INSTITUTIONAL ISLAMOPHOBIA: A conference to examine state racism and social engineering of the Muslim community

Date: Saturday 13 December

Time: 2pm – 6.30pm

Venue: Rooms MAL 414 and 415

Birkbeck, University of London

Malet Street

London

WC1E 7HX

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) will be holding a conference focused on tackling Islamophobia that will take place on Saturday 13 December featuring an expert panel of speakers.

The focus of the event is to analyse institutional and structural forms of prejudice and hatred with some focus on recent events, particularly surrounding education, political activism, the criminalisation of dissent, the role of the media and the Prevent agenda.

Chair of IHRC, Massoud Shadjareh said: “The last few years have seen exceptional increase in public discourse around Muslims, perpetuating bigotry towards Muslims and resulting in an intensified climate of fear that prevents people from expressing their ideas and beliefs. The extreme marginalisation of Muslims is an issue that affects everyone – it is an issue of democratic deficit where all citizens must look to the adverse effects.”

The aim of the conference is not simply to rehash and configure what Islamophobia entails, but to instead discuss strategies and solutions with systematic approaches and bridging together ways to move forward.

The afternoon will begin with two panels addressing the audience. Each speaker will give a presentation on their own work while also outlining their concerns surrounding state Islamophobia. The range of speakers is wide with the likes of renowned academics Salman Sayyid, AbdoolKarim Vakil and Hatem Bazian making appearances as well as activists such as Malia Bouattia and Richard Haley (for the full list of speakers, please see blow.) This will then be followed by an interactive Q&A and discussion with the audience.

The conference will also be broadcast live on www.ihrc.tv where viewers around the world will be able to participate and engage as though they too are there. Recorded video of the event will be kept for archival and academic purposes.

Nearest tube stations: Russell Square (Picadilly line); Goodge Street (Northern line); Euston Square (Metropolitan line)

Speakers:

• Hatem Bazian – Co-founder of Zaytuna College, UC Berkeley
• Malia Bouattia – Black Students’ Officer at the National Union of Students
• Marie Breen-Smythe – author and academic, University of Surrey
• Ramon Grosfoguel – Author and academic, UC Berkeley
• Les Levidow – Campaign Against Criminalising Communities and Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods; Open University
• Richard Haley – Chair of Scotland Against Criminalising Communities
• Arzu Merali – Director of Research at Islamic Human Rights Commission
• Peter Oborne – Chief political commentator of the Daily Telegraph and associate editor of the Spectator
• Salman Sayyid – Author and academic, University of Leeds
• AbdoolKarim Vakil – Chair of the Research and Documentation Committee of the Muslim Council of Britain, King’s College London
• Lee Jasper – Co Chair of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts & National Black Members Officer for the Respect Party

Supporting Organisations:

• An-Nisa Society
• Bandung 2
• CAGE UK
• Campaign Against Criminalising Communities
• Council of European Jamaat
• Free Talha
• Indian Muslim Welfare Society
• Islamic Centre of England
• Islamophobia Watch
• Lewisham Islamic Centre
• Muslim Association of Britain
• Muslim Council of Britain
• Muslim Directory UK
• Muslim Engagement and Development
• NUS Black Students
• Scotland Against Criminalising Communities
• Stop the War Coalition
• World Federation

Notes to editors:

For more information, or to attend please contact the Press Office and speak to Nadia on +44 20 8904 4222 or email nadia@ihrc.org.

If you want to bring a fixed camera please let the Press Office know in advance. Video, audio and photographs will be available after the event.

IHRC is one of the foremost organisations working on the issue of Islamophobia through its campaign, research and advocacy work.

Recent titles in IHRC’s work on this issue include:

Once Upon a Hatred: Anti-Muslim Experiences in the USA  

Only Canadian: The Experience of Hate Moderated Differential Citizenship for Muslims 

France and the Hated Society: Muslim Experiences 

Getting the Message: The Recurrence of Hate Crimes in the UK 

Recent successful campaigns include:

IHRC victory on ‘strip-search’ body scanners 

IHRC Legal notches up important victory