Author Archives: Press Release

11 February: A Day to Defend Free Expression

By Press Release | Published: January 21, 2012

Jesus and Mo (peace be upon them)

This is a press release from One Law for All

HOLD THIS DATE – 11 February 2012
A Day to Defend Free Expression

One Law for All is calling for a rally in defence of free expression and the right to criticise religion on 11 February 2012 in central London from 2-4pm.

We are also calling for simultaneous events and acts in defence of free expression on 11 February in countries world-wide.

The call follows an increased number of attacks on free expression in the UK, including a 17 year old being forced to remove a Jesus and Mo cartoon or face expulsion from his Sixth Form College and demands by the UCL Union that the Atheist society remove a Jesus and Mo cartoon from its Facebook page. It also follows threats of violence, police being called, and the cancellation of a meeting at Queen Mary College where One Law for All spokespersonAnne Marie Waters was to deliver a speech on Sharia. Saying ‘Who gave these kuffar the right to speak?’, anIslamist website called for the disruption of the meeting. Two days later at the same college, though, the Islamic Society held a meeting on traditional Islam with a speaker who has called for the death of apostates, those who mock Islam, and secularist Muslims.

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Posted in Freedom of Expression | 74 Comments

The Ties That Bind

By Press Release | Published: September 5, 2011

Muslims have a long and distinguished record of service in the British armed forces.

But this record has been almost completely obliterated in recent years by the competing narratives of the Far Right and of hardline Islamists. Both blocs, for their own ideological reasons, seem to assert that one cannot be both a loyal Briton and a good Muslim at the same time.

In Ties that Bind former Islamist Shiraz Maher recaptures this lost history of Muslim service to the Crown. Maher shows that this collective past constitutes the basis of a new shared future – which can endure in no less testing circumstances. It also forms the basis for enhanced recruitment of Muslims to the armed forces, without political preconditions attached.

Download here.

Posted in History | 1 Comment

Islam in a Secular Europe

By Press Release | Published: September 5, 2011

Interesting Meet-up to discuss and debate the issues of Islam and secularism in Europe at Conway Hall on 16 September.

Does the religious freedom of Muslims in Europe depend on secularism?

Are veil and burkha bans secularist or counter-secularist?

What should the relationship be between sharia rules and secular law?

Should the state fund Islamic schools if it funds Christian ones?

Can secularism admit any limitations on freedom of expression in religious matters?

Is there a clash of cultures between European values and Islamic ones?

British Humanist Association and Central London Humanists in association with Conway Hall present this panel discussion which aims to bring together key speakers to explore the effect of secular democracy in Europe.

Posted in Secularism | 2 Comments

Reprieve: Protect Victims of Police Harassment in Pakistan

By Press Release | Published: November 29, 2010

This is a press-release from Reprieve

Through our work helping those facing the death penalty in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, we have come across a number of recurring themes. One is police torture – it is standard practice in some parts of Pakistan (including Azad Kashmir) for people to be tortured upon arrest until they confess.

Most instances of torture are not reported. Police abuse appears to be so common in Pakistan that it has been accepted as the norm. We want to uncover the full scale of the problem of police torture in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and try to put an end to it. To do this, we need to speak to as many victims of police abuse as we can. We will use this information, with expert medical support, to challenge these practices.

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Posted in Human Rights | Leave a comment

Hope Not Hate: The Daily Star Should Stop Fuelling Hatred of Ordinary Muslims

By Press Release | Published: November 22, 2010

This is a press release from Nick Lowles at Hope Not Hate

Last week Det Supt John Larkin, head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, told the BBC that the activities of the English Defence League were pushing young Muslims towards Islamic extremist groups. His words echoed my recent blog where I said that the EDL and Muslims Against Crusades needed each other to justify their own existence – they were two sides of the same coin. It is a position you agreed with. Over 1,100 of you filled in our survey last week and 96% agreed with my analysis. Only 2% disagreed.

If extremism breeds extremism it is also important to identify those who are fuelling this hatred in the first place and 73% of you told us it was the media. As a result we are launching a campaign for responsible journalism and have identified the Daily Star as our first target.

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Posted in Anti Muslim bigotry, Media | 4 Comments

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