Huge Muslim festival to celebrate Eid is cancelled due to escalating racial tensions following Brexit vote
- Up to 2,000 people were expected to gather in East Park, Southampton
- They were due to celebrate Eid - the end of the holy month of Ramadan
- Organisers British Bangladeshi Cultural Academy have cancelled the event
- Far-right groups threatened to hold protest in the city following Brexit vote
A large Muslim festival has been cancelled due to escalating racial tensions post Brexit.
Up
to 2,000 people were expected to gather in East Park, Southampton, to
celebrate Eid - the end of the holy month of Ramadan - today and
tomorrow.
But
organisers the British Bangladeshi Cultural Academy have cancelled the
event after far-right groups threatened to hold a protest in the city
following the EU referendum vote.
Up to 2,000 people were expected
to gather in East Park, Southampton, to celebrate Eid - the end of the
holy month of Ramadan - today and tomorrow (stock image of Eid prayers)
Although
the demonstrations, which include a rival anti-racist and pro-refugee
march, are not linked to the festival or planned for the same day,
organisers believe it is 'for the good of all communities' to cancel
it.
Members
of the far-right Pie and Mash Squad, who describe themselves as 'a
group of people who love Pie n Mash and Britain the way it used to be',
along with a faction of the group called South Coast Resistance, say
they will hold a demonstration in the city.
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Posting on social media they encouraged demonstrators to 'join us to celebrate Brexit and an end to mass immigration'.
They have also put up posts saying 'no more refugees'.
A
number of groups such as pro-refugee organisation Refugees Welcome and
anti-facist group Southampton AntiFa held a counter-demonstration in the
same area on Saturday.
Shere
Sattar, chairman of the British Bangladesh Cultural Academy, said: 'We
have considered the political situation and unrest in UK after leaving
the EU, the rise of racist activity and comments around other cities
around the country, and Pie and Mash deciding to visit Southampton.
A number of groups such as
pro-refugee organisation Refugees Welcome and anti-facist group
Southampton AntiFa held a counter-demonstration in the same area on
Saturday (stock image)
'We
the British Bangladeshi Cultural Academy with other organisations have
decided that for the good for all communities in our city it would be
best if we cancel the huge gathering in the city park for Eidul Fitre
prayer.'
Mr
Sattar added that although the gathering for Eid, which is held to mark
the end of the Islamic Holy Month of fasting, has been cancelled, they
hope to hold other events in Southampton later this year.
He
said: 'We are positive that by September we are hoping all those
activities would be at rest, so that we can continue with our normal
lives and community activities without any interruptions.
'We
urge everyone to be at their best in this unrestful time in the
country. We all should contribute everything we can to keep our city and
the community safe.'
Police have said they are aware of the demonstrations and had planned to ensure the events were peaceful.
The
UK has seen a 57 per cent rise in race-hate crime following the
referendum decision to leave the EU last week. Among the dozens of
reported incidents are.
The scene at halal butchers Kashmir Meat and Poultry shop in Walsall after it was fire bombed on Monday
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