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ISLAMIC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
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PRESS RELEASE
21st October 2000
ISLAMIC GROUPS UNITE FOR LONDON PROTESTS AGAINST ISRAEL

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) is taking part in what is set to be the largest London march regarding Palestine this month, organised by a coalition of leading Muslim organisations. The march is to begin at 2 PM on Sunday 22nd October 2000, from Whitehall Place SW1 (nearest tube station Charing Cross).

The march is being undertaken in protest against Israel’s aggression against Palestinian civilians in its illegal occupation, which has led to the deaths of over a 100 – and the injury of 3500 – Palestinians. A third of those killed have been children.

The coalition demands an immediate end to the British Government’s financial and military support of the illegal Israeli occupation, calling for an official British apology for its historic and contemporary role in dispossessing and exiling the Palestinian people.

Chairman of IHRC, Massoud Shadjareh, stated:

“The right of the men, women and children of Palestine to protest against the brutal Israeli occupation by throwing stones, has been met by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) with indiscriminate rifle-fire, missiles, tanks and helicopter gunships. Israel is using any means at its disposal to crush this recent indigenous challenge to its repressive occupation. There is absolutely no comparison between the Palestinian uprising resulting from years of apartheid-style oppression, and the IDF’s indiscriminate – and illegal – use of overwhelming force against Palestinian civilians.”

Members of the coalition behind the march include:

Ÿ Islamic Human Rights Commission

Ÿ The Palestinian Return Centre

Ÿ Friends of Al-Aqsa

Ÿ Islamic Centre England

Ÿ The Muslim Council of Great Britain (300 member organisations)

Ÿ The Muslim Association of Britain

Ÿ UK Islamic Mission

Ÿ Islamic Forum Europe

Ÿ Majlis al Ulama as Sunniya

Ÿ Islamic Guardian Society

Ÿ World Ahlal Bayt Islamic League

Ÿ Jama’t Ulama al Muslimin

Ÿ Interfaith International

Ÿ SOAS Palestinian League

Ÿ Muslim Welfare House

Ÿ ABC

Ÿ UMO

Ÿ Mayfair Islamic Centre

Ÿ Hussaini Islamic Trust

Ÿ Wembley Islamic Centre

Ÿ The Muslim Association of Nigeria

Ÿ ABIC

Ÿ London Mosque

Ÿ Iqra Trust

Ÿ SCIRI

Ÿ Maktab-e Rasool

Ÿ The Islamic Cultural Centre

Ÿ Jama’eya Ahl al Din

Ÿ Ballam Mosque

Ÿ The Muslim College

For more information on the above, please contact the IHRC Press Office on (+44) 20 8902 0888, (+44) 958 522 196, e-mail: ihrc@dial.pipex.com