British Muslims give an extremely English response to an EDL march [TWEETS]

Sophia Akram


The Union Jack came out in full force in the heart of Britain on Saturday 7 April as two very different events took place in Birmingham. The English Defence League (EDL) marched through the city centre. But Birmingham Central Mosque held a counter event with bunting, cakes, and tea.

Guess which was better attended?

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OK, if you need helping out, people chose [paywall] cake over hate:

https://twitter.com/HMachaggis/status/850988867494834176

And while two people were arrested during the far-right group’s demonstration, others were having a very nice time at the Mosque’s “best of British” tea party:

https://twitter.com/ibrownlad/status/850748379147771904

It was no coincidence, of course. The tea party was a direct response to the EDL March. And people thought it was a perfect way to make a stand:

And it’s obvious where the police wanted to be:

And unity was certainly the message the Mosque were trying to get across:

Down with this sort of thing

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner said the EDL were “spreading a message of hatred”.

They have come from outside Birmingham and don’t understand our values.

The guests were also pleased that the Birmingham Muslims were open and part of the community. One woman said:

Being English doesn’t mean hating other people. It’s about [us] all being part of something. And its nice that the mosque have opened the doors.

And this isn’t the first time England’s Muslim community has tackled hate with tea. In 2013, six protesters turned up outside York Mosque to protest. Members of the Mosque met them with tea and biscuits and invited them in. And it seemed to work.

Some might regard these responses as being quintessentially English. Indeed. There is more that unites us than divides us. Carry on.

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– Read more Canary articles on Islamophobia.

Featured image via Twitter

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