Heavily armed far right-wing protesters have been filmed apparently “shadowing” American Muslim worshippers as they walked to pray.
The Bureau of American Islamic Relations (BAIR), a small right-wing group in Texas, have drawn international attention in the past week after they picketed a mosque in the small town of Irving.
A Facebook profile in the name of BAIR leader and founder David Wright appeared to post the names of every “Muslim and Muslim sympathizier” in the town, following the protest over the alleged use of Sharia law to settle personal disputes in the town’s mosque.
Anthony Bond, a local activist whose name and address was published, condemned the action.
“That is the goal of this post: to put a bulls-eye on the back of all the people that stood up against the so-called anti-Shariah law bill,” he told The Dallas Morning News.
The apparent publication of the list – later removed from Facebook – provoked huge interest and publicity for a counter protest supporting the mosque and its supporters. More than 200 people are currently due to attend the Saturday rally, with more than 4,000 invited.
Coverage of the original protest was featured on Fox News and appears to show a BAIR supporter, wearing camouflage gear with a balaclava covering part of his face and carrying what appears to be an semi-automatic rifle, following three people, one of whom is wearing a headscarf.
The original dispute was sparked after the town’s mayor Beth Van Duyne accused the local Muslim community of bypassing state and federal laws to rule on disputes using Sharia law, a charge denied by the Islamic Centre of Irving.
David Wright did not respond to The Independent’s request for comment.
