MANCHESTER: President of European parliament condemned English
fundamentalists’ attack on the house of Pakistan origin member of
European parliament from North West England Mr. Sajjad Karim.
According
to a press release, the President of the European Parliament issued a
statement supporting North West Conservative MEP, Sajjad Karim, after
his house was besieged by members of the far Right English Defence
League.
President Jerzy Buzek said the attack on Karim’s house
in Lancashire, while he and his wife and family were inside, amounted
to an attack on democracy and freedom of speech.
Police were
called to the house near Burnley when a group of more than 30 EDL
activists marched on it brandishing placards with anti-Muslim slogans.
Buzek told the parliament sitting in Strasbourg: "I wish to strongly
condemn the violence on the 2nd of July against our colleague MEP
Sajjad Karim in the UK.
"His private house was attacked by
about 30 members of an extremist organisation who entered his property
carrying anti-Muslim placards."
“We strongly condemn such
instances, especially when it is a hate crime. Such threats are
unacceptable.All necessary steps should be taken to protect Mr Karim to
allow him to continue his political work without being threatened." ,
Buzek said.
Sajjad Karim responded to the President’s comments, saying, He and his family are grateful for President Buzek’s support.
Pertinently
following the July attack Sajjad delayed traveling to Strasbourg until
he was assured of his family’s safety. He made a statement in the
Parliament which he said was the most difficult statement he had made
in 27 years of public speaking:
" Mr. President, I have been
prevented from being present in this chamber for the past two days due
to the actions of racist violence by the extremists who targeted my
family home whilst we were present and carried out a spree of violent
activity in my home town” he told.
“Today I send a clear
message to all violent extremists that we will not cower in the face of
their intimidation and violence”.
Our vision for our countries and this union is very different to their vision of hate -and collectively we will face them."
Sajjad
subsequently met with President Buzek to brief him on this incident and
the activity of both BNP and English Defence League. President Buzek
was very concerned at both the intimidation that Sajjad and his family
have been subjected to and the rise of violent activity carried out by
these fanatics. The President has also written to Prime Minister David
Cameron on this issue. Online
