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Right-wing mosque demo fizzles in rain


A DEMONSTRATION by a far- right, anti-Muslim group fizzled out in the drizzle when only a handful turned up to campaign against the expansion of Maidstone Mosque. Barely 20 protestors from South


East Alliance showed up in Mote Road, compared to around 100 Mus- lims, anti-facists, and trades union- ists who stood outside the Islamic centre. Ten police officers were on duty.


The far-right supporters, who claimed to have the support of local people, chanted: "No more refugees." South East Alliance arrived at around 1pm, two hours late, stayed for 60 minutes before departing. The mosque's Imam Muhammad Usmani, 41, said: "Of course, I re- spect anyone's right to free speech even if I don't like or agree with what they're saying. “But I would be unhappy if either


side used inappropriate words. "The mosque has been here for more than 20 years and I never expected this (the protest) to happen here.


“The relationship with other faiths


in this town has always been good." Themosque provided tea, biscuits


and pizza to protestors outside. South East Alliance declined to


speak to Downs Mail's reporter when approached at the protest on January 7. But according to reports, South


East Alliance claimed the group had been invited to stage a demonstra- tion by local people. The spokesman said: "After being approached by local people, we de- cided to support them by having a


demoto highlight their opposition to the extension of the mosque. "They feel they are being ignored


by the council. “We would like to thank the locals


who invited and joined us on our firstdemoas Kent's official branch of the South East Alliance andwe look forward to the next demo." Few people knew of the mosque's existence in Maidstone until it ap- plied for, and was granted permis- sion, to expand its facilities – including anewkitchen - by the bor- ough council.


News


Cooke in seg theft aempt


A HOMELESS man who tried to steal two Segways from a shop in The Mall in Maidstone town cen- tre has been sent to prison for more than four months. A Benjamin Alfred Cooke was sentenced on January 6, 2017, at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court. Cooke pleaded guilty to four


counts of shoplifting and one count of attempted shoplifting. The court was told how on Sep- tember 7, 2016, the 30-year-old, of no fixed address, stole razor blades worth £57.35 from a phar- macy in Longshaw Road, Maid- stone. Ten days later, he stole cosmetic


items worth £63.56 from the same pharmacy. Then on September 22, 2016, he


stole razor blades worth £20 from the same pharmacy. OnNovember 9, he attempted to


steal two Segways worth £499.98 from a shop in The Mall, Maid- stone. On December 4, he stole gro-


ceries worth £46 from a shop in Northumberland Road, Maid- stone.


Magistrates sentenced Cooke to


125 days in prison. Magistrates de- clared he must also pay £186 com- pensation.


Maidstone Weald February 2017


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