PRESS RELEASE –

IHRC is among eighteen civil society organisations that have called a demonstration on Thursday against the scandalous Nationality and Borders Bill currently winding through Parliament.

They are protesting against what is widely seen as a racist and draconian piece of legislation that threatens civil liberties.

Dubbed the Citizenship Bill, the proposed legislation has the potential to strip Britons with foreign ancestry of their nationality without notice.

As it currently stands, the Bill confers upon the Secretary of State an excessive, ill-defined and unconstitutional power to make a deprivation order without notice. This would make the deprivation of citizenship easier, and achievable with fewer safeguards.

This could impact many of us with a parent born overseas. There is no test or clear definition for exercise of the proposed powers. The Home Secretary is judge, jury and executioner.

The Bill also has numerous clauses that creates punitive and inhumane barriers for those who rightly deserve asylum, leaving them at the mercy of human traffickers, whilst the Home Secretary legislates the freedom to pick and choose with prejudice.

The Government’s own lawyers have even warned that they would likely lose a case on the lawfulness of forcing migrant boats to reverse course. All this serves to only further entrench an environment that is hostile to migrants and to those with migrant backgrounds.

The demonstration is scheduled to take place on the same day as the House of Lords sits to vote on proposed amendments to the Bill.

We believe this bill is racist and wholly intended to discriminate based not only on race, but upon the vulnerabilities of many who fear persecution. We stand against racism in all forms.

BARAC UK
Association of Muslim Lawyers
Cube Network
Sikh Council UK
BLM Coalition
Jewish Voice for Labour
BAME Lawyers for Justice
Society of Black Lawyers
Labour Black Socialist
Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK
Society of Asian Lawyers
End Violence and Racism Against East and Southeast Asian Communities (EVR)
Muslim Association of Britain
Finsbury Park Mosque
Islamic Human Rights Commission
CAGE
Save Our Citizenships
Sikh Human Rights

PROTEST DETAILS:

When: Thursday 27 January, 11.30am

Where: Old Palace Yard, Westminster

For more information or comment please contact 07470 630857 (ENDS)

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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom
Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org
Twitter: @ihrc