EDL plans demo over shelved mosque plans

FAR-Right group the English Defence League (EDL) is planning to host a demonstration next weekend to protest against moves to turn a pub into a mosque – despite the fact the plan has already been shelved.

Firth Park Cultural Centre had proposed to buy the former Pheasant pub in Sheffield Lane Top, Sheffield, and rename it Firth Park Masjid.

However, those behind the plans for the mosque have now dropped them as the £330,000 cost of buying The Pheasant is too high. Instead they are looking at other sites in the area.

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Despite this, the EDL is planning to protest outside The Pheasant on Saturday, September 21.

Anti-fascist protesters are planning a counter-demonstration.

On the official Yorkshire EDL Sheffield Division Facebook page, a post states: “As the demo was planned due to locals not wanting any new mosques in the area the demo will still go ahead.

“It is irrelevant if it’s this building or that one. We don’t want it full stop.”

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Groups including One Sheffield Many Cultures and the Sheffield branch of Unite Against Fascism say they will be holding a “peaceful, multicultural demonstration” on the same day. The venue has not yet been announced.

A spokesman for the event said: “We strongly oppose plans by the violent EDL to hold a racist demonstration in north Sheffield.

“We oppose the cynical and self-serving attempt by the EDL to use racism to divide our multicultural city, without a care for the damage they leave in their wake.”

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