Below is a selection of highlights of recent activities and events at IHRC and a preview of some forthcoming ones.
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REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS
Sanctions as a tool of war
In January we published Saied Reza Ameli and Mohsen Ahoeei’s (with a foreword by Mohideen Abdelkader) look at the devastating effects of sanctions, used not for the promotion of human rights but a tool of war.
The purpose of ‘Subverting Sanctions: How Human Rights and International Law have been Violated’ is to demonstrate the human rights dimensions of sanctions in the sample countries and to argue a legal framework necessary to bring a lawsuit against the US on the basis of flagrant violation of human rights. Mass human rights violations resulting from the past sanctions includes denial of access to health and medical services for sanctions. Download the soft copy here
file:///C:/Users/Administrator/Downloads/Subverting-Sanctions.pdf
Civil Societies
Also in January we produced a briefing looking at the stress being placed on civil society organisations in the UK which is having a hugely deleterious effect on Muslim groups. Organisations that do not conform to official or mainstream narratives are being delegitimised and marginalised simply for being critical. Muslim CSO’s are at the sharp end. Attacks on Muslim civil society must be understood as part of the deeper crisis of the political and social culture we live in. They operate in an environment of hate against Muslims which is the product of the cross fertilising and mutually reinforcing of anti-Muslim racism political, media and policy discourse. Read the briefing here
Legal victory against pro-Zionist lobby
Following the successful defence against a Zionist attempt to prosecute the pro-Palestine campaigner, Nazim Ali, IHRC issued a briefing in February explaining the High Court judgement. The High Court dismissed the judicial review brought by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA) against a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to take action against Nazim Ali on the grounds that that comments he made during the protest in June 2017 were not abusive and had not caused alarm or distress to Zionists who were taking part in a counter-demonstration. The briefing explains the legal reasoning behind the judgement. Read it in full here
https://www.ihrc.org.uk/publications/20799-balancing-freedom-of-expression-with-public-disorder/
CAMPAIGNS
In October 2018 we wrote to the Prime Minister Theresa May in the light of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi urging her to take steps to protect people living in the UK from the growing threat posed by the regime in Riyadh. IHRC is particularly concerned about the security implications this extra-judicial murder in Istanbul has on UK nationals at home. In recent years supporters of Saudi Arabia have attacked and harassed their opponents abroad, particularly on the streets of London. If the murder of Khashoggi goes unaddressed it will only embolden such individuals and also the Saudi government to continue acting outside civilised norms and putting lives of UK nationals in danger.
Rohingya
Following on from IHRC’s recently released report charging Myanmar with genocide against Rohingya we produced a photo diary looking at the lives of those who are currently fleeing death and persecution. See the pictures here:
Genocide Memorial Day
Our annual Genocide Memorial Day (GMD) was held in cities around the world in January to remember man’s inhumanity to man. This was the event’s 10th year. The aim is to raise awareness of genocides and genocidal acts that have taken place and are still taking place around the world. The theme for this year was ‘Genocide as a tool for colonialism’. There was a special focus on the current genocide and ethnic cleansing in Palestine. Read the event report here
https://www.ihrc.org.uk/activities/event-reports/20782-event-report-genocide-memorial-day-2019/2/
Marzieh Hashemi
The arrest without charge in the US of Press TV presenter Marzieh Hashemi in January and her subsequent maltreatment in detention prompted us to launch a campaign to secure her release. We urged people to write to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention demanding her release. Ms Hashemi was freed a few days later.
https://www.ihrc.org.uk/activities/campaigns/20713-free-marzieh-hashemi/
Nigeria
Our efforts to secure the release of Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky continue. Despite a court order in favour of the detained Sheikh allowing him to seek medical treatment from specialists of his choosing, the government continues to prevent him receiving much needed medical attention. To add insult to injury its seem intent on defying a separate order for his release and prosecuting the Sheikh for trumped up charges relating to events surrounding the 2015 massacre of hundreds of his supporters in the city of Zaria. Meanwhile, security forces continued to inflict injury and death on innocent and peaceful supporters of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, once again targeting the Arba’een processions that take place every year.
A round-up of protests in support of the Sheikh can be found here:
https://www.ihrc.org.uk/activities/20930-nigeria-digest-73/
Complaint to Charity Commission
IHRC wrote to the Charity Commission once again urging it to investigate a Zionist charity after the High Court threw out its vindictive litigation against Nazim Ali. IHRC’s letter questions how the Charity Commission can continue allowing the CAA to maintain its charitable status and use public funds to bully, intimidate and silence those they oppose politically. Allowing the CAA to continue using its charitable status to attack and abuse political opponents brings charities in general into disrepute and erodes public confidence in charities. Moreover, the Charity Commission has shown that it is more than willing to consider spurious complaints against Muslim charities but refuses to engage with legitimate concerns about charities promoting the state of Israel.
UPCOMING EVENTS
In the immediate future, there’s a lot going on at IHRC in the coming weeks, especially on the books front.
Children’s bookreading
On Monday 18 February we welcome the children’s author Sukaina Amirali Mukhtar for a reading of her latest book, Jabir and Nadia’s Strength. The story, which is suitable for age range 6-9, is about children who have to overcome challenges using various mindful methods that help them get back up again. The event is open to families and children and free to attend. Refreshments, Wudu and prayer facilities are available. The book will be available to purchase at the event.
WHEN: Monday, 18 February 2019, 3.30pm to 5pm
Author evening with Amrit Wilson
On 21 February Amrit Wilson will be presenting the new and expanded edition of her book Finding A Voice: Asian Women in Britain. Forty years after its first publication, this path-breaking book, is being republished. The 2018 edition includes a new introduction by the author Amrit Wilson, a preface by Meena Kandasamy, and a remarkable new chapter titled ‘In conversation with Finding a Voice: 40 years on’ in which younger South Asian women write about their own lives and struggles weaving them around those portrayed in the book. The book is available online and in-store with a 10% discount applicable to purchases made on the night of the event. For those unable to attend this free event, it will be streamed LIVE on the IHRC Facebook page and on IHRC.TV
WHEN: Thursday, 21 February 2019 from 6.30pm
Author evening with Khuram Malik
In March we will be hosting the author Khuram Malik who will be showcasing his book “Billion Dollar Muslim: Why We Need Spiritually Inspired Entrepreneurs”. Â Malik will explore the meaning and manifestation of Muslim entrepreneurship, success from a spiritual perspective and the impact of success on wider society. Born out of Khuram Malik’s aspirations to sow the seeds of a flourishing generation of successful Muslim entrepreneurs, “Billion Dollar Muslim” is a book which opens our eyes to the great possibilities that can be achieved when the entrepreneurial mindset is embraced.
WHEN: Thursday 14 March 2019
All the above events will take place at IHRC Bookshop, 202 Preston Road, Wembley, London HA9 8PA
Bookshop
The IHRC bookshop is currently running several promotions. We are marking Black History Month by offering 10% off a range of titles: https://shop.ihrc.org/black-history-month?pagesize=12
Our 15% Homeschooling discount is still running for Homeschoolers, the code for that is HOME4SCHOOL.
And we have added new titles to our popular Safar Publications Stock. Browse and purchase them at https://shop.ihrc.org/safar-publications?pagesize=9
Job Vacancy
IHRC is currently seeking a Research Officer and PA to the Chair. The post is for one year and is based at our offices in Wembley, London. Full details can be found at
https://www.ihrc.org.uk/about/vacancies/11834-vacancy-research-officer-and-pa-to-the-chair/
