Whilst remaining suspicious, this is stunning news. Will have to monitor him for a long period though to see he is genuine.
Islamists will be seething - they hate Majid Nawaz and Quillam
++++
Tommy Robinson has sensationally quit the English Defence League, saying he can no longer control the extremist elements within the organisation.
"I have been considering this move for a long time because I recognise that, though street demonstrations have brought us to this point, they are no longer productive," Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Lennon, said in a short statement to the Quilliam Foundation.
"I acknowledge the dangers of far-right extremism and the ongoing need to counter Islamist ideology not with violence but with better, democratic ideas.”
Kevin Caroll, Robinson's deputy, has also quit the organisation.
Just one week ago, Robinson was accused of "stalkerish and bizarre" behaviour by an anti-English Defence League campaign group, for taking pictures outside what he believed was the group co-ordinator's place of work.
EDL News Editor Gary Moon told Huffington Post UK he had "serious concerns," about the EDL leader "going around picking names out of a phone book."
Robinson had been looking in the phone book for Moon's address and came across a Garry Moon – a man totally unconnected to the website.
On Wednesday this week he then sent the site a tweet, apparently of a photo outside the property of the wrong man.
Even this week, Robinson has tweeted about "sharia legalising paedophilia" and accused Muslims of "creating Islamophobia themselves".
PROFILE: The EDL's Tommy Robinson
The anti-extremism organisation Quilliam has claimed credit for the shock departure, saying they hope "to help Tommy invest his energy and commitment in countering extremism of all kinds, supporting the efforts to bring along his former followers and encouraging his critique of Islamism as well as his concern with far-right extremism."
"We call all of Tommy’s former colleagues in the EDL to follow in his footsteps and also call on Islamist extremist leaders to follow this example and leave their respective groups. Tommy and Kevin believe the voice they have created can be channelled in a positive direction. Quilliam stands ready to facilitate such moves across the spectrum," the group said in a statement.
Quilliam Chairman and Co-Founder Maajid Nawaz said: “As well as being a very positive change for the United Kingdom, this is a very proud moment for Quilliam. This represents not a change but a continuation for us, as challenging extremism of all kinds forms the basis of our work.
"We have been able to show that Britain stands together against extremism regardless of political views and hope to continue supporting Tommy and Kevin in their journey to counter Islamism and neo-Nazi extremism.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/08/tommy-robinson-quits-edl_n_4061922.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
Topic: EDL Leaders Resign