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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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1 March 2010

PRESS RELEASE: UK – Attack on IFE indicative of the witch-hunt against Muslim civil society participation.

Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) is deeply concerned with the current witch-hunt on Muslim organizations. Jim Fitzpatrick, the Environment Minister, accused the Islamic Forum for Europe(IFE) of infiltrating the Labour party.

IHRC is concerned that Muslims are being seen as the despised ‘other’ and legitimate methods of political participation are described as ‘infiltration’.[1]

IHRC has advised, in its study on citizenship[2], that the two important factors for feelings of citizenship are a ‘need for recognition’ and ‘some emotional element to citizenship’. The ongoing marginalisation of Muslim participation, be it in the recent harsh ‘deterrent’ sentencing of protestors[3] or attacking Muslim civil society organizations, clearly signals to Muslims that their aspirations and rights as citizens are not equal to other citizens.

IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh said:

“The attack on IFE is indicative of the witch-hunt against Muslim civil society participation. Muslims are constantly asked to be active participants in civil society and when they do so they are viewed with mistrust and suspicion.”

Notes to the editor:

[1] The infiltration of Labour,  Andrew Gilligan, TELEGRAPH.CO.UK

[2] Dual Citizenship: British, Islamic or Both? — Obligation, Recognition, Respect and Belonging, A report by Saied Reza Ameli and Arzu Merali for the Islamic Human Rights Commission, 84 pp, £8.50, ISBN 1-903718-25-2

[3] To download a copy of the IHRC report on the protest click link

For more information please contact the Press Office on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or (+44) 7958522196, 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