UK-Asians can't wave national flags during Eid

Asian community has been asked to refrain from waving national flags of their native countries during Eid.

Police have requested the Asian community in west London to refrain from waving the national flags of their native countries during Eid celebrations to prevent tension.

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Police said the celebrations January 21-22 were religious festivities and had no link to any national flag. In the past, the display of flags of India and Pakistan had raised tensions within the community.

The request, however, has been criticised by the Asian community in the west London borough of Ealing, which has a significant population with roots in the Indian subcontinent. Police have requested that during the celebrations Asians should not wave national flags, sound card horns or play loud music.

Police officers say the actions, during the Eid celebrations, increase tensions between rival ethnic and religious groups in one of the country's biggest Asian areas. Those who persist may be arrested for breaching the peace.

The police added that if anyone did bring a national flag to the celebrations they should assess whether it was going to cause a breach of peace. If the bearer then refused to put the flag away it might be confiscated.

A police spokesman told the media: "Persistent breach of the peace may lead to an arrest. Local community representatives have been consulted on our policing strategy. They fully support our tackling of anti-social behaviour to help preserve the dignity of this religious occasion.

"In the past, incidents have shown that the waving of national flags at celebrations of events such as national independence days, cricket matches or religious festivals have caused distress and disruption to the community.

"This has sometimes led to incitement of violence, racial tension and breaches of the peace between groups and it is this sort of incident that the local community and the police would like to avoid."

The move, being imposed in the Southall area, was criticised as "heavy handed" by the local community and Muslim pressure groups.

Sadiq Khan, the chairman of the Muslim Council of Britain's legal affairs committee, told The Telegraph: "This is the first time I can recall someone being prohibited from waving a national flag in a public place, other than at a sports occasion, in mainland UK.

"I can't see the legal justification for this. If the police are concerned to prevent anti-social behaviour then the way to do that is to stop people firing fireworks or beeping their horns after midnight."

Naseem Khan, 43, a taxi driver from Hemel Hempstead, said: "They shouldn't be banned. Eid is a very important festival and one of the holiest days in Islam.

"Flag waving has always been part of celebrating the day. This sort of ban will only cause friction and will be impossible to implement."

Kranvir Kaur, 31, a mother of two who works at Heathrow airport, said: "I am a Sikh but I see nothing wrong with waving flags. There is a possibility it might incite racial hatred but it is just a minority and they should not be allowed to stop others from having fun.

"The young hotheads will cause trouble no matter what. It is they who should be stopped, not those innocently celebrating the festival."

However, Iqbal Khan, 48, from Slough, who works in the fashion trade, said: "It is a good idea to ban flags. Some of the youngsters do get out of hand but it is usually not too serious. They are just celebrating their culture."