Latest news with #IslamicTerrorism
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Hardline MAGA loyalist launches extraordinary effort to DEPORT Muslim NYC Mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani
A far-right MAGA lawmaker has called for NYC 's rising star mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to be stripped of his citizenship after claiming he is linked to Islamic terrorism. Representative Andy Ogles, of Tennessee 's fifth district, joined the droves of politicians raging against the 33 year-old Muslim, who pulled off a major upset this week to win the Democrat primary ahead of November's New York mayoral election. 'Zohran "little muhammad" Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York,' Ogles wrote on X. 'He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings.' In his letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Ogles claimed Mamdani might have 'willfully' misrepresented or 'concealed' his 'support for terrorism' while obtaining his US citizenship. Mamdani, who is Muslim, was naturalized in 2018 at the age of 26 after moving to NYC from Uganda aged seven. The state lawmaker's parents are Indian and he has said that becoming a citizen was one of his proudest moments. His charisma and slick election campaign have seen him become a darling among progressive Democrats - and a target for some conservative Republicans. However, Ogles claimed that moment shouldn't have happened as Mamdani, who used to rap under the name Mr. Cardamom, had sung about the Holy Land Five. 'My love to the Holy Land Five, you better look 'em up,' he reportedly sang in a 2017 song. The Holy Land Five's foundation was shut down in 2009 after a federal judge in Dallas sentenced the five founders for funding Hamas. The five sent the terrorist group $12million in funding between 1995 and 2004, the Justice Department said. 'Publicly praising the Foundation's convicted leadership as "my guys" raises serious concern about whether Mr. Mamdani held affiliations or sympathies he failed to disclosed during the naturalization process,' Ogles wrote in his letter. 'If an individual publicly glorifies a group convicted of financing terrorism, it is entirely appropriate for federal authorities to inquire whether that individual engaged in non-public forms of support - such as organizational affiliation, fundraising, or advocacy.' Those forms of support would need to be disclosed on Form N-400 on during the citizenship process. He also said that Mamdani has had plenty of opportunity to make his political support clear to Americans and especially New Yorkers while on the campaign trail. Mamdani was constantly asked about Israel and his previous Pro-Palestine support while campaigning for the Democrat nominee slot. The Democratic socialist has previously said he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he stepped foot in the Big Apple and has stated he believed Israel had a 'right to exist as a state with equal rights.' Particularly controversial was his use and defense of the phrase 'globalize the intifada.' Intifada is a Palestinian word for struggle, but some Jews and Israel supporters claim it is used to encourage anti-Semitic violence He has faced backlash for his refusal to say Israel should remain a Jewish State and that his first international trip as NYC mayor would not be to Israel. Mamdani stated during a debate that he would stay in New York and focus on city residents. Mamdani has made it clear he supports Jewish New Yorkers and campaigned in synagogues across the city ahead of the Democrat primary earlier this week. 'While political speech in isolation is not dispositive, in light of earlier expressions of admiration for individuals convicted of supporting terrorism, a troubling pattern emerges that warrants formal scrutiny,' Ogles continued in his call for Mamdani to be thrown out of the country. 'The federal government must uphold public trust by ensuring that citizenship is not granted under false pretenses.' Mamdani appeared thrilled with recent criticism from President Trump himself and is now seen as a rising star of the Democrat party. If Mamdani wins in the general election in November, he will be the first Muslim and Indian mayor of NYC. Daily Mail has reached out to Mamdani and Ogles for comment. Mamdani ran on a platform that promises affordability to the second most expensive city in the world. He plans to provide free public buses, city-owned grocery stores that will offer cheaper prices, and free universal childcare, among others. He won the primary on Tuesday, beating out former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who conceded on election night after only picking up 36.4 percent of the votes. Mamdani garnered 43.5 percent of the first-round votes. New York City uses ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to list up to five candidates on their ballots. Final results for rounds two to five are expected to come in on Tuesday. Although Mamdani did not officially won the primary - as he would have needed over 50 percent of the votes to do so - it is expected that he will still win after the other rounds are tallied. Cuomo may still run in November's election as an independent, although sources claim he knows he's beaten and plans to take a dignified step back. Mamdani will face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. Cuomo could reappear on the November general election ballot as an independent, but it largely expected that he will not, leaving Mamdani to face incumbent Eric Adams and a few others. Since his win, President Donald Trump has branded Mamdani as a '100 percent Communist lunatic' and criticized his fellow Democratic socialist endorsers, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I looked an ISIS terrorist in the eye as he slaughtered Brits on a beach in Tunisia... 10 years on, here's how I'm coping with the bittersweet twist of fate that saw me cheat death
A survivor of the Tunisia terror attack has told of how she managed to cheat death with one very minor decision. Alison Caine from Staffordshire was staying in the Riu Imperial Marhaba with her husband Baron in June 2015 when a bittersweet twist of fate changed her life forever. On June 16, 2015, the tranquil seaside resort turned into a nightmare as an Islamic terrorist systemically gunned down innocent holidaymakers. After just 21 minutes and 38 seconds, 38 people lay dead in a horrific killing spree that left the world reeling. Alison, 52, was one of the few that managed to survive and has now shared her horrific experience to mark the tenth anniversary of the attack. Alison and Baron had holidayed in Tunisia for ten years prior to the attack, and had stayed at the Imperial Marhaba four times previously. The day of June 26 was the fifth of their holiday, and saw the couple have breakfast as usual before moving to the hotel sun loungers by the pool. Alison told MailOnline: 'I had my headphones in listening to music, and Baron had his to watch a film. At around 11.30am I suggested we wander down to the beach bar for a drink and some lunch. 'I took my headphones off, and Baron gave me one of his ear buds, so we could watch the last few minutes of his film together. 'That decision saved our lives; if we'd had headphones in, we wouldn't have heard the gunshots further up the beach.' At first, Alison said, they thought 'nothing of it'. The resort was a popular spot for weddings so there were often fireworks. Soon, it was obvious something was wrong, and Alison recalled: 'But then we heard screaming, we saw people running, and Baron yelled: "Run as fast as you can back to the room and don't stop."' 'I set off running but there were people running the other way and I was going to be knocked over. I clung to a pillar, and, around the other side, I saw a man with a gun looking directly at me. I knew I had to get away. 'I ran with the crowd, there were people screaming and crying, and it was chaos. Luckily, we'd moved rooms because our air con was broken, and we went in a side door where it wasn't as busy. 'Halfway up the stairs, I froze, worried we were doing the wrong thing. But Baron was behind me and dragged me up the rest of the steps. We were in such a panic that I had to tip my bag out to find the key. 'Inside the room, Baron told me to stay in the bathroom whilst he moved the furniture to barricade us in. We could hear gunshots, grenades, and screaming. 'We had no idea what was happening. There was no answer from the hotel reception, and we were worried about making calls, in case someone overheard our voices. I thought of my parents, and all my family back home. Would I ever see them again?' Alison recalled how she was still barricaded in her hotel room when a stranger began banging on the door and rattling the handle while she was inside, believing she was about to die. She said: 'Then someone began banging on our door. A voice shouted: "I have your key, and I am coming in". I was petrified. But I was ready to fight for my life. 'It felt like hours but eventually, the man went away. We will never know who he was or what he wanted, but he wasn't friendly. I feel sure we were close to death in that moment. 'From the balcony, we saw military boats arriving on the shore and there was a military helicopter, so we knew help was coming. 'But we also saw so many bodies and injured people being carried into the hotel. We saw people die. It was devastating.' Three and a half hours after the attack began, the couple went down to the hotel reception. Alison said: 'We had to flatten ourselves against the wall and check every corner, every stairway. It was terrifying.' Along with crowds of terrified holidaymakers, they were taken to the airport at around midnight and arrived back in Britain early the next day. Alison said: 'I started having panic attacks on the journey back and I couldn't breathe. When we arrived home, I expected to feel relief, but I didn't feel safe. I couldn't even go upstairs on my own. 'Baron took me to A and E and I was referred to the Crisis Team, who looked after me at home for the next ten days. 'We had three days of interviews with counter-terrorism police and then, I had to somehow try to rebuild my life. 'But I was traumatised. I couldn't bear to be in crowds, even with people I knew. I didn't feel safe going out on my own, I couldn't go shopping or go to work. 'Gradually, Baron and I changed our routine, so we'd shop early in the morning, when it was quiet, or we'd book a restaurant early in the evening. 'But I had anxiety and panic, and it was very hard. I had survivor's guilt too; I could not stop thinking about all the people who had died or lost loved ones. 'Four years on, we booked a villa in Spain, away from the coast. But going on holiday had become a trauma for me, not a treat. Every day was hard.' The couple had flown out to Tunisia in late June and immediately noticed the resort was much quieter than usual. Alison says: 'Many of the shops and restaurants were closed, and the locals' beach, which was usually packed, was empty. The hotel seemed much quieter too; there were not as many staff and there were fewer activities. There was no water polo. 'It was a bit spooky, but we didn't think much of it. We just enjoyed our holiday.' Recalling the moment she heard a knock at her door, she said: 'I thought I was going to die in that moment. Though I was terrified, I was overcome with a desire to fight – I wanted to stay alive. 'Even now, ten years on, I am not back to my old self, and I never will be. It took years for me to be able to go on holiday again and only last year, we stayed in a hotel on the beach for the first time. 'But in many ways the attack made me stronger and more compassionate towards others who might be going through their own trauma. It made me realise how precious life really is.' Alison had years of counselling and then began a new job working as an RAF Resettlement and Education Co-ordinator, where a colleague suggested she might benefit from coaching. She said: 'I found it really helpful. Instead of trying to move on and forget the attack, I accepted it would be with me always. I recognise the triggers and how to deal with them. I've learned many useful tools to deal with my PTSD. 'I've become stronger as a result, and kinder and more compassionate too. Traumatised people need support and understanding. 'Baron has been absolutely wonderful; I could not have got through this without him. Last year, we booked a beach hotel in Cyprus for the first time since Tunisia. I was a little anxious, but so proud of myself. It's another hurdle I've overcome. 'I hope other survivors of trauma will take hope from my story; you will feel better in time.' THE 30 BRITONS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE BEACH MASSACRE In all, 30 Britons were killed in the Tunisian beach massacre, along with three Irish citizens. One British tourist was shot dead in an earlier attack on the country's national museum. They were: British tourist Sally Adey, 57, from Shropshire, was among 22 people killed as ISIS terrorists opened fire at the Bardo National Museum in the capital Tunis in March 2015 Joel Richards, 19, a student at the University of Worcester and a talented football referee, believed to be the youngest of the British victims in the Sousse attack in June 2015; his uncle Adrian Evans, a manager at Sandwell Council in the West Midlands; and his grandfather Charles 'Patrick' Evans, 78 Former plumber John Welch, 74, and his partner Eileen Swannack, 73, from Wiltshire. The couple, who had been together for eight years, were staying at the RIU Imperial Marhaba, a hotel they 'adored' and stayed in every year of their relationship Christopher Bell, 59, and his 54-year-old wife Sharon, from Leeds John Stollery, 58, a social worker from Nottinghamshire. He was on holiday with his wife Cheryl and son. He worked with children in care at Nottinghamshire County Council, and his wife said 'he made a difference and gave his best to others' Retired scientist David Thompson, 80, from Tadley, Hampshire. It is understood he used to work for the Atomic Weapons Establishment and was a keen walker Chris Dyer, 32, an engineer who practised jiu-jitsu, from Watford. He was on holiday with his wife Gina Van Dort when he was shot. She clung on to her dead husband's hand as paramedics tried to get her to safety, according to reports Trudy Jones, 51, a divorced single mother-of-four from Gwent, South Wales. Described by her family as 'a caring person who put everyone else before herself', she had been holidaying with friends when she was killed Bruce Wilkinson, 72, a grandfather who was said to be a retired power station worker from Goole, East Yorkshire. He was described by his family as a 'kind and compassionate man' Lisa Burbidge, 66, a grandmother-of-four from Whickham, Gateshead. Her family said she doted on her grandchildren and described her as the 'most beautiful, amazing, caring and gentle person in our lives' Carly Lovett, 24, from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The fashion blogger, who was on holiday with her fiance Liam, reportedly survived the massacre on the beach only to die when a grenade was thrown into her hotel Former Birmingham City football player Denis Thwaites, 70, and his wife Elaine, 69, who lived in Blackpool. They had arrived at the resort two days before the attack. Mr Thwaites, a hospital porter, played for Birmingham City from 1962 to 1972 while his wife worked in hospitality Philip Heathcote, 52, from Felixstowe, Suffolk. His wife Allison, 48, was seriously injured in the attack. The couple had been celebrating their 30th anniversary when they were caught up in the atrocity Engineer Stephen Mellor, 59, from Bodmin in Cornwall. He was killed as he shielded his wife Cheryl on the beach Sue Davey, 43, from Staffordshire, and her partner Scott Chalkley, from Derby. The couple worked for Severn Trent Water, who described them as passionate and hugely caring Claire Windass, 54, from Hull. She was killed while her husband Jim survived the attack Jim and Ann McQuire, aged 66 and 63, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. Mr McQuire was a captain in the Boys' Brigade, a Christian youth organisation, which said it was 'shocked and deeply saddened' by his death Stuart Cullen, 52, from Lowestoft in Suffolk. He is believed to have died instantly. His wife was injured but survived Billy and Lisa Graham, from Bankfoot near Perth in Scotland. The couple were on a trip to the tourist resort of Sousse to celebrate Mrs Graham's 50th birthday Retired printer John Stocker, 74, and his wife Janet, 63, from Morden, Surrey. Their family said the pair 'were the happiest, most loving couple' Ray and Angela Fisher, believed to be aged 75 and 69, from Leicester. Their son Adam, from Redhill in Surrey, had not spoken to his parents since they left for their holiday The Irish victims were: Lorna Carty, a mother-of-two from Robinstown, Co Meath. Bishop of Meath Michael Smith said Mrs Carty was the victim of a 'senseless killing' Husband and wife Laurence and Martina Hayes, both in their 50s, from Athlone in Co Westmeath. Mr Hayes was a schools transport inspector who had worked for Bus Eireann for the last 20 years.
Telegraph
29-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Man on trial for burning Koran ‘had right to criticise Islam'
In closing submissions on Thursday, Katy Thorne KC, for the defence, said: 'If this country wanted to criminalise the burning of books in public, or burning of religious books in public that would have been done. 'It has been discussed and it has not been criminalised.' Mr Coskun is accused of carrying out disorderly behaviour 'within the hearing or sight of a person likely to have caused harassment, alarm or distress' by burning a copy of the Koran. It is further alleged he held it aloft while shouting 'f--- Islam' and 'Islam is religion of terrorism', and was motivated by hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam. Ms Thorne said his right to criticise religion was 'sacrosanct' and had to be protected. 'We suggest there have been, across history and indeed now, many people who are hostile to other religions. 'Feminists to Catholicism as an example. But that is a sacrosanct act they are entitled to express and however offensive Muslims may find the behaviour and beliefs of the defendant he is entitled to have them.' Hostility to religion, not its followers She said his actions were not motivated by a hostility towards the followers of Islam but to the religion itself. She added: 'He is protesting against the religion of Islam and his governments' relationship with Islam and Islamic terrorism. 'He was motivated by that hostility to Islam and its teaching because of what has happened in his country and what has happened to his family by extremists purporting to act for that religion. 'He was complaining about the move away from secularism, which he holds very dear. 'He was complaining more generally about the teachings of Islam but the reason why he was there in that place were his complaints about Turkey.' Philip McGhee, for the CPS, said that Mr Coskun was not being prosecuted for the burning of the book. He said the combination of the derogatory remarks about Islam, and the fact it was done in public, made it a public order offence. 'Aware his behaviour may be disorderly' 'He was aware at the very least that his behaviour may be disorderly', he said. Mr McGhee added: 'He was motivated at least partly by hostility to followers of Islam by their membership of that group'. At the end of the hour-long hearing, District Judge John McGarva, refused an application by the CPS to prevent the publication of a video showing the burning of the Koran and the subsequent attack on Mr Coskun. The prosecutors had argued it could prejudice the upcoming trial of the man who attacked Mr Coskun if it was released. The video shows Mr Coskun burning the book outside the consulate in Knightsbridge shouting 'Islam is religion of terrorism'. As he did so, a man from a neighbouring building is seen coming out to ask him why he was doing it. 'Terrorist,' replied Mr Coskun. The man then goes back inside, before coming out and attacking Mr Coskun. He appears to slash at Mr Coskun with a blade and then begins kicking him when he falls to the ground. Although he has admitted assaulting Mr Coskun he has denied using a knife in the attack. The man, whose identity is still subject to reporting restrictions, will go on trial in 2027. Judge McGarva however ruled that the footage should be made available to the press. 'Attack on the freedom of the press' A spokesman for the Free Speech Union, who are supporting Mr Coskun, said the CPS attempt to prohibit the fact Mr Coskun's attacker had a knife was a 'direct attack on the freedom of the press'. He said: 'Not only is the Crown Prosecution Service trying to punish Hamit for exercising his right to freedom of expression, but it also sought to ban the press from reporting that Hamit's attacker tried to slash him with a knife – a direct attack on the freedom of the press. The judge wisely threw out this application. 'The truth is that Hamit was the victim of a series of violent attacks. Rather than punish his attackers – only one of the four people who attacked Hamit is being prosecuted – the CPS is attempting to punish him. Now that the judge has lifted the reporting restrictions, the truth is impossible to conceal – this is a clear case of victim blaming.' Judge McGarva said he would give his verdict on Mr Coskun's case on Monday at the same court. Addressing the defendant directly, he said: 'I know he is anxious but I have got to get this right. There is quite a lot to think about.'
