The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Far-right group plans Perth mosque protest
Demo: Scottish Defence League objects after new building gets the green light
An extremist far-right organisation has announced plans to stage a demonstration against plans for a new mosque in Perth.
The Scottish Defence League want to protest the £1 million development on Jeanfield Road.
The scheme was given the go-ahead by planning chiefs, despite opposition from residents who said it could lead to major traffic problems.
Council boss Ian Campbell yesterday condemned the group’s planned protest.
He said: “I am extremely disappointed that the SDL have chosen to hold a demonstration in Perth.
“We in Perth and Kinross have an extremely good record of all communities working together for common aims and our common benefit and I am sure that we, as a community, will not let any of the SDL’s divisive messages destroy that.”
“I will be writing to the leaders of all our different communities to reassure them that the divisive message of the SDL is not welcome in Perth and Kinross.”
A spokesman for the local Islamic Society said: “We are only moving 200 yards to a new location, so I don’t know why they are protesting against us.
“They have the right to do this, but at the same time we are not doing anything against the law or anything new.”
Perth MP Pete Wishart condemned the planned protest. “The people of Perth have a long history of welcoming those from other countries and faiths into our community,” he said.
“There is no place in Perth for the bile promoted by groups like the SDL.
“I am confident that the people of Perth will continue to be accepting of other cultures and continue to value the contribution that communities make.”
Police said they were aware of the protest, planned for September.
“Appropriate resources will be in place to ensure that our obligations to facilitate peaceful protest are met,” a spokeswoman said.
In a social media post, the SDL states: “Local residents are furious that their objections have been ignored; the original planning application was for a 80-capacity mosque but the traitor council approved it for 600 in secret behind the local residents’ backs.”
Perth Islamic Society secured consent for the new mosque in June, despite a handful of objections.
Opponents say they had no problem with the plan in principal, but said the designs had limited parking. The society previously stated the congregation had 600 members.
However, Perth and Kinross Council said that the plan was approved based on information from developers, which stated there would be a maximum of 80-100 people at Friday prayers.