Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)
I should like to present a petition on behalf of the chairman of Stockton mosque, Councillor Mohammed Javed. It declares that the petitioners are profoundly concerned about the portrayal of the Islamic faith in the online video “Innocence of Muslims” and calls for it to be banned. The petition is accompanied by a larger one that was presented to my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) and I at a meeting last month, which was attended by hundreds of local community members from mosques across Teesside. The petition is signed by some 4,000 Teesside residents, mostly Muslims, who are shocked and upset about how their proudly held faith has been affronted in that way—their shock is shared by my hon. Friends the Members for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Tom Blenkinsop) and for Middlesbrough (Andy McDonald). I hope the House will take the strength of feeling into account and stand with the hundreds of thousands of Muslims up and down the country who are calling for the Government to ban this appalling film.
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The Petition of Cllr Mohammed Javed,
Declares that the Petitioner believes that the film, “The Innoncence of Muslims” is disrespectful, offensive and untruthful, and could incite hatred towards Muslims.
The Petitioner therefore requests that the House of Commons urges the Government to take necessary measure to ban the film, and introduce new legislation to prevent Islamophobia and the incitement of religious hatred against Muslims.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.]
[P001149]