Bigots ban burkhas, boxing vests - whilst Christians are killed in Iraq

The horrific murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh in 2004 and the subsequent revealing of a network of violent Muslim extremists resulted in a backlash in the Netherlands.

On Nov 17 2004 Fok.nl reported this fascinating story : VMBO wil geen Lonsdale na brand moskee (VMBO doesn't want Lonsdale after mosque fire).

Briefly in a small dutch town, Helden, a mosque was set on fire and a local school banned the wearing of Lonsdale brand clothing. In April 2005 an Islamic primary school in Uden was set on fire , the second arson attack against the school since Van Gogh's death. A 17-year-old boy was arrested for the attack.

Lord Lonsdale's name lives on not only as the 5th Earl of the Lonsdale family, but as a leading figure in donating the Lonsdale belt for boxing champions (awarded after three defences of any title) but also the eponymous brand of boxing and athletic sportswear.

In 1979, Paul Weller from The Jam walked into the Lonsdale shop in London and bought some of their T shirts which he wore on tour. The label's cool image down amongst skinheads and punks was established to the astonishment of the brand owners whose brand was more familiar on the chests of Mohammed Ali and Mike Tyson.

However on the Continent the brand rapidly acheived a notoriety for being worn by right wing crypto Fascists, who by careful adjustment of a black leather blouson jacket could reveal the initials NSDA - very nearly - NSDAP - Hitler's NSDAP (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or National Socialist Party). Disturbed by this the company sought to lose the Nazi image (with no success) by sponsoring gay pride festivals in germany. The firmalso plans to sponsor multi-cultural events and a football club for Africans in Germany under the slogan "Lonsdale loves all colours".

By this time the cultish teenage world in Holland had adopted the brand and interpreted the brand name as L O N S D A L E "Laat Onze Nederlandse Samenleving De Alochtonen Langzaam Elimineren". which translates to "Let Our Dutch Society Slowly Eliminate The Immigrants" .. which led to it's banning in schools. A Dutch website http://www.lonsdalenews.nl was set up to monitor the anti-islamic activities, invariably attributed to the "Lonsdale Youth".

Now Dutch Interior Minister Rita Verdonk, (AKA Iron Lady) wants to ban another item of clothing. This time the burkha, whose wearing is, claims right-wing MP Geert Wilders, a threat to security.

Already the wearing of face covering scarves, as an anti football hooligan measure is forbidden - a measure which Mussolini introduced in the 1930's in Italy which is being recalled in some towns and is being used to impose a ban on burkhas.

Some Belgian towns, including Antwerp and Ghent, last year banned wearing burkhas in public. France and many parts of Germany have banned the hijab, in public buildings, in particular in schools.

Meanwhile if you want to read about the persecution, rape, kidnapping, killing of Christians in Iraq go to The Barnabas Fund report of 20th October 2006.