Counter-fear police investigate ‘punish a Muslim’ day letters

Counter-terrorism police within the UK are investigating a imaginable hate crime after several of us bought letters calling on them to assault Muslims on April three, termed within the leaflet as « punish a Muslim » day.

Loads of Britons in London, the West Midlands and Yorkshire acknowledged they bought the printed letter through the put up, based on reports.

Some uploaded photos of the verbal substitute on social media.

The leaflet says: « They’ve ruin you, they’ve made your cherished ones suffer. They’ve triggered you effort and heartache. What are you going to about it? »

It goes on to give rewards for attackers, from 10 points for verbally abusing a Muslim and 50 points for throwing acid within the face of a Muslim, to 1,000 points for bombing a mosque and a pair of,500 points to « nuke Mecca ». 

There are bigger than 2.5 million Muslims in Britain, where Islam is the 2nd largest faith.

On Saturday, West Yorkshire police joined London’s Metropolitan Police in attempting to « steal the actual person or other folks accountable for this ». 

« Public safety remains our precedence and I would possibly tear our communities to be vigilant however now not horrified, » West Yorkshire police acknowledged in a assertion. « We’re stronger when we stand together as one and is presumably now not divided. »

Instruct MAMA, an organisation monitoring anti-Muslim hate crime, acknowledged it used to be working with police. 

« [The matter] is being handled with the utmost seriousness, » the organisation acknowledged.

« It’s very important that every particular person letters and envelopes are saved and handled minimally to withhold evidence for the police to investigate, » the show screen acknowledged, advising recipients.

‘Reflective of hate in opposition to Muslims’

British Muslims, faith leaders, politicians and civil rights groups possess expressed dismay and outrage on the approach.

« This vile letter campaign sent to Muslims across the UK has triggered deep afflict and fear. We welcome the action being taken by the police to investigate this matter, » Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary total of the Muslim Council of Britain, one of many UK’s largest Muslim umbrella organisations, told Al Jazeera.

« Sadly it’s reflective of hate in opposition to Muslims which continues to manifest itself alongside the upward thrust of the a ways apt. Our elected officers wish to come up and take action in opposition to Islamophobia within the equal means they’ve taken action to counter bigotry in opposition to other groups, » Versi added.

Yasmin Qureshi, Labour Birthday party flesh presser and a practising barrister, acknowledged: « I’m jumpy to learn that extremist cowards are distributing nameless letters encouraging of us to assault Muslims. »

Jess Phillips, Labour Birthday party MP for Birmingham Yardley, acknowledged: « This is fully unbelievable, if any of my constituents possess bought them please rep concerned. »

« Understandably, this is terribly distressful now not absolute best these who possess bought the letter however moreover for the broader communities, » acknowledged Naz Shah, MP for Bradford West in West Yorkshire. 

The head of counter-fear policing within the northeast of England, Russ Foster, « has provided reassurance that an intensive and official investigation is neatly beneath means and urges to any extent additional victims receiving this form of verbal substitute to memoir the matter to the police », Shah acknowledged.

The Church of England’s head of interfaith relatives, Andrew Smith, tweeted: « Offended to hear about appalling ‘punish a Muslim’ letters which had been sent. Can now not factor in how spoiled & provoking it will likely be to rep a letter worship that. Time to redouble our efforts to fabricate peace in our society & enhance these feeling horrified or intimidated. The work goes on. »