POLICE SWOOP ON BEARD MEETING AT SWEDISH CASTLE

Stockholm, 30 Dzulhijjah 1436/13 October 2015 (MINA) – Terror police in Sweden were called to a meeting when a number of men with with beards in dark clothing raising a black flag were seen by a passerby reports The Independent.

But instead of the expected ISIL militants, officers responding to the scene happened to come across a meeting of an international organisation of beard fears, World Bulletin quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The Swedish chapter of the “Bearded Villains” had met on Saturday for a photo shoot at the ruined castle of Braehus, with members excited to be pictured with the organisation’s black-and-white flag.

On closer inspection, police discovered around 30 young men hugging and laughing dressed in formal dress clothes, not in militant outfits.

Andreas Fransson, a Bearded Villains member and founder of Ratemybeard.se, wrote on Facebook that the run-in with officers was “not what we set out for”.

He explained that the group meets around once a month, but having been in possession of the flag for the first time, made a extra effort in dressing up.Depicting crossed white swords on a black background, it is ceremonially passed around the international chapters.

“Yesterday, we had our Bearded Villains flag shoot,” Mr Fransson said. “In the middle of the shoot, two cops showed up, telling us they got a call from someone saying that they drove past and saw about 30 terrorists waving an ISIL flag.”

“We had a good laugh with the cops, who had to respond to the call,” he said.

John Ekeblad, co-leader of the Swedish group, told Sweden’s Metro newspaper that while they laughed about the incident at the time, it also demonstrated the prejudices bearded men can gace. (T/P006/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)