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Radical group defends town parade Radical group defends town parade
(about 1 hour later)
The leader of an Islamic group, said to have extremist links, has written to families of fallen soldiers about its plans to march through Wootton Bassett.The leader of an Islamic group, said to have extremist links, has written to families of fallen soldiers about its plans to march through Wootton Bassett.
Islam4UK wants to walk through the Wiltshire town, which has become famous for paying tribute to soldiers killed in Afghanistan, carrying empty coffins. Anjem Choudary, of Islam4UK, said he chose the Wiltshire market town as it would attract the most media attention.
Anjem Choudary, of Islam4UK, admitted the town had been chosen because it would attract the most media attention. He wants to carry "symbolic empty coffins" through the high street which is now famous for honouring soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
But former mayor Chris Wannell asked the group to reconsider its choice. But he has not yet applied for police permission or set a date for the event.
The sad reality of the situation is that if I were to hold it somewhere else it would not have the media attention that it has now. Anjem Choudary - Islam4UK The procession is not actually about the people of Wootton Bassett and it never was about them. Anjem Choudary - Islam4UK
Islam4UK is said to call itself a "platform" for the extremist movement al-Muhajiroun.Islam4UK is said to call itself a "platform" for the extremist movement al-Muhajiroun.
The former mayor of Wootton Bassett, Chris Wannell, said: "I know we still have freedom of speech and freedom of movement but I think that Mr Choudary has made a bad choice and I would hope he would examine himself and say, 'no I'm doing the wrong thing here', and go somewhere else.
"I think if Mr Choudary has any decency about him he will not march in Wootton Bassett."
Mr Choudary, a former lawyer and the leader of Islam4UK, has written a letter on the organisation's website entitled "To the families of British soldiers who have fallen", explaining reasons for the planned march.Mr Choudary, a former lawyer and the leader of Islam4UK, has written a letter on the organisation's website entitled "To the families of British soldiers who have fallen", explaining reasons for the planned march.
He said the event, if permitted by police, would involve peaceful "symbolic coffins" being carried to honour Muslim victims of the conflict in Afghanistan.He said the event, if permitted by police, would involve peaceful "symbolic coffins" being carried to honour Muslim victims of the conflict in Afghanistan.
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Mr Choudary said: "The procession is not actually about the people of Wootton Bassett and it never was about them.Mr Choudary said: "The procession is not actually about the people of Wootton Bassett and it never was about them.
"We are having a procession, it's in Wootton Bassett but it's not about the people there and it's not against them personally - rather it's to highlight the real cost of war in Afghanistan."We are having a procession, it's in Wootton Bassett but it's not about the people there and it's not against them personally - rather it's to highlight the real cost of war in Afghanistan.
"The sad reality of the situation is that if I were to hold it somewhere else it would not have the media attention that it has now."The sad reality of the situation is that if I were to hold it somewhere else it would not have the media attention that it has now.
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"If I am to balance between the sensitivity of having it in Wootton Bassett and the possibility of continuing the quagmire and cycle of death in Afghanistan, then quite honestly I'm going to balance in favour of the latter."If I am to balance between the sensitivity of having it in Wootton Bassett and the possibility of continuing the quagmire and cycle of death in Afghanistan, then quite honestly I'm going to balance in favour of the latter.
"In the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be engaging with the local community and the public at large by way of press releases and letters to explain why we're having this march.""In the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be engaging with the local community and the public at large by way of press releases and letters to explain why we're having this march."
Mr Wannell, of Wootton Bassett, said: "I know we still have freedom of speech and freedom of movement but I think that Mr Choudary has made a bad choice and I would hope he would examine himself and say, 'no I'm doing the wrong thing here', and go somewhere else. Islam4UK said it would not coincide with a repatriation ceremony.
"I think if Mr Choudary has any decency about him he will not march in Wootton Bassett."
Mr Choudary said he had not yet applied to the police with a date requesting permission for the procession through the town.
He said it would not coincide with a repatriation ceremony.