Monday - March 17, 2008

A “FAITH-HATE CRIME” or JUST KIDS HAVING FUN?

it may not be part of the story but .... I just couldn’t resist this

Canon Ainsworth’s wife ‘shocked by attack’
Last Updated: 1:09am GMT 17/03/2008
http://tinyurl.com/ysacfd

The wife of vicar who was beaten up by youths in a suspected faith hate crime yesterday spoke of the “shock and distress” caused by the attack.

With her husband still recovering in hospital yesterday, Jan Ainsworth - herself an ordained priest - took over the service at his east London church.

Canon Michael Ainsworth, 57, was set upon by two Asian youths after confronting a gang outside St George-in-the-East Church in Tower Hamlets.

At the time of the attack, the clergyman was wearing his dog collar and it is alleged that one of the attackers shouted “f***ing priest” during the assault on March 5 at around 7pm.

It is thought that Canon Ainsworth went outside the church to ask three youths to quieten down. He was then punched and kicked by two of them and suffered from cuts, bruises and two black eyes.

He was taken to hospital and treated, but later had to be readmitted because of complications to a nose injury.

Taking the Palm Sunday service, Mrs Ainsworth told churchgoers: “He is making a recovery, it is taking a while but I expect him home on Monday.”

The 18th century church has regularly had windows smashed by youths, who on one occasion shouted: This should not be a church, this should be a mosque.”

The borough has a large Muslim community and it was feared that the incident might inflame tensions in the area. But members of the church yesterday suggested that youth thuggery, rather than religious bigotry, may have been behind the attack.

Mrs Ainsworth said: “There is a lot of shock and distress around the congregation and the area.”

She said the attack took place in a part of the church’s grounds in which youths were known to congregate.

She added: “Quite clearly there are mindless individuals in every community, quite often under the influence of drink or drugs, that engage in random acts of violence. The community organisations here are very shocked.”

Interfaith relations in the area are “very good” she said, adding: “We have had very strong messages of support from East London mosque and Tower Hamlets mosque.”

One churchgoer, Rodney Sawers, 58, said: “I am appalled. Canon Ainsworth is a gem, we are lucky to have him. He is so kindly, without being a softy.”

Scotland Yard said that the incident was being treated as a suspected faith hate crime.

Posted by Drew458     on 03/17/2008 at 09:46 AM   
Filed Under: • Crime • Religion •  
• Comments (2) • Trackbacks(1)  Permalink •  

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