ANTI-ISLAMIC activists have promised never to return to Harrow after their protest outside the borough's largest mosque on Sunday.
Stephen Gash, the leader of Stop the Islamification of Europe(SIOE), said he and his followers would not come back to Harrow after a muted demonstration was carried out peacefully thanks to heavy police presence.
More than 800 officers surrounded the Civic Centre car park, Harrow Central Mosque and Harrow and Wealdstone Station to prevent clashes between the right wing protesters and anti-fascist campaigners.
A handful of SIOE members were joined by representatives from the English Defence League (EDL) as they squared up to counter protests from Unite Against Fascism – separated by security barriers and swarms of police.
The two groups exchanged angry chants over the course of the afternoon but the days events were in stark contrast to the ugly scenes seen during original demonstrations on September 11.
Speaking on the day Mr Gash told the Observer: "All we wanted was the opportunity to carry out a legitimate, peaceful protest and I have promised the people of Harrow that having been given the chance to do that we see no need to come back here.
"We have never caused any trouble we just wanted to voice our concerns about mosques imposing Sharia Law.
"As far as we are concerned mosques are, unquestionably, carrying out Sharia arbitrations and the suggestion that they are not therefore acting as Sharia law courts is a lie.
"People are scared and intimidated to voice their concerns but clearly there is a need to debate this openly."
Ajmal Masroor, a spokesman for the mosque in Station Road, approached Mr Gash to invite him and leading members of the EDL to the mosque for clear the air talks but the invitation was declined by the SIOE chief who labelled the one-to-one chat as pointless.
Mr Masroor added: "We went to speak to them early on in the day, extended our arm to them and invited them to come and have a chat.
"Unfortunately Mr Gash refused - saying it was a pointless exercise, not worth his time.
"We feel as though we have done our duty and shown that our harmonious community will not be hijacked."
As Mr Gash and his followers left he stopped to shake hands with deputy leader of Harrow Council, Councillor Susan Hall, and agree that they would not return to protest in the borough.
