A mother-of-four has been subjected to death threats after starting a campaign to stop a protest march by Muslim hardliners through Wootton Bassett.
Jo Cleary, from Broomfield, Herne Bay, set up a Facebook site calling for extremist leader Anjem Choudary and his followers to be barred from carrying coffins through the town where residents line the streets to mourn as the bodies of slain service personnel arriving back in the UK.
Choudary, who was born in Welling, Bexley, leads the group Islam4UK which says its march would symbolise Muslims killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
More than 700,000 people have signed up to Mrs Cleary’s campaign – but in the last few days she has found herself on the end of abuse and threats to her life over the internet.
Other hate-filled messages have been directed at the grieving families of British soldiers killed in action.
It is believed the messages have been sent by self-styled ‘anti-fascists’ and are not the work of any ethnic or religious group.
The death threats have also been reported to the police, who have offered her protection.
Mrs Cleary, 43, said: “I am absolutely livid at these threats but they will not stop my campaign.
“I have been branded as a BNP member – which I most certainly not – and my life has been threatened in the most abusive language.
“There have even been threats made to the families of those who have given their lives for this country. It is beyond belief – these are horrific emails with vile, vile threats.”
Photographer Mrs Cleary set up her group after a former soldier told her of the plans for the Islam4UK march through the Wiltshire town which has come to symbolise Britain’s respect for war dead.
Residents quietly line the streets in honour of the memory of those whose bodies arrive back in the country via nearby RAF Lyneham.
On Tuesday hundreds of mourners paid their respects to Rifleman Aidan Howell, from Sidcup, when his body was flown back in the UK.
The 19-year-old, from the 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, was killed in an explosion in the Kajaki area of Helmand Province on Monday, December 28.
With family connections to the Army, Mrs Cleary has long campaigned for support for troops and welfare for veterans.
“When I heard about this hugely insensitive proposal I was incensed,” she said. “I considered it sacrilege.
“The people of Wootton Bassett have taken the military to their hearts and they should be applauded for doing so.
“It is not a matter of politics – it is a matter of grief. I have never been to the town when it is grieving and I have no intention of doing so. It is a private matter.
“When I set up the site I thought there would be a few people who signed up and we could all have a bit of a rant. I never thought it would spiral in the way that it has.
“But it just shows the strength of feeling against this proposed march.
“In my work in supporting the families of the bereaved I deal on a day-to-day basis with grieving and even suicidal people.
“They have taken strength from the support shown by the people of one small town.
“That is what needs to be respected – not used for some cheap political stunt.
“I do not have any issue with Islam. In fact I have received messages of support from some Muslim groups and I would like to express how grateful I am for that.
“Even the protest itself I do not have a problem with – it is just the location. If they want to make a political protest do it in Downing Street so the politicians will be made aware of their feelings.
“They are the ones who can make changes – not the butchers and bakers of Wootton Bassett.”
POSTED: 10/01/2010 10:00:00
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