Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 16:40:18 +0200 (MSZ) From: Bj|rn Skolander Subject: UK: OutRage! Disrupts Islamic Rally OUTRAGE! Press Release Gay Protest Disrupts Islamic Rally ---------------------------------- Twenty lesbian and gay protesters were forcibly removed from Trafalgar Square by police on Sunday afternoon after they staged a sit-down demonstration against the Islamic fundamentalist group, Hizb ut Tahrir, which advocates the murder of Jews and homosexuals. They were part of a larger group of 100 protesters from the lesbian and gay rights group, OutRage!, who staged a noisy demonstration against today's Hizb ut Tahrir "Rally for Islam". OutRage! protesters with foghorns and whistles succeeded in drowning out Hizb ut Tahrir speakers advocating the overthrow of parliamentary democracy and the establishment in Britain of an Islamic fundamentalist state. Hizb ut Tahrir supporters shouted death threats against members of OutRage!. Their attempts to physically attack the OutRage! counter- demonstration were thwarted by police snatch-squads. The OutRage! protest was part of its newly-launched "Queer Jihad against Islamic Fundamentalism". OutRage! spokesperson John Jackson said: "Our protest was lesbian and gay self-defence against Islamic fundamentalists who endorse the killing by Iran of an estimated 4,000 homosexuals since 1980, and who threated and intimidate gay students on college campuses in Britain". "Hizb ut Tahrir incites violence against Jews, homosexuals, Hindus, and against women who refuse to conform to their strict Islamic code. We feel it's important to stand up against the threat to democracy and human rights posed by these Islamic extremists". OutRage! email: outrage@smml.demon.co.uk phone: 0171 439 2381