Breitbart London has seen e-mails between a Guardian journalist and a UKIP supporter, Heino Vockrodt, which seek to draw the activist into a story about his comments about a local shop being used unlawfully as a mosque.
Mr Vockrodt, who is standing as a councillor in Brent, was contacted by the Guardian’s Diary columnist Hugh Muir, who asked him about comments he sent in his capacity as a Brent resident in a private e-mail to local councillors. It is unclear how Mr Muir received the e-mails, however if it transpires that the communications were indeed leaked by Brent Council representatives, this would constitute a breach of the Data Protection Act.
Mr Muir was interested in Mr Vockrodt’s comments, which Breitbart London understands to be “jokey” and “tongue-in-cheek” about the nature of the use of a corner shop as a mosque. The council had apparently accepted that the property was not to be used as a place of worship, but according to Mr Vockrodt, the law was not enforced, and nor was he replied to by Brent Council representatives.
While some elements of the e-mail could be considered insensitive, Mr Vockrodt told Breitbart London that the comments were not to be interpreted seriously. At one point in the e-mail between Mr Vockrodt and Brent councillors he writes: “Time to call in MI5 and MI6 for sure”.
Mr Vockrodt, who is a German national, explained that he was “making a joke”.
“Obviously you don’t send in MI5 and MI6 to investigate these things. I was using hyperbole to show how ridiculous it is that the council will not investigate a clear breach of the law”.
“I mentioned that ‘Islam is not a religion’ in my e-mail. I was hasty and my English is not my first language. I meant ‘Islamism’. I wrongly conflated two issues, the mosque, and other incidents wherein political correctness is used as a shield not to investigate issues pertaining to Islamism.”
In his original e-mail, Mr Vockrodt wrote, “First, they [Afghani Muslims running the mosque] were refused change of use to D1 in 2010… Then, they were refused a single storey extension (classed as A3) …but…being Muslims, they ignored both refusals and did it anyway, all the while knowing that Brent Council is going to do f*ck-all (to use a technical term) unless it is being flagged by others (which I herewith do).”
“I accuse Brent Council of turning a blind eye to this unlawful development, just as in the case in Oxfordshire Council – for fear of being called racists, when, just like in all the other cases where Muslims are grooming children to sex slaves under the eyes of the authorities, the council does NOTHING for political correctness”.
Mr Vockrodt was making reference to a Muslim sex-grooming gang in Oxford, which was finally tackled in 2013. Dr Taj Hargey, Imam of the Oxford Islamic Congregation, said at the time that “race and religion were inextricably linked to the recent spate of grooming rings in which Muslim men have targeted under-age white girls… The view of some Islamic preachers towards white women can be appalling… According to this mentality, these white women deserve to be punished for their behaviour by being exploited and degraded.”
But Mr Muir of the Guardian did not ask Mr Vockrodt about the local issue at hand – the illegal use of premises – or the secondary concern raised about the discriminatory entry policy. The shop in question is said to advertise itself as a place of worship for 450 people, and requires a “dress code” for entry.
“Can you please explain to me and my fellow community members, how you can allow a general purpose shop to refuse entry to customers on the grounds of religion, race and attire? Is that the way you intend to promote the community cohesion you always bang on about whenever it suits you?” wrote Mr Vockrodt.
Instead, Mr Muir said: “My understanding is that an email in your name was sent to councillors in Brent objecting to an Afghani mosque in the area. In it, councillors are referred to as “yes-sayers, appeasement Chamberlains and Look-The-Other-Way cowards.”
He continued: “I wondered whether you would have any comment on the appropriateness of the language here given your candidacy in Brent.”
Mr Vockrodt said he was “upset that the council or councillors would leak his private e-mails to the media in such a way” but said “the issue remains, and many local resident have expressed concerns about this clear breach of law. The council is not doing anything about it”.
“There are genuine local concerns about a parade of shops being used as a place of worship… my Sri Lankan in-laws live around the corner from the ‘mosque’… there is no parking, ever”.
Breitbart London has asked Mr Muir how he obtained Mr Vockrodt’s e-mails, and why the local issues that Mr Vockrodt raised were not part of Mr Muir’s questioning.
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