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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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24 March 2009

PRESS RELEASE: UK – Government’s social engineering project doomed to fail

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) condemns the latest government anti-terror proposals, entitled Contest 2, as a dangerous experiment in social engineering.

This strategy document cannot be viewed in isolation but is just the latest chapter in a trend of creating, promoting and funding Muslim institutions which will promote the government’s version of acceptable Islam, under the guise of community cohesion.

IHRC wishes to remind Prime Minister Brown what the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, said in her report on the UK last year:

“The Special Rapporteur would like to emphasize that it is not the Government’s role to look for the “true voices of Islam” or of any other religion or belief. Since religions or communities of belief are not homogenous entities it seems advisable to acknowledge and take into account the diversity of voices. The Special Rapporteur reiterates that the contents of a religion or belief should be defined by the worshippers themselves …”

IHRC Chairman Massoud Shadjareh stated:

“We call upon the government to leave this divisive policy and concentrate on acts of criminality rather than religious beliefs. This will have a far greater impact on hindering terrorism and making Britain a safer place for all its people.”

For more information please contact the Press Office on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or (+44) 795 8522 196 email info@ihrc.org.[ENDS]
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The Islamic Human Rights Commission is an NGO in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org