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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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11 May 2006

Press Release: Briefing on British Anti-Terrorism Laws and the MEK now available

IHRC’s latest briefing ‘British Anti-Terrorism Policy and the MEK’ reviews the British government’s claims to target all types and forms of terrorism using the example of the Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), and anti-Iranian terrorist group proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Despite its proscription, the MEK, has prominent supporters in the UK and is able to publicise their cause with little or no hindrance.

IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh said:

“Whilst Muslims are increasingly targeted for their political activities on the pretext that they may be glorifying or somehow covertly pursuing a terrorist agenda, the fact that a group with such a horrendous record of atrocities can openly flout the law says much about the government’s stance on terrorism.”

The MEK has been condemned for its abuses of its own members as well as its attacks on civilians. The group was the first to use human bombings against civilians – notably at various Friday prayer congregations in Iran in the early 1980s.

The briefing outlines the anomalies between the government’s attempts to proscribe non-violent organisations and its policies of arrest and prosecutions under terrorism laws, with its treatment of MEK in the UK.

IHRC notes that if the right to life within a human rights framework is to have any meaning, then the lives of all victims and potential victims of terrorism must have equal weight. Simply put, this means promoting the MEK is simply as nefarious as promoting Al-Qaida.

For more information please contact (+44) 20 8904 4222, or (44) 7958 522196 or email:info@ihrc.org.[ ENDS ]

Notes to Editors:
1. ‘British Anti-Terrorism Policy and the MEK’ can be found at:
https://ihrc.org.uk/file/060511mekbriefing.pdf

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

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
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Email: info@ihrc.org
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