-tank which said it had brokered the move, hailed it as a big success for community relations but one expert on the far-right warned it could lead to further radicalization and violence.

Tommy Robinson was the most prominent figure in the English Defense League (EDL), which has staged numerous high-profile street protests across Britain since 2009, often in mainly Muslim areas. Many protests have led to violence.

"I have been considering this move for a long time because I recognize that, though street demonstrations have brought us to this point, they are no longer productive," Robinson said.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/08/us-britain-extremism-edl-idUSBRE9970F820131008

[pampango]

1. Guardian: Tommy Robinson quits EDL saying it has become 'too extreme'

Robinson, who leads anti-Islam protests that have often turned violent and have been marked by racist chanting, said Islamist ideology should be challenged "not with violence but with better, democratic ideas".

There was disbelief and scorn from both supporters and opponents of Robinson at the announcement. Some EDL supporters accused him of selling out but others praised him. Robinson tweeted on Tuesday: "The most difficult day of my life! I thank Edl supporters for their messages of support . For me this is a step forwards not backwards.

Hope Not Hate, which campaigns against extremism, gave a cautious welcome to the news. Its director, Nick Lowles, said: "We celebrate Quilliam's efforts here, but only a complete renunciation of the violence and hatred the EDL leaders have promoted, and a turning away from the anti-Muslim rhetoric they have championed, will be enough for the many thousands who have suffered from the EDL's ugly actions over the past three years.

"EDL supporters have called for mosques to be burned, holy books to be destroyed, Muslims to be deported, they have cost us £10m in policing bills, brought disorder to our streets, and many, many more have been sentenced for acts of violence, gun possession, paedophilia and other crimes."

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/08/tommy-robinson-english-defence-league

[MisterP]

2. the moment Reuters calls the EDL an "anti-Islamist protest group" is the moment they won