YouTube and the "fake" obituary

What's it like to find yourself the subject of a threatening video on YouTube? Newham Councillor Alan Craig complained to police over a video on YouTube titled, "In Memory of Councillor Alan Craig". Councillor Craig interprets the video, made in the style of an obituary, as a "death threat" directed at him because of his opposition to the proposed construction of a large mosque in the area. Councillor Craig, who stands as a councillor for The Christian People's Alliance, describes the video and his reaction to it in the audio below:

Tablighi Jamaat, the group behind the Abbeymills mosque have condemned the video. It is also worth noting that prior to this incident the plans for the mosque had attracted the attention of the British National Party. Hafiz Mumtaz is a spokesperson for the mosque's supporters:

In both these interviews Craig and Mumtaz express a desire to talk and negotiate in a peaceful and open manner. Although the web does provide a ready platform for extreme views, in the past I've found that the web can also be a powerful tool for bringing people together, even those on opposite sides of a violent conflict (I remember once facilitating the first phone conversation between an Iraqi mother and the mother of a US soldier who had become friends onlline). The question, which is a pertinent one for politicians, religious groups and even the lone blogger in their bedroom, is how to encourage civil dialogue online and keep internet trolls and extremists at bay. Answers on a postcard please.

UPDATE: I spoke to the young man who created the video. That interview is below: ++

++ UPDATE 19th November 2207 ++ : This interview is no longer available. This matter is now subject to a police investigation and, following legal advice, we have removed this particular piece of audio.

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