A government minister has signalled that a French-style ban on women wearing burqas is unlikely to be replicated in the UK, because, he said, the idea was “unBritish” and “undesirable”.

The immigration minister, Damian Green, said banning Muslim women from covering their faces in public would be at odds with the UK’s “tolerant and mutually respectful society”.

The move to ban the burqa was backed by France’s lower house last week. With public support, it is expected to pass through the upper house in September. The law will fine women who continue wearing the face covering €150 (£117). Men who make women wear the cover will be given a one-year prison sentence or £25,000 fine.

Philip Hollobone, Conservative MP for Kettering, has tabled a private member’s bill calling for parliament to act similarly, saying he personally will not meet women wearing either the burqa or niqab but instead will ask them to “communicate with him differently” by sending a letter.

But Green told the Sunday Telegraph: “I stand personally on the feeling that telling people what they can and can’t wear, if they’re just walking down the street, is a rather un-British thing to do. We’re a tolerant and mutually respectful society.

“There are times, clearly, when you’ve got to be able to identify yourself, and people have got to be able to see your face, but I think it’s very unlikely and it would be undesirable for the British parliament to try and pass a law dictating what people wore.”

He said he thought the numbers of women in France wearing the burqa were limited. He added: “They [the French parliament] are doing it for demonstration effects. The French political culture is very different. They are an aggressively secular state. They can ban the burqa, they ban crucifixes in schools and things like that. We have schools run explicitly by religions. I think there’s absolutely no read-across to immigration policy from what the French are doing about the burqa.”

Click here for full story

Join the NO to French / Belgian Hijab Ban facebook group

read the Madeleine Bunting article on Comment is Free

read David Mitchell article on Comment is Free

The Department for Transport has delayed plans to bring in hand searches at UK airport security because of concerns from a Sikh group.

Sikhs are concerned it could mean hand checks of turbans or demands for the religious headwear to be removed.

The changes have already been implemented across the EU.

But a DfT spokesman said: “We have written to airports to advise them to continue using the previous methods of screening religious headwear.”

She added: “These methods do not require all headgear to be touched.

“We will then work with the airport industry and religious communities to find an acceptable long-term solution to this issue.”

At present, passengers walk through metal detectors at UK airports and, if the alarm goes off, they are then searched again with handheld metal detectors.

The new EU rules instead tell security staff to use their hands for the second checks.

Sikhs believe the prospect of having their turbans checked by hand or removed in public is degrading.

The Sikh Federation is worried that the new EU security rules will mean more embarrassment and upset at airports.

“It is disrespectful for anyone else to touch the turban other than the individual (wearer) themselves,” said Dabinderjit Singh of the Sikh Federation.

“It is almost a humiliation. It is very difficult to describe when someone touches your turban. Sikhs regard it as a crown. The reports that we’ve had from France and Italy in the last few weeks is that Sikhs are being asked to remove their turbans, that’s the equivalent of having a strip search but having it in public.”

Wearing a turban is protected by British law. This follows a landmark ruling by the House of Lords in 1983 in a case in which a Birmingham teenager was refused entry to a school because of his turban.

Please sign the petition calling for respect for the Turban at airports here and share as widely as possible

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/respectsikhturban/

news release

for immediate release

30 April 2010

The leaked emails from the Foreign Office, mocking the Pope’s visit to the UK, show a dangerous trend of intolerance and bigotry towards others’ faith and beliefs.

While there has been legitimate concern from within the Catholic Church itself, about the covering up of child abuse, the incidence of child abuse is by no means confined to the Catholic Church. Nor is this a justification for mockery of the Pope’s visit, which will be welcomed by millions of Catholics in this country for whom he is a spiritual leader.

It is inconceivable that a Jewish religious leader, or someone like the Dalai Lama, would be greeted by this type of abuse from within the government department that is responsible for the visit.

Sadly, many Muslim leaders in recent years have met with similar treatment.

This latest wave of anti-Catholicism reinforces the fundamental ethos of One Society Many Cultures that only respect for difference, and defence of the right of freedom of expression of those of all faiths and none, can form the basis for a cohesive and integrated society.

Bruce Kent, Vice-Chair of One Society Many Cultures and Vice President of Pax Christi said:

“Catholics are perfectly capable of poking fun at their own church and often do. But the ‘humour’ of this Foreign Office memo, which was circulated, is evidence of an official mindset which disregards the sensitivities of others.”

Anas Altikriti, Vice-Chair of One Society Many Cultures and Spokesperson for the British Muslim Initiative said:

“This incident sadly displays a deeply worrying lack of respect for other faiths, their tenets and their leaders. The visit of the Pope to the UK should be welcomed as an opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue within an atmosphere of mutual respect and recognition, and not made the subject of immature office pranks and mockery. The fight against bigotry, racism, intolerance and extremism is one in which all faith and religious denominations must play a part, and to demonise any is to compromise this common and shared cause.”

The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) in the UK and Eire today raised serious concerns following Islamophobic abuse suffered by Abida Malik and her husband as they travelled by train between Leicester and Nottingham.

Faisal Hanjra, President of FOSIS, said today, “This incident has shocked many in the Muslim community. This was a young couple, minding their own business, travelling by train. They were both visibly identifiable as Muslims. A group of middle aged men boarded the train and subjected the couple to a barrage of verbal abuse and then went on to physically assault them, singling them out precisely because of their Muslim identity.”

Abida Malik, Vice-President of FOSIS, said, “I am upset and hurt by the Islamophobic attack on both myself and my husband. I am concerned of such attacks repeating, especially with the rise of the EDL and the BNP. There is so much to be done to tackle the ignorance within our British society – and I hope that through the work we do as FOSIS we can proactively tackle such anti-Muslim prejudice.”

Faisal Hanjra further added, “Political leaders must look urgently at the climate that has been created which allows for such abuse to go unchallenged. Physical attacks on Muslims because they are Muslim are on the rise – police, politicians and communities alike must start doing all they can to recognise this – and fight it. We urge all Muslims to be vigilant as they travel on public transport. We will be re-sending our Muslim student safety briefing, available on our website, to Muslim students over the next few days.”

The NUS Black Students Campaign condemns attack on Muslim student and joins calls for concerted campaign against Islamophobia.

Statement from Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy NUS Black Students Officer and co-convenor of the NUS Anti-Racism campaign:

“The NUS Black Students Campaign expresses full support for the victims of this vicious Islamophobic attack. We call on the authorities to bring those who perpetrated this crime to be brought to justice. The rise in racist hostilities is having its most violent impact on students and young people. It is concerning that Muslim students going about their everyday lives face physical and verbal abuse of this kind, which belongs to a bygone age. The reality is that the fascist BNP and the violent thugs of the EDL are targeting Mosques and Muslims whilst elements of the media and others in mainstream society continue to berate the Muslim community. Only last week, the EDL assembled in Dudley to oppose the building of a Mosque and this culminated in attacks on a Mosque in Dudley. The NUS Black Students Campaign pledges full support to FOSIS and Muslim students in challenging all forms of Islamophobia.”

Notes:

1. FOSIS (est. 1962) is the umbrella organisation of student groups in colleges and universities throughout the UK and Ireland, representing over 90,000 Muslim students. The NUS Black Students Campaign represents over 1 million African, Arab, Asian and Caribbean students.

2. For more information please contact FOSIS media email head.media@fosis.org.uk or alternatively visit our website www.fosis.org.uk
3. Muslim student safety advice can be found at:http://fosis.org.uk/student-affairs/projects/666-muslim-student-safety

The Guardian  reports:

In its ruling, the PCC said it recognised that blog posts were often intended to be provocative and prompt debate, but said it expected “the same standards in newspaper and magazine blogs that it would expect in comment pieces that appear in print editions”.

Read the full article in the guardian here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/29/rod-liddle-pcc-spectator

The Sikh Federation (UK) in association with the Sikh Channel and Operation Black Vote has invited leading politicians from the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green Parties to take part in high profile BBC Question Time style programmes – Sikh Vote 2010.

Representatives from each of the mainstream political parties are expected to take part with representatives from the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and UK Independence Party also being on the Panel.

Issues of importance to Sikhs in the UK will be discussed so that individuals can make a well informed voting decision at the General Election. The issues range from fair representation in public life, the 2011 Census, protecting and promoting the Sikh identity in the UK and EU, freedom to wear the five articles of faith, human rights concerns etc.

These issues and many more need to be on the radar of political parties and MPs seeking the votes of Sikhs. Sikhs born in the UK comprise around two-thirds of all UK Sikhs and are becoming particularly mindful of who will best represent their needs and deliver on their promises.

There will be weekly events in five major cities in lecture theatre style venues at UK Universities.

You need to register in advance with the Sikh Federation (UK) by emailing your name, full address and the event in which you wish to participate to info@sikhfederation.com. There will be a restriction on audience numbers so please book your place as soon as possible.

A Sikh Federation (UK) representative will chair each of the events. All questions to be asked will be based on suggestions from the audience. Feel free to email suggested questions to info@sikhfederation.com.

Refreshments will be provided to members of the audience and Panel members between 2.00-2.30pm. The Sikh Federation (UK) will be working with University Sikh Societies and local Gurdwaras to ensure the events are a success. The programmes are expected to be televised on the Sikh Channel (Sky 840).

The Sikh Federation (UK) has today lodged a judicial review claim against the ONS for not including a ‘Sikh’ ethnic question tick-box in the 2011 Census.

The 17-page pre-action letter issued to the ONS by Bindmans, a top law firm specialising in human rights and discrimination with nationally recognised leading experts, asserts the decision not to include an ethnic tick-box in the 2011 Census, and the decision-making process leading up to it, is unlawful.

The letter points out serious limitations in the Equality Impact Assessment and prioritisation exercise carried out by the ONS.

The ONS is specifically accused of:
a) failing to gather or commission research that would have provided them with the information needed to make a considered decision;
b) failing to consider relevant information that was already available to them prior to both exercises; and
c) considering irrelevant or flawed information.

The letter states: “ONS’s failure to gather and consider relevant information has led them to reach inadequate and incorrect conclusions which are unsupported by facts.”

“Substantial under-counting of the Sikh population, and its implications in terms of equality monitoring and the provision of services, is an issue of serious concern within the Sikh community.”

The letter concludes:

“There can be no doubt that failure to include Sikhs in the ethnic category of the Census disadvantages them by comparison with ethnic groups who are included. The omission of Sikhs renders them invisible as an ethnic group. The invisibility of Sikhs means that their distinct needs are overlooked in terms of the provision of services and equality monitoring. At its lowest, this means that public authorities cannot identify the needs of Sikhs, or the disadvantages suffered by them, and cannot therefore promote equality of opportunity or eliminate discrimination.”

The ONS will have 14 days to provide a response.

Press Release: For immediate release
One Society Many Cultures welcomes the letter published in today’s Guardian which is signed by over 30 prominent people from different sections of society.
Letter and signatories in full:
“We are concerned by the rise of Islamophobia, the negative coverage of Muslims in the media, the violent street mobilisations of extreme rightwing organisations like the English Defence League, and the rising electoral support for the British National party (The battle for Barking, Weekend, 13 March). Following Channel 4′s recent inflammatory documentary, Britain’s Islamic Republic, which saw concentrated attacks on the East London Mosque, the English Defence League marched through central London with placards including the demand ‘Close the East London Mosque now’.
The East End of London is not new to having its communities attacked by fascists and the media. The 1930s saw the Battle of Cable Street when Oswald Mosley’s blackshirts attempted to march into the Jewish community in the area. We cannot allow this terrible history to repeat itself. Further, the documentary, and articles since, have attacked the participation in politics by the Muslim community. We cannot stand by and watch this continue without remark or action.
In the runup to the general election, all parts of the population should be actively encouraged to exercise their votes. That is democracy. We welcome the work of organisations who work to this end. We call for solidarity and support for those organisations that work to encourage political participation from all sections of society, including Muslims, and condemn those who seek to undermine it.”

Ken Livingstone
Bonnie Greer
Dr Abdul Bari Secretary general, Muslim Council of Britain
Brendan Barber General secretary, TUC
Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC
Dr. Edie Friedman Executive director, Jewish Council for Racial Equality
Diane Abbott MP
Neil Jameson Executive director, London Citizens
Jagtar Singh Sikh Secretariat
Tony Woodley Joint general secretary, Unite the Union
Bruce Kent
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC
Professor Eric Hobsbawm
Louise Christian Christian Khan solicitors
Billy Hayes General secretary, Communication Workers Union
Rabbi Lee Wax
Anas Altikriti Spokesperson, British Muslim Initiative
Caroline Lucas MEP
Professor Avi Shlaim
Lord Nazir Ahmed
Kate Hudson Chair, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Andrew Stunell MP
Ismail Patel Co-ordinator, YouElect
Claude Moraes MEP
Rev. Alan Green Chair, Tower Hamlets Interfaith forum
George Galloway MP
Musleh Faradhi Central president, Islamic Forum Europe
Jean Lambert MEP
Salma Yaqoob Leader, Respect party
Jenny Jones AM
Steve Hart Regional secretary, Unite London Region
Andrew Murray Chair, Stop the War
Bell Ribeiro-Addy NUS black students officer
Dave Prentis General Secretary, Unison
Sabby Dhalu Joint secretary, Unite Against Fascism

Original letter as published in The Guardian

EDM 1079 – Muslims in Britain :

“That this House opposes the increased demonisation of Muslims in sections of the media; expresses its deep concern at the recent visit to the House of Lords by the far right politician Geert Wilders; condemns the English Defence League demonstration outside Parliament in support of Geert Wilders and their slogans and placards inciting hatred, such as their demand for the closure of the East London Mosque, that will only lead to a climate of fear, division and disharmony; welcomes the participation and contribution of Muslims in British society, including in politics; believes that the full participation of all communities in the forthcoming general election is in the interests of democracy.”

Please ask your MP to sign EDM 1079 by clicking here.

The motion follows rising concerns about negative portrayal of Muslims in sections of the media and anti-Muslim demonstrations by extreme right wing groups such as the English Defence League, which recently marched on Parliament demanding the closure of the East London Mosque. If they had singled out a Church or Synagogue, there would rightly be an outcry.

We believe the targeting of communities in this way is creating a climate of fear and division, and undermines civil liberties and the right to freedom of expression. The motion welcomes the contribution of Muslim communities and their full participation in British society, including in politics.

News release
For immediate release
2nd January 2010

Following the failed terrorist attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on 25th December 2009, many media reports have used the fact that the perpetrator was a student in London who was active in a student Islamic Society to imply that this appalling act was incited by the perfectly normal activities of Islamic Societies in London colleges.

Such views have been rejected by Malcolm Grant, provost of University College London (UCL), who said that reports that Abdulmutallab developed extreme views whilst studying at UCL were “spectacular insinuation”, and has ordered a review of the 23-year-old’s time at the university. Attacks on Islamic Societies are unjustified, and whip up an atmosphere of fear and even hatred towards all Muslims.

Islamic Societies – like Jewish, Christian and other faith groups – are a normal part of student life. Islamic Societies give their members social support, discuss issues of faith, and, among many other activities, are a means of inter-faith and inter-community dialogue.

Islamic societies also respond to Islamophobia – for example following a vicious assault on Muslim students leaving prayers at City University in November, the Islamic Societies supported the victims and gathered support for widespread condemnation of the perpetrators.

Responses to this terrorist attack that encourage hostility to all Muslims and their expressions of faith add to an atmosphere which is already leading to stepped-up attacks and assaults on Muslims.

In addition to the incident at City University mentioned above, in recent months there has been a rise in physical attacks on Muslims, including two murders – of a taxi driver in Birmingham and a man in Tooting, South London. In Rochdale in the North West a Muslim woman was violently attacked by a BNP supporter who attempted to rip off her Hijab. Fascist and far-right groups have held numerous overtly anti-Muslim demonstrations, including two outside a Mosque.

Sabby Dhalu, National Assembly Against Racism Co-ordinator said:
“Part of the route to countering terrorism lies in ensuring that Britain’s Muslim communities are respected and included in all aspects of society. The overwhelming majority of Muslims resident in the UK abhor acts like that attempted by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on 25th December 2009, and support the work of the police and others in identifying those advocating such inhuman acts.

“Isolating and stigmatising all Muslims in response to such incidents undermines these efforts and the basis of an integrated society where all are free to express their faith and culture as long as it does not interfere with the rights of others to do the same.

“Unilateral and unsubstantiated attacks on the role of Islamic Societies in London colleges, propagated by right-wing institutes like the Centre for Social Cohesion, undermine these efforts and whip up fear and prejudice against Muslims.

“Such attacks on the Islamic faith as a whole would be utterly rejected if the target was Jewish or Christian societies.

“The media should stop giving prime time to those whose only contribution is to whip up Islamaphobia, which can lead to increased violence against Muslims as recent cases demonstrate, and whose prejudiced and sneering views about a faith practiced by over a billion people in the world, serve no purpose in fighting terrorism.”

Faisal Hanjra, spokesman for Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) said:
“It was with great relief that we learnt that this attempted terror attack on a US airliner was thwarted; it is though deeply concerning that this individual who was known to the security services was allowed to slip through the various layers of security and bring on board explosive material.

“This is clearly a very complicated case, with numerous dimensions and complexities. What is needed is a fully informed picture as to the whereabouts and behaviour of the individual in question in the run up to recent events.

“We reaffirm our stance that there is no credible evidence to suggest that university campuses in the UK are arenas of radicalisation or that students are particularly at risk of the threat of radicalisation.

“We remain committed, in conjunction with various partners and organisations, to ensure that universities remain safe places for both students and staff.”

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari Muslim Council of Britain Secretary General said:
“We all have a collective duty to stand against those who wish to perpetrate terror against innocent civilians where-ever it may occur. Terror and violence is not the way to convey a message however legitimate the cause may be. It is totally counter-productive. While the suspected individual has been arrested and charged, the due process of the law should take its course and all individuals are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. There has been hysterical commentary on its alleged links to the United Kingdom, even though terrorism is now a transient phenomenon and draws its strength from informal transnational networks. The overwhelming majority of Muslims have no truck with extremists. This is borne out by credible research showing that Muslims in the UK are the most patriotic in Europe.

“Moreover there are approximately 100,000 Muslim students at universities across the UK, the vast majority of whom are law-abiding and play a full and active role in student life. Muslim students, who come to study in the UK from across the world have contributed immensely to the culture, society and economy of the UK. The actions of one misguided individual should not tarnish the reputation of the majority. We will let terrorists win if bigotry is allowed to flourish.”

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, NUS Black Students Officer said:
“The NUS Black Students Campaign condemns the attempted terrorist attack on 25th December. Terrorist attacks are indiscriminate, taking victims of all backgrounds, all walks of life, of all faiths and none.

“The NUS Black Students Campaign believes the most effective way of combating terrorism is to work with all communities, including the Muslim community, including on campuses.

“On campuses, Muslim students have become the victims of a hostile climate which saw students stabbed at City University, and Muslim women having their Hijabs ripped off. Such divisions only work to the advantage of all extremists who want to see our society divided.

“We therefore fully support the efforts of the Muslim community, including the Federation of Student Islamic Societies on campuses, in building cross-community relations across society.

Notes to editors:

1. Advance notice:
   There will be a “One Society Many Cultures” session at the “Progressive London: A Progressive Agenda to stop the Right in 2010” conference, Saturday 30th January, TUC Congress House, Great Russell Street, WC1H
   Speakers include: Ken Livingstone, Sadiq Khan MP, Tessa Jowell MP, Doreen Lawrence, Speech Debelle, Jon McClure Reverend and the Makers, Jenny Jones AM Green Party, Mike Tuffrey leader London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Professor Tariq Ramadan, Edie Friedman Jewish Council for Racial Equality, Bruce Kent Vice President CND, Karen Buck MP, Anas Altikriti, Jon Cruddas MP, George Galloway MP, Wilf Sullivan TUC Race Equality Officer and many others.
2. One Society Many Cultures is a campaign that defends our most fundamental human rights including the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and cultural expression. It took hundreds of years of struggles, including international and civil wars, to establish the freedoms of religious and cultural expression and these must be vigorously upheld subject only to the proportionate protection of the human rights and freedoms of others. These universal rights must be defended for all groups in society.