08.11.2001

SWP collaborator

The following is an account of the October 29 meeting by comrade Arash

I was distributing a leaflet entitled ?Muslim fundamentalism and the SWP? in front of the venue on Monday October 29 in Birmingham. This leaflet is an attack on muslim fundamentalism and the SWP?s adaptation to it.

The first sign of trouble was when I noticed a ?doorman? was pulling my leaflet out of people?s hands. I was told by the ?doorman? that he did not want me around, and he started to intimidate me. The ?doorman? refused me entry, and when I tried to make a fuss, a muslim vigilante tried to pull me to a side street. At this point some people protested and the vigilante had to retreat. I had to do a disappearing act, because I felt they were organising themselves to beat me up. I had to run away, and run fast.

The SWP organiser in Birmingham, and SWP members, were in close contact with the ?doorman? and the vigilantes at all times, discussing security arrangements for the meeting. There were many SWP members who could see what was happening to me, and they were fully aware of the situation.

Some background information. The local organiser of the SWP in Erdington, Birmingham, has said that if there is a fight between muslims and Arash, we know which side we are on. For the last two weeks, the SWP organiser in Birmingham has been accusing me of being violent and intimidating towards muslim women. SWP members have been repeating this slander since then in an organised manner.

This slander was used by muslim fundamentalist vigilantes to justify why they did not allow me into the meeting - a clear indication of the SWP members? collaboration with muslim fundamentalist vigilantes in suppressing the opponents of muslim fundamentalism.