The Innocence of Muslims

Police and protesters

I had been watching the developing backlash against this movie gaining momentum in the Middle East, and  suspected it was only a matter of time before it materalised in the UK in one form or another.  The target was always going to be the American Embassy.  The only question was whether any protest was going to involve thousands of Muslims like the turnout for the anti Operation Cast Lead demos of four years ago, or whether it would be a handful of the usual suspects.

It became clear that while all Muslims seemed to be upset about the movie, abroad, it was being used as a vehicle for those in positions of authority to get bodies on the street to cause mayhem.  I doubted that London based Muslims would emulate their Middle Eastern brothers, and take to the streets in their thousands to attack the American Embassy.  I've said before that the vast majority of Muslims in London are just normal folk who get on with their lives like anyone else.  I can't pretend to understand their beliefs, but as long as they don't step outside the law, I can live with that.  They probably can't understand mine either.

The march nears the USA Embassy

Scanning the social media sites, and speaking to people on the streets, it seemed on the face of  it, that if there was to be a demo, it was going to be a small affair, led by Evil Anjem.  Yes, the man who has led more failed organisations  than Tony Blair, was at it again.  His site had mentioned the name of the new organisation but it has now gone, clearly an attempt to avoid adding another banned group to his list.  Credit must go to the Imams of London Mosques who spoke against this protest.

His site called for all Muslims, individuals and groups to attend the demo.  There was mention elsewhere of Hitz Ut Tahrir attending, but apart from that, support seemed non existent.

The scene at the embassy was all too familiar.  Police vans parked up, cops on the ground and the police helicopter overhead.  As always there was a big press presence, including a couple of MSM outside broadcast units.

Evil Anjem and his band of nutters

Off in the distance flashing blue lights were coming into view.  I walked towards the lights and reached the march.  There were perhaps 100 at most.  As usual, the women were treated as second class citizens and made to walk behind the men.   So much for Choudary's call out to all Muslims!  A quick scan of the faces and it was soon clear that this was the same group of hateful scum who have masqueraded under many different names in the past.  I'm sure when The Home Secretary banned the last manifestation, (Muslims against the crusades), she included a clause that if police had reasonable suspicion that members of the same group were acting together in a manner which had led to the proscription of the first group, they would be liable to arrest.  The police FIT teams are always present at these demos so the cops would have been aware that this group were nothing more than Muslims Against the Crusades without the name tags.  Why weren't they nicked?  Well, if they had been, Choudary would have been elevated to martyr status and this would have led to more protests.  I reckon he was hoping to be nicked.  I  hope that when the publicity over the movie dies down, he will get a knock on the door, by big men wearing body armour, and men with big scary dogs.

They did their best to get nicked,  issuing death threats to everyone not Muslim, calls for world - wide jihad, blah blah, blah.  All very frustrating for any normal person.  Watching Choudary being interviewed by Press TV was funny.  He is like a baddie in a James Bond film.  It is impossible to take him seriously.  He speaks as though he is some self appointed  king of all Muslims.  In reality he stands there with what looks like food stains down the front of his jacket, surrounded by the handful of nutters he has managed to subvert over the years, babbling nonsense that is so hard to follow I gave up years ago.  He really does live in his own personal cloud cukoo-land.  He is even a laughing stock to other Muslims.  During the protest a group of four street 'yoots' walked past Stopping briefly, they asked what all the fuss was.  I told them it was Anjem Choudary and they laughed and said 'Oh man, da geezers a pwoppa nuttta'.  One of them said that Choudary had been banned from their Mosque years ago.  Another said "Bruv e ain't even a pwoppa Muslim".  What is it they say - out of the mouths of babes?

The protest itself was loud, there was not one banner or placard to do with the movie, strange when you consider that what Choudary said the protest was about!  They dispersed after an hour or so and went back to wherever they come from.  As they were leaving the cops pulled one youth aside to have a word with him.  Within seconds the cops were faced with a group  calling them racists, saying they were being treated like terrorists, etc.  The atmosphere was tense for a few moments then the group drifted away to join their pals.

Anti-extremist protesters

There was a small presence from the EDL who tried to shout down Evil Anjem and his band of disciples, but they were quickly led away by the cops.  Hitz Ut Tahrir did not attend.

The end result of the protest was that no one, not the American tourists who walked past, not the American diplomats in the embassy, nor any other passers by, paid them the slightest bit of attention, save to look on in amusement.   He was laughed at.  He was ridiculed.  He is a clown and yesterday he was treated like one.  Time to hang up your megaphone Anjem, either that or bugger off to somewhere where you are welcome!