Respect party member stirs homophobia, violence and xenophobia.
London – 16 January 2006
A leading member of George Galloway’s Respect party, Adam Yosef, has urged violence against human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
He has denounced Tatchell as a “hate-mongerer”; listing him as one of Britain’s top three “Hate-Filled Bigots.” The other two bigots Yosef names are Nick Griffin of the BNP and Muslim fundamentalist cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed.
The astonishing attack was made by Adam Yosef in his column in the Asian weekly entertainment newspaper, Desi Xpress, on 6-12 January 2006 (copy below).
His article advises readers to violently attack Tatchell, stating that he (Tatchell) “needs a good slap in the face.”
In a naked appeal to homophobia and xenophobia, Yosef goes on to urge Australian-born Tatchell and his “queer campaign army” to “pack their bent bags and head back to Australia .”
Mr Yosef has a history of homophobic outbursts in Desi Xpress. In a December issue of the newspaper (Issue 42), he ridiculed same-sex civil partnerships: “Hmmm…gay weddings… Gay people and commitment? I don’t think so… They’ll be shagg*ng the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea I’m afraid. Great way of evading tax though…”
As well as being a prominent member of Galloway’s Respect party, Yosef has done press and PR work for Respect leaders like Salma Yaqoob and Dr Mohammed Naseem. Dr Naseem is also Home Affairs spokesperson for the Islamic Party of Britain, which advocates the death penalty for homosexuality and the banning of gay organisations. Mr Yosef is a leading light in the Stop The War Movement, and has worked with the Socialist Workers Party.
“This is a new low for members of Respect and the Stop the War Coalition,” said Aaron Saeed, Muslim Affairs spokesperson for the gay human rights group OutRage!
“Equating an anti-racist like Peter Tatchell with a racist like Nick Griffin is sick. It shows the dishonesty and opportunism that now characterises George Galloway’s Respect party,” continued Mr Saeed.
“Peter has been involved in almost every anti-racist campaign for 35 years, and he was active in the anti-apartheid movement for 20 years.
“Inciting violence against Peter is not only brings shame and dishonour to Respect, it is also a criminal offence.
“Telling Peter to get back to Australia echoes the racist, xenophobic language of the BNP. They are always telling Asian people to ‘go back where you came from’.
The insult concerning Peter’s “bent bags” is unabashed homophobia.
“Taken together, the headlines, content and tone of Mr Yosef’s article is likely to stir up hatred against Tatchell and put him at risk of violent attack.
“There is not a shred of evidence to suggest that Peter is “hate-filled” or a “bigot”. On the contrary, his human rights work involves challenging hatred, prejudice, discrimination and violence against all communities.
“Peter has a long and proud record of defending the Asian and Muslim communities against prejudice and racism. He was actively involved in Rock Against Racism and the Anti-Nazi League.
“We call on Respect and the Stop The War Coalition to condemn Adam Yosef’s incitement to homophobia, violence and xenophobia, and to expel him from their organisations. There can be no place in a progressive movement for people who encourage homophobia, violence and xenophobia.
“We urge Desi Xpress to publish a full apology to Peter Tatchell and to carry an interview with him about his work for universal human rights.
“Yosef freelances for BBC Online and BBC Birmingham. We hope the BBC will cease employing him. His encouragement of homophobia, violence and xenophobia is incompatible with the BBC’s commitment to equality and diversity.
“There is a clear conflict interest over what Yosef has written. The main reason he appears to have attacked Tatchell is because Tatchell has criticised Yosef’s party, Respect, over its links with Dr Naseem, who is one of Yosef’s former clients.
“Yosef has abused his journalistic position to attack Tatchell on behalf people he has previously worked for. He condemns Peter Tatchell over his criticisms of Respect leader Mohammed Naseem, but fails to declare that he used to do PR work for Dr Naseem.
“This violates journalistic ethics, whereby writers are supposed to declare their interests.
“Moreover, Yosef is wrong to say that Peter Tatchell ‘believes the likes of George Galloway and Salma Yaqoob are homophobes.’ Peter has never made any such claim. It is dishonest and mischievous for Mr Yosef to make these false allegations,” concluded Mr Saeed.
Copy of Adam Yosef’s article, Desi Xpress, 6-12 January 2006
www.desixpress.co.uk
Jan 6th – Jan 12th 2006 DesiXpress | 19
COLUMNIST Adam Yosef
HATE-FILLED BIGOTS
VILE
PETER TATCHELL
Who is the toss-pot?
Controversial Peter Tatchell, nearly 54, heads radical gay organisation Outrage!
What’s he do?
Self-appointed Australian-born ‘representative’ of the UK gay community even though most gays don’t agree with him or like him and his whining. Generally attacks religious institutions and likes getting beat up…
Who does he hate?
Religious folk, ‘fundamentalist’ Muslims (which is how most of the devout identify themselves), anyone who may not agree with all of his w*nk views.
What’s the hate-mongerer up to?
Currently accusing the Stop the War Coalition, a peace umbrella organisation, of supporting right-wing extremist Muslims. He believes the likes of George Galloway and Salma Yaqoob (who describes herself as a fundamentalist) are homophobes and has accused Dr Naseem in Brum of the same. Is believed to spread proaganda to counter the Respect party. Claims to be a member of the Green Party after leaving Labour.
What sh*t does he rant?
“Gay venues could be bombed by Islamic terrorists. All gay bars and clubs should introduce bag and body searches. Muslim fundamentalists have a violent hatred of lesbians and gay men. They believe we should be killed.” Also waffles on about Muslims being given more political voting cred than gays and upset the black community by claiming Malcolm X was gay.
What others say:
“It can be argued that over the years Ken Livingstone’s record on empowering Gay and Lesbian Rights is more impressive than Peter Tatchell’s, which frankly, at times, has been more self-indulgent than effective.” – Member of LGBT Muslim group Imaan. Another member described Outrage! as “racists”.
Verdict:
Needs a good slap in the face to help him figure out what he stands for and whom he represents. Maybe he should attempt arresting Mugabe again, that would be worth seeing…
Time he realised his craving for attention will not in any way help the gay community and so him and his queer campaign army should pack their bent bags and head back to Australia…where hate and racism seems to be back in style.