BNP flyers circulated in Burnt Oak

Tomasz Johnson | Tuesday, 22 January 2008 Source: Hendon Times

Racist flyers promoting the far-right British National Party have been distributed in the west of Barnet.

The flyers, which contrast scenes from 1940s Britain with three women in Islamic veils under the headline "Is this what you really want?" have been found in Burnt Oak and Colindale in recent weeks.

The likely source of the flyers is the BNP presence in Harrow, where in December the party fielded a candidate in a council by-election. The candidate, Howard Studley, finished in last place with 56 votes.

Shakil Ahmed, a member of the congregation at the Hendon Mosque, said that relationships between different communities in Barnet were good, but that the concern of such views spreading are "always there".

He added: "We don't know what affect this is going to have. The worry in view of the nature of the flyer is that the hatred is going to be targeted at Muslim women on the streets dressing in this particular way.

"I don't think we've had that many incidents in Barnet, but I've heard of things in Brent, where women in headscarves have been attacked for nothing. That's not far away, so it is a concern."

Last night Barnet councillors promised to investigate to ascertain whether the flyers breach anti-racism laws.