BRITAIN FIRST, A far-right political party, has voted to ban Islam in response to the recent Paris terrorist attacks.
Over the weekend, the group held a national conference in Sheffield where they passed a policy to ban the “religion of Islam within the United Kingdom” and its associated practices.
The Huffington Post reports that 50 self-described “patriots” also voted to ban the BBC, withdraw from the United Nations and ban the media from using the word ‘racism’.
The policy for the latter read: “Institute a total ban on the word ‘racism’ in the media. The word ‘racism’ has for too long been used a (sic) weapon to undermine debate and to suppress discussion on important matters of nationhood, immigration and political correctness.”
The party is led by Paul Golding and uses the slogan “taking our country back”. It was established as an off-shoot of the British National Party (BNP) in 2011.
It campaigns against mass immigration and multiculturalism, and has publicly backed Ukip – although Nigel Farage’s party has distanced itself from Britain First.
During the 2014 European elections, BF put up candidates in Wales and Scotland, receiving just over 20,000 votes.
‘Ironic’
Speaking at the conference, Golding said it was “ironic” that the Paris attacks happened while Marine Le Pen, president of France’s far-right National Front party, is being prosecuted. She is accused of inciting racial hatred over remarks in which she compared Muslims praying in the streets to Nazi occupation.
Muslims around the world have condemned the attacks in Paris, in which 129 people were killed and many more were injured.
Political leaders including US President Barack Obama have urged people to not equate the actions of Islamic States with Islam.
Speaking on Monday he said: “The overwhelming majority of victims of ISIL are themselves Muslims. ISIL does not represent Islam. It is not representative in any way of the attitudes of the overwhelming majority of Muslims.”
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