Speaking out against the Trojan Horse Hoax, Nationality & Borders Bill, Islamophobia

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February - March 2022
Your regular update from the UK's largest Muslim umbrella organisation.
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CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES

Connecting with Muslims in Dewsbury and Batley

MCB leadership report on the great work of Muslim communities in Batley and Dewsbury

The MCB's leadership team visited the towns of Batley and Dewsbury to meet its affiliates, community activists, faith leaders and politicians.

Led by MCB Secretary General Zara Mohammed, the leadership team met with over 17 organisations in the towns to learn of their fantastic work serving local Muslims and wider society at large.

** Find out more here ([link removed])

MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Nationality & Borders Bill

Campaign to Uphold Citizenship Rights

Campaigning to uphold citizenship, asylum and refugee rights

Since November 2021, the Muslim Council of Britain campaigned against the government's proposal to allow the Home Secretary to strip citizenship without issuing notice.

The ongoing campaign has included ** briefings to members ([link removed])
of the House of Lords, speaking out in the media,** co-ordinating joint statements with other civil society organisations ([link removed])
** ([link removed])
and joining a ** 1000-strong group of faith leaders that have written to PM Boris Johnson ([link removed])
, calling upon him to support amendments to the Bill.

At the end of February, the ** House of Lords voted to remove Clause 9 ([link removed])
from the highly contested Nationality and Borders Bill, which would allow the Home Secretary to strip citizenship without issuing notice.

Peers also voted to remove Clause 11, which would devastate refugee and asylum seekers' rights. The Bill is now set to return to the Commons, where MPs will consider the Lords' amendments.

The MCB continues to engage this Bill; watch this space for our next #StopNABB 'Email Your MP' call to action.
Policing Bill

Protecting Our Right to Protest
Campaigning to protect our right to freedom of expression, assembly and protest

The MCB first ** expressed deep concerns over the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill (Policing Bill) ([link removed])
since September 2001, and we have been engaging the Bill ever since, including the ** persistent engagement of Peers in the House of Lords ([link removed])
.

We continue to work as part of a broad coalition of faith, rights and civil society groups, as sweeping powers proposed in the Bill will likely impact marginalised communities disproportionately.

More recently, we joined ** 80 other faith and belief leaders in a joint letter convened by the Quakers ([link removed])
and sent to all MPs, urging them to support the Lords' amendments to part 3 of the Bill.
SPEAKING OUT
** ([link removed])

Trojan Horse Affair: MCB Calls For a Public Inquiry

The Muslim Council of Britain has called for an independent public inquiry into the Birmingham ‘Trojan Horse’ affair following damning revelations in a New York Times/Serial podcast by investigative journalists Hamza Syed and Brian Reed.

Read more ** here ([link removed])
.

Also see:
* ** Letter to The Observer by MCB Secretary General Zara Mohammed ([link removed])
* ** How The Media Covered The Trojan Horse Scandal ([link removed])
by MCB's Centre for Media Monitoring

** ([link removed])

US Government Commission Hearing on Anti-Muslim Bias & Policies in Europe

MCB Secretary-General Zara Mohammed gave testimony to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) at a hearing on Anti-Muslim Policies and Bias in Europe.

Secretary-General Mohammed's testimony shed light on Islamophobia in the UK, its impact on British Muslim communities & vital work being done to address it.
* ** Watch full hearing ([link removed])
* ** Download MCB's written submission ([link removed])

Also see: ** What is Islamophobia? ([link removed])
** ([link removed])

International Conference on Human Rights Violations Faced By Muslims Globally

MCB Secretary-General Zara Mohammed spoke at an international conference in Istanbul where she reflected on the growing trend of Islamophobia in the UK and the work the MCB is doing to tackle it.

The conference was organised by the Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Turkish government.
** Read More ([link removed])

Uighur Muslims: Boycott the #GenocideGames

MCB's International Affairs Committee continues to raise awareness of the plight of Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims in China.

Ahead of Beijing 2022, the MCB** asked broadcasters, influencers and athletes to recognise the winter Olympics for what they are: The Genocide Games ([link removed])
.
* Watch MCB event: ** The Plight of Muslims in Xinjiang, China ([link removed])
* Also see, thread: ** 'Islamophobia and the #UyghurGenocide' ([link removed])

Response to the Russia-Ukraine War

The Muslim Council of Britain remains deeply concerned about the unfolding humanitarian crisis that has inevitably emerged as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to peace.
* ** Read Full Statement ([link removed])
* Also see: '** EU urged to treat refugees with compassion regardless of color, creed ([link removed])
' (Arab News)

Additional News

* ** MCB calls on Foreign Secretary to condemn violence against Muslims in India ([link removed])
* ** MCB Welcomes Amnesty International's Report on Israel's apartheid against Palentinians ([link removed])

RECENT EVENTS
** ([link removed])
Celebrating International Women's Day 2022 #BreakTheBias

Inspiring Young Girls
The first in a series of events dedicated to inspiring young leaders, where MCB Secretary-General Zara Mohammed joined our two young, Muslimah hosts for a discussion on confidence-building, leadership & more. ** Watch Event ([link removed])


** ([link removed])
Muslim Women in Media: Practical Skills Webinar
Muslim women are often misrepresented in the media, and authentic Muslim voices are in short supply. This private workshop, organised by MCB's Centre for Media Monitoring, provided training for British Muslim women who want to gain skills to engage with the media and represent their communities.
Future Events

SAVE THE DATE |
MCB Proudly Muslim & Black presents:
Racial Justice Workshops 2022

After the success of MCB Proudly Muslim and Black's (PMB) pilot series of Racial Justice workshops in 2021, the PMB team - in partnership with Black Muslim Forum and Sunlight Coaching - are back for another series of three interactive modules designed to help us strive towards racial justice within British Muslim communities.
Other Events

Muslims with Disabilities
Muslims with disabilities are an often neglected part of our communities. We hosted an event to learn from the American Muslim experience.

** Play ([link removed])
** ([link removed])
** Twitterspace Recording ([link removed])

Cost of Living Crisis and Muslim Communities
The rising cost of living is impacting families across the nation. Many Muslim communities were already socio-economically deprived before the pandemic. Now, the situation is worse than ever. The MCB was joined by Islamic Finance Guru for this vital discussion.

** Play Twitterspace Recording ([link removed])
OTHER NEWS

** ([link removed])
In Memoriam

Hashir Faruqi

At the MCB Annual General Meeting on 29th January 2022, deep condolences were expressed on the passing of Mohammad Hashir Faruqi on 11th January 2022. Inna lillahi, wa inna ilaihi rajioon.

Hashir Faruqi was a pioneer in the British Muslim community and part of the elder generation of leaders who helped found and advise the creation of the Muslim Council of Britain.

** More ([link removed])

Leadership Team Activities
* 6 Feb: Visit to Luton Council of Mosques
* 6 Feb: Attended COSMOS Sri Lanka Independence Day celebration event
* 28 Feb: Attended meeting of APPG on Hajj & Umrah

MCB in the News

Select coverage of MCB interventions
* ** UK faith leaders urge government to rethink ‘discriminatory’ borders bill ([link removed])
(The Independent)
* ** Don’t ‘close the door’ on asylum seekers, faith leaders urge Boris Johnson ([link removed])
(The Daily Telegraph)
* ** How to support employees who find motivation in faith, not wor ([link removed])
k (Financial Times)
* ** Birmingham Trojan Horse affair: Muslim Council of Britain calls for new public inquiry ([link removed])
(Birmingham Live)


** ([link removed])

My Foster Family Awards

MCB Assistant Secretary General Rashidat Hassan, alongside the chair of MCB's Research & Documentation Committee, Mansur Safdar and the chair of MCB's Proudly Muslim and Black initiative, Bilkisu Savage all took part in the Fifth Anniversary Dinner of the Muslim Fostering Project.

MCB was given an Appreciation Award for its support for the project.

** Further information about the Project ([link removed])
STAY IN TOUCH!
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