Legoland News

[Dedworth]

A theme park has come under attack after announcing it was hiring out the park to a Muslim foundation.

Legoland has received abuse on its Facebook and Twitter pages for its decision to hire the park out to the Muslim Research and Development Fund (MRDF) on Sunday, March 9.

On its website, the park says the family fun day aims to allow Muslims to enjoy 'Fun Halal activities with thousands of other Muslims and their friends in an environment more in line with their faith.'

A Legoland spokesman defended its decision, saying it was a normal private hire event which will take place before the park opens for its new season on Friday, March 14.

It added: "It is a private hire, it is out of season and it happens to be a Muslim organisation. It could happen to be a business or anything else. Anybody can go, it is not about Muslims."

The theme park, in Winkfield Road, has now deleted its Facebook page after abusive comments were posted.

The spokesman added: "We are reporting these people to the police."

Far-right groups, including the English Defence League, have announced their intention to host a protest on the day the MRDF visit the park.

Thames Valley Police has launched an investigation into the threatening messages.

A spokesman said: "Should any demonstrations or protests be organised, police will provide a proportionate response to facilitate peaceful and lawful protests."

The MRDF website says the foundation 'strives to articulate Islam in a modern context and address the unique situation and challenges faced by Muslims in the west'.

http://www.windsorexpress.co.uk/News...y-14022014.htm

Far Right targets LEGOLAND after park hired by Muslim cleric for kids' HALAL fun day

Britains famous Legoland is being targeted by far right extremists after it hired out its entire children's park to a controversial Islamic cleric for a Muslim fun day.

They have been inundating Legoland with abusive phone calls and messages on Twitter and Facebook calling for bosses to cancel the event.

The abuse became so upsetting for Legoland fans and staff that police asked the company to take down its Facebook account while they investigated.

The park is being hired out exclusively to the Muslim Research and Development Foundation (MRDF) and its allied organisations.

The MRDF, based in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets, is run by Haitham al-Haddad, who has been banned from speaking at a number of British universities due to his anti-Western views.

He is reported to be on a list of 25 “hate clerics” identified by security chiefs and Downing Street as candidates for anti-extremism Asbo banning orders.

He has spoken in favour of a form of female genital mutilation, although he recognises it is illegal in Britain, and following the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011, he wrote because he was a Muslim he would “enter paradise”.

The ultra conservative British cleric, who is of Palestinian origin, is a member of the Islamic Sharia Council.

He believes music should be banned, that men and women should be segregated, and is a leader of a campaign to build a massive mega-mosque close to the Olympic Park in east London.

He has also written that “the scourge of homosexuality” is a “criminal act” and was accused of saying that some Jews are the “enemies of God” and “descendants of apes and pigs”.

Although he claims his remarks on Jews were misinterpreted, he was banned from speaking at the London School of Economics in 2012 following a request from the university’s Jewish society.

Videos of his teachings and sermons are widely viewed on YouTube and there are mixed views about him in the wider British Muslim community.

Some point out that many Christian and Jewish leaders also hold “extreme” views on homosexuality, but others say he is an “outright homophobe” who should not be influencing young children.

His MRDF charity earned £260,000 in 2012 and it has a growing influence.

It attracted controversy last November when it hired out the Chessington World of Adventures theme park in Surrey for an Eid Fun Day.

The charity said because that event was so successful, it decided to hold another one at Legoland whose season officially starts five days later on March 14.

As such the park is being hired out privately and it is likely only Muslim families will attend.

Tickets are being sold for £17 and coaches will depart from the East London Mosque in Whitechapel that morning.

The organisers’ website reads: “By the Grace of Allah, on the back of our highly successful 1st Eid Fun Day at Chessington World of Adventures – we are launching our 2nd Family Fun Day at Legoland Windsor Resort – with the hope that the two events will become the standard and annual fundays for decades to come, insha’Allah.

“Family Fun Day is a family centred event where we aim to bring Halal entertainment/environments for Muslim families in the West.

“The aim is to provide a true alternative in which like minded families can enjoy safe and enjoyable time while at the same time conducive to their faith.”

However, there are fears they will encounter protesters from the far right when they arrive.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/459...nment-Legoland

[joebloggs]

i don't see a problem dedworth, like legoland said

A Legoland spokesman defended its decision, saying it was a normal private hire event which will take place before the park opens for its new season on Friday, March 14.

as long as they are not breaking the law, my stepson works at John Lewis and they rented Alton Towers for the day

[Dedworth]

I don't think you can compare John Lewis with a so called "foundation" who's leader appears to promote extreme stone age beliefs, practices and prejudices. Still I suppose it is up to Legoland aka Merlin Entertainments who they do business with.