A group of self-styled Muslim “vigilantes” claiming to “implement Islam” have been filmed harassing members of the public in an East London suburb demanding they give up alcohol, and women cover themselves.
“Muslim vigilantes implementing Islam on your necks,” a man is heard telling a woman who said she was “appalled”.
Police told The Hindu that they were investigating after the group, calling itself “Muslim Patrol”, uploaded a video on YouTube showing its hooded members patrolling the streets outside a mosque and intimidating passersby.
“We have received complaints and are investigating,” said a spokesman of Scotland Yard.
Police believe that the video was filmed in Waltham Forest, north-east London, known to be home to extremist elements. No faces are visible in the film but men are heard saying: “Alcohol banned. This is a Muslim area. Muslims patrol the area.”
In one scene, a hooded man is seen forcing a white man to put a can of lager away, telling him that alcohol is a “forbidden evil” and then wishing him a “good day” as the stunned man walks away.
When a young woman says: “I am appalled, this is Great Britain,” she is told: “We don’t care. It’s not so Great Britain.”
Explaining its aim, the group says: “From women walking the street dressed like complete naked animals with no self respect, to drunk people carrying alcohol, to drunks being killed in the middle of the road, we try our best to capture and forbid it all.”
Mainstream Muslims dissociated themselves from the group and condemned “mob rule”.
“We live in the U.K. and we are governed by U.K. law, there should be no mob rule. If people are involved in this behaviour then it is worrying but it is an isolated incident,” said Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of Ramadhan Foundation, a secular think-tank.
Published - January 18, 2013 10:52 pm IST
