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The English Defence League (EDL) is a British political group that opposes the spread of Islam in the United Kingdom. They are describved by the BBC as leading "Anti-Muslim extremism" demonstrations around the UK; four specialist national police units involved in policing hooliganism, extreme violence and terrorism are currently investigating the group. The group is said by insiders to have grown out of the soccer casual movement and to be organised around figures in hooligan "firms". It is perceived by Muslim leaders as blatantly anti-islamic, though it claims to oppose only "jihadists".

Communities Minster John Denham described the group's tactics as similar to those of the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s, though he stressed that they did not present anything like the same "potency, organisation or threat".

Far-right parties such as the British National Party publicly distance themselves from "the sort of confrontation in which the EDL seems to seek" but party members have been seen at EDL rallies and the group's website was built by BNP activist Chris Renton. The British press has described the group as "far-right". However, the EDL allows people of all ethnicities and religious backgrounds, to join, according to spokesman Tommy Robinson.

In August 2009 the EDL clashed with Unite Against Fascism at a protest in Birmingham, resulting in 35 arrests. Later that month the EDL, Casuals United (a closely linked group), and two other groups were banned for three months from marching in Luton (the site, in March 2009, of an Islamist protest against British troops recently returned from Afghanistan). Further violent clashes between the EDL and far-left counterprotesters occurred on September 5, again in Birmingham, resulting in ninety arrests.

The group says it has around 300 active supporters.

See also

• Stop the Islamification of Europe - an similar group, who protested in Harrow.

Notes

1. Inayat Bunglawala (2009-02-06). "A committee against Islamophobia | Inayat Bunglawala | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
2. ^ "'Defence league' recruits football fans to march against Islamic extremism | Football". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
4. Who are the EDL? BBC News, September 11, 2009
5. Denham condemns right-wing groups, BBC News, 11 September 2009
6. http://bnp.org.uk/2009/09/the-english-defence-league-a-statement-from-the-bnp%E2%80%99s-national-organiser/
8. "Harrow mosque protest cancelled after Sharia court denial (From Harrow Times)". Harrowtimes.co.uk. 2009-08-19. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
10. Published: 12:59PM BST 21 Aug 2009 (2009-08-21). "Luton bans marches amid fears of protests". Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-09-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
11. Published: 7:00AM GMT 12 Mar 2009 (2009-03-12). "Luton parade protesters 'were members of extremist group'". Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-09-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
12. "Fears of further violence prompt march ban". Luton Today. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
13. British Broadcasting Corporation "Rival protesters clash on streets," (September 5th, 2009 - retrieved on September 7th, 2009).
14. "UK | England | West Midlands | Ninety arrests over city clashes". BBC News. 2009-09-06. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
15. "UK | England | London | Denham condemns right-wing groups". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-09-12.

External links

English Defence League

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