ISLAMIC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION PRESS RELEASES

The following are IHRC's press releases on a variety of subjects. If you are looking for a current position, or a response on a specific issue, please contact us.

27.10.97 ref: NIGERIA / COMMONWEALTH

NIGERIA STEPS UP OPPRESSION AS COMMONWEALTH REFUSES TO TAKE ACTION House of imprisoned Muslim leader raided during children's lessons today, and further raid threatened.

The house of Mu'allim Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky, leader of the Muslim opposition in Nigeria, was raided today at 4.30 p.m. local time. Police forces entered the premises during the tuition of five of Al-Zakzaky's six children (all aged under 12). Al-Zakzaky's oldest son Muhammad (12) has previously been beaten severely by police forces. A further raid was threatened again without any reason, by police who arrested a passer-by for enquiring after the family.

The Free Al-Zakzaky! campaign strongly condemns the latest attempts by the Nigerian junta to brutally silence its opposition. Chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, Massoud Shadjareh, said today regarding the Commonwealth Heads of Government:

"It is clear that the Commonwealth's lack of determined action has given a green light to Sani Abacha's regime to clamp down even more viciously against anyone it sees as a threat. In this case the threat was from six children and their mother. The Commonwealth's actions after all its deliberations is disappointing in the extreme, and we call on individual governments to take a firm and principles stance in the case of Al-Zakzaky and all political prisoners."

Al-Zakzaky and three others face charges of causing disaffection against the government. They were arrested in September 1996 and only charged in August this year. The publication of the statement by Al-Zakzaky that there is no sovereignty except through God, is the basis of the charges. Their trial, which was scheduled to resume last week, was postponed for another two weeks to allow the prosecution to bring further 'evidence' and charges against the four. IHRC sees this as yet another abuse of the judicial process by the Nigerian authorities who have been persecuting the Muslim opposition in Nigeria, and is calling for the unconditional release of all political prisoners of whatever racial, confessional or political background.

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21.10.97 Embargo until 22.10.97 ref: UK / ISLAMOPHOBIA

ISLAMOPHOBIA BY ANY OTHER NAME . . . Cautious welcome and deep concerns about report on British Muslims and Islam

The Runnymede Trust's new report is aptly entitled Islamophobia: A Challenge For Us All. Whilst the Islamic Human Rights Commission welcomes all attempts to address anti-Muslim sentiment and feeling, it notes the following:

1. The process of appointing Muslim members of the commission did not include members deemed 'controversial' in the very stereotypical terms the report wishes to decry.

2. The Muslim community daily lives the problems associated with Islamophobia, and has to a large extent done what it can to seek remedy. The only way to ensure effective relief is through the swift enactment of thorough and far reaching legislation. Whilst the Commission on British Muslims and Islam suggests this, protection from religious discrimination is infact a right conferred by the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This right was not only been denied by the previous administration, but also by the last Labour government who reserved their right not to enact any further legislation in this field.

3. The report suggests a number of self-help remedies for the Muslim community which need resources that are currently not available. Again, without government backing and indiscriminate support, IHRC notes that these measures are doomed to fail.

4. IHRC notes with concern that some of the recommendations for the Muslim community include the adoption of political stands on affairs in the Middle East, particularly relating to Israel. It seems incredible that a report purporting tolerance of ideas and expression actually dictates what it perceives to be the only acceptable political views a British Muslim can hold. This is not only patronising in the extreme, but exposes a level of intolerance in the collective mind of the Commission. It is significant to note, that no such prescription was given to the Jewish community when the Trust published its report on anti-Semitism three years ago.

IHRC calls on the Home Secretary the Rt. Hon Jack Straw MP to fully address the issues of Islamophobia by appropriate legislation and the promotion of truly tolerant inclusion of Muslims at all levels of British life.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 21.10.97

ref: NIGERIA / COMMONWEALTH / Prisoners of conscience

COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY-GENERAL COVERS UP FOR NIGERIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES Trial of the Zaria Four to resume: grave concerns for their safety.

The trial of the Zaria Four is set to resume tomorrow, two days before the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in which the fate of Nigeria and other miscreant nations will be discussed.

The Zaria Four, including Mu'allim Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky the leader of Nigeria's Islamic opposition, have been imprisoned since September 1996. They were charged this August with treason, for the printing of Al-Zakzaky's statement, that there is no sovereignty except through God. The four have all pleaded not guilty, and could face the death penalty.

In a press statement, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, himself Nigerian, praised what he said were the junta's positive steps towards democracy. IHRC is concerned that such statements show a continued lack of interest by the Commonwealth to take a firm and punitive stance against the regime of Sani Abacha.

Whilst earlier this year the Commonwealth was keen to condemn human rights abuses in Nigeria, no further action against the country was taken. Since that time the situation for Muslims in particular, in Nigeria, has worsened. In a recent bowing to pressure from human rights campaigners, an estimated 400 political prisoners from across the country were released.

However in the run up to this trial in the last two months there has been an increase in the arbitrary arrest, torture and release without charge of Nigerians suspected of supporting Al-Zakzaky. There have been two reports of deaths and further reports of rape, whilst in custody.

By implication, Chief Anyaoku's statement signals the Commonwealth's readiness to accept Nigeria back into its fold. IHRC asks how far the Commonwealth is prepared to turn a blind eye for the reinstitution of one of its worst members?

IHRC is calling for the release of all political prisoners in Nigeria, regardless of racial, confessional or political background.

__________________________________________________ 29th July 1997 For immediate release

Sheikh Obaid: Lebanon's Forgotten Hostage Vigil and Report on plight of political prisoners held by Israelis.

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the kidnap of Sheikh Abdulkareem Obaid from Lebanon, by Israeli commandos. He remains in solitary confinement, held without charge and refused access to a lawyer or his friends and family.

To commemorate this event the campaign to free sheikh obaid is holding a vigil outside the Israeli Embassy (Kensington High Street, London) on Friday 1st August from 2.30 - 5.30 p.m. It has also produced a report into the abduction of Obaid and others from Lebanon, and the atrocities perpetrated on them. The report will be available from 29th July.

The campaign finds it unacceptable that Obaid could be held in this manner for eight years, with little or no concern from the international community. The plight of Obaid is not unique. Mustafa Dirani, is another Lebanese national abducted from his home in 1994. In January this year a team of international lawyers from Justice International in the UK, went to Tel Aviv to find the pair, and seek their release. Their report on their trip and that of the campaign outline the difficulties and disappointments faced, as well as the progress that has been made.

The campaign to free sheikh obaid is calling for the release of all prisoners of conscience held by the Israelis, of whatever racial, political or confessional background.

_________________________________ For immediate Release 19.8.97

NIGERIAN JUNTA TRY ZARIA FOUR International Community does nothing as opposition leader and colleagues are tried for expressing opinion.

Once more, the infamous military tribunal system in Nigeria has been set in motion. The trial begins today of Mu'allim Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky, the renowned opposition leader and three colleagues. The various charges relate to the publication of a statement by Al-Zakzaky, saying that 'there is no sovereignty save God's.'

The four were charged at the beginning of the month after being held incommunicado for nearly a year. The charges were originally intended to be 'culpable homicide' for the deaths of two police officers killed at an opposition protest the day after the four were imprisoned. Fourteen civilians, including a three year old boy, were shot dead by police on that occasion, last September.

Since then, over 50 supporters of Al-Zakzaky have been killed, and 1000 imprisoned either without charge or fair trial.

IHRC is calling on the Nigerian government to stop this charade and release all prisoners of conscience, including the four. It is also calling on the international community to bring pressure to bear on the junta in this case.

To date little has been done to secure the unconditional release of the four. It appears that the lessons of the Ken Sara Wiwo 'trial' have not been learnt. IHRC hopes the international community will act to stop a similar fate befalling the Zaria Four.

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PRESS RELEASE

14.8.97

FIFTY YEARS OF INTERNAL OPPRESSION Human rights records of India and Pakistan under scrutiny.

Celebrations of fifty years of the independence of India and the creation of Pakistan, serious human rights issues have been covered up by the respective governments and ignored by their Western supporters.

An estimated 1 - 3 million people died during partition, and the biggest migration ever recorded in history took place. The suffering which so many were willing to endure, was so that inter alia safety for Muslims in the subcontinent would be guaranteed. Fifty years on, and both countries have proved incapable of providing security for its Muslims.

IHRC welcomes the recent release of 830 political detainees held across India after a Muslim procession in Lucknow, India in July. However, an estimated 200 Muslim detainees, including the husband of a British resident have been held without charge since 1992, after disturbances in Gujarat after the destruction of the Babri Mosque. Another British national, Omer Sheikh has been held without charge and tortured by Indian police since his arrest in 1993 for alleged terrorist activities. These are just some of the thousands held under the notorious (now repealed) TADA laws.

Recent months have seen an escalation of sectarian violence and external pressure bordering on civil war in Pakistan. In the last month, the Pakistani government seems to have allied itself with the extreme Sipah Sahaba group, and initiated a victimisation of the Shia Muslim community in Punjab. IHRC has reports of around 320 arrests without charge of clerics and civilians. In the sectarian murder of two lawyers in Lahore two weeks ago, motorcycle gunmen entered a police cordoned area without hindrance and shot one of their victims.

It seems that internal repression in both countries is on the increase, fifty years after a sometimes brutal and callous imperial regime was removed. In this context it is difficult to see what difference there is between the former colonials and the protégé governments they left behind.

IHRC is calling for the release of all political detainees of whatever race, creed or denomination, held in India and Pakistan. ___________________ 31.7.97

ref: PAKISTAN

FEARS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN PAKISTAN 325 in detention, after Punjab raids

IHRC has grave concerns for the safety of several Muslim clerics, students and ordinary civilians detained under anti-terrorist legislation. Five days ago, army and police numbering 500 raided one of the region's most famous seminaries, Jamia -e- Muntazir in Lahore. Those arrested include the head of the seminary Allama Ghulamhusein Najafi, who is in his 60's.

At the time 270 students and 14 clerics were arrested as well as a number of maintenance staff. Since that time, most have been released. However 14 remain in detention without charge. All those arrested were strip searched. Unconfirmed reports say that Allama Najafi has had both his ankles broken by police, and is unable to walk. There are further reports of police and army brutality against those arrested.

A further series of raids across Punjab have taken place, and 325 people remain detained without charge. There seems to be little or no connection between those imprisoned and possible terrorist links. Commentators inside and outside of Pakistan fear it is the beginning of a secular crusade against Muslim traditions by the notoriously corrupt government.

On recent events in Punjab, the Chairman of IHRC Massoud Shadjareh said:

"It is totally unacceptable that towards the fiftieth anniversary of its creation, Pakistan has evidenced such fascist and unjust tendencies. It is a sad irony that Pakistan - a country set up to protect Muslims - is now perpetrating gross brutalities against its Muslim peoples."

The detainees are reported to have been transferred out of Punjab to various village prisons in Multan, towards the border with Afghanistan. IHRC has added Ghulamhusein Najafi, Syed Abdul Jalil Shah, Syed Wajid Ali Shah to their list of Prisoners of Faith.

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30th July 1997 For immediate release

Muslims welcome government moves against religious discrimination

The Islamic Human Rights Commission welcomes the Home Secretary, Jack Straw’s consideration of enacting legislation that would make religious discrimination illegal. The principle is part of the European Convention on Human Rights, and would be the first step in addressing the many wrongs committed by previous British administration against its Muslim and other non-Anglican confessional communities.

Chairman of IHRC, Massoud Shadjareh said:

“We are pleased to see New Labour actively considering this. Discrimination on grounds of dress, dietary requirement, and pure and simple Islamophobia have been on the increase in the last decade. It has affected Muslims in every aspect of their life from housing to education, health and jobs.

“However we are all too aware that Michael Howard, the previous Home Secretary vetoed the same proposal on the excuse that Salman Rushdie could be prosecuted. Religious discrimination is a crime, and it is unacceptable that the rights of three million British citizens should be denied to allow one man the right to abuse them.

“We hope that New Labour will put into action its claims to be the champion of human rights, by enacting legislation which will reflect a multi-religious, multi-cultural society.”

_____________________ 12.7.97

MUSLIMS WILL NEVER FORGET GENOCIDE Vigil for Srebrenica outside 10 Downing Street, London, SW1, 12.7.97, 2.30 -5.30 p.m.

Islamic Human Rights Commission is organising a vigil outside No.10 Downing Street, to commemorate the second anniversary of the massacre of 10,000 men from the UN ‘safe-haven’ of Srebrenica in Bosnia.

Srebrenica was surrendered to Serb forces, by Dutch soldiers bound to defend it on 12 July 1995. What ensued was the worst incident of genocide since the second world war. Thousands of men were transported to various locations, including factories and fields, and executed by Serbs under the command of Ratko Mladic.

Mladic has been indicted by the International Tribunal in the Hague, however liability does not end with him. IHRC is calling on the international community to investigate the role played by Yasushi Akashi, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy in Bosnia and the commander of UN forces in the former Yugoslavia, General Bernard Janvier. Both were instrumental in refusing air strikes to prevent the build up of Serb forces around the town, and to pass on information on the imminent attack on the ‘safe-haven’ to prevent its fall.

Also under scrutiny is the Dutch commander in Srebrenica photographed drinking champagne with Mladic when the town fell. Chairman of IHRC Massoud Shadjareh, said:

“The blood of 10,000 Muslims is on the hands of all those who knew about the Serbs plans for Srebrenica and did nothing. We are protesting outside the Prime Minister’s residence, because we feel the genocide has been forgotten by the international community. New Labour has made many promises regarding human rights. We call on Tony Blair as an international leader to take action for each and every Bosnian murdered, tortured and raped just because they were Muslim.”

IHRC will be handing in a letter to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street at 5 p.m. __________________________________ 9.7.97

IHRC calls on Commonwealth to take firm stance on Nigeria, and not forget Muslims VIGIL FOR NIGERIAN OPPOSITION LEADER Vigil for Al-Zakzaky 10.7.97, opposite Malborough House, Pall Mall, London, SW1, 2.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.

Islamic Human Rights Commission is staging the third of its vigils for the detained Muslim leader Mu’allim Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky outside the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on Nigeria’s meeting in London on Thursday.

A report on the atrocities being committed against Muslims in Nigeria since September 1996 has been submitted to CMAG for discussion on 10 - 11 July. Whilst individual Commonwealth governments have expressed grave concern over the fate of political prisoners and detainees in Nigeria, including Al-Zakzaky, the Commonwealth Secretariat has shown no particular desire to take any affirmative action, where Muslims are concerned.

IHRC has called on all Commonwealth governments to act both in an individual capacity and in concert to intercede for those detained either without charge or fair trial. Chairman of IHRC, Massoud Shadjareh said:

“Whilst we welcome CMAG’s inclusion of atrocities on Muslims in their discussions on Nigeria, we are concerned that Sani Abacha’s junta takes no heed to words alone. Punitive measures against Nigeria are needed to make the regime take notice.”

Al-Zakzaky has been detained for 300 days without charge. Since his arrest in September 1996, over a 1000 of his supporters have been detained, and 50 have been killed. In the latest incident two weeks ago, one of the members of the Muslim Brotherhood was beaten to death by police officers.

IHRC is calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners and detainees in Nigeria.

_____________________________ Press Release

3rd July 1997

VIGIL AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN INDIA Friday 4th July 1997, 2.30 - 5.30 p.m. outside Indian High Commission, Aldwych, London, WC2

The Islamic Human Rights Commission is organising a vigil outside the Indian High Commission in London, in protest at the continued curfew imposed on Muslims in Lucknow in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India.

There have been 830 detentions of Muslims in the area since 26th June, when the curfew was imposed. The detentions have been made under the Indian maintenance and security laws, which allow detention for up to two years without charge.

IHRC is calling for the release of all political detainees, some of whom have been transported to prisons in central India. In a letter to the Indian High Commissioner, Chairman of the IHRC, Massoud Shadjareh, said:

“We call for the immediate release of all political detainees. India’s actions show that their claims to just, democratic rule are a sham. India’s governments of whatever political hue seem to be steadily moving towards the agenda of Hindu extremists represented by the BJP. Supporters of the BJP have openly called for a genocide of Muslims across India, and yet they have been allowed to operate as a legitimate political party.

“We call on the Indian government to stand up to its responsibilities towards all its communities, of whatever confessional backgrounds.”

For more information, please call the Press Office on 0181 931 1919 / 0958 522 196, or 0958 60 74 75.

_______________________________ Press Release

2nd July 1997

FEARS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA Democracy a sham, as 830 detained and transported without charge

The Islamic Human Rights Commission is extremely concerned for the well-being of 830 detainees, from Lucknow in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The detentions have been made under the Indian maintenance and security laws, which allow detention for up to two years without charge.

This is the latest in a long list of human rights abuses against India’s minority groups including its 200 million Muslims. The latest trouble began last week on Thursday 26 June 1997, when a religious procession in the Hussainabad district, attended by Lucknow’s Sunni and Shia Muslims was dispersed by Indian police, who opened fire and killed 4. Arbitrary arrests were made at the procession and subsequently. A 24 hour curfew was imposed on the Muslim areas of Lucknow by the Commissioner of Police and State Governor. The curfew is still in place. A two hour respite was given on Monday to allow people to get water and supplies.

A protest against the curfew on Saturday 28 June, was also broken up by tear gas and shooting from police. The number of casualties is unknown. IHRC is extremely concerned for the safety of Maulana Kalbe Zawad, who was taken from his home in the early hours of Sunday morning, by police, and transported to Lalitpur prison in Madhya Pradesh (central India). There are further reports of shootings by police, of residents in Lucknow who broke the curfew to get water and food on Monday and Tuesday this week. Official reports say that seven people were injured.

Chairman of the IHRC, Massoud Shadjareh, said:

“We call for the immediate release of all political detainees. India’s actions show that their claims to just, democratic rule are a sham. India’s governments of whatever political hue seem to be steadily moving towards the agenda of Hindu extremists represented by the BJP. Supporters of the BJP have openly called for a genocide of Muslims across India.

“It is unacceptable that the International community should support a country with such a poor human rights record. We call on India’s supporters, of which Great Britain is one to call India to account for their actions. The Muslim community is looking to New Labour to observe its promises on human rights. Failure to do so will only indicate that Indian Islamophobia is shared and supported by Britain.”

_________________________ 2.7.97

FEARS FOR DETAINEES IN LUCKNOW Curfew continues in Muslim areas of historic Indian city

IHRC has grave concerns for the safety of several Muslims detained under Indian security legislation after police opened fire on two processions in the last week in Lucknow, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in India.

The first procession on Thursday 26 June, was to mark a religious anniversary in the Muslim calendar. Muslims from both the Sunni and Shia Muslim communities attended the procession which has been banned since the 1970s. According to the BBC World Service, four were killed when police opened fire on the march, although other sources put the figure slightly higher.

A 24 hour curfew has been imposed on Muslim areas since Thursday. A protest on the following Saturday, in defiance of the curfew, against the detentions was again fired upon by police. The figure for casualties is unknown. Detainees from both incidents are held under Indian internal security laws, which allow detention for up to two years without charge.

IHRC is particularly concerned about the fate of Maulana Kalbe Zawad, who was taken from his home by police in the early hours of Sunday, and transferred to prison in Madhya Pradesh State (central India). No charges have been made, and his removal to such a distance indicates no early release.

IHRC has added Maulana Kalbe Zawad's name to its list of Prisoners of Faith, and calls on the Indian authorities to release all political detainees immediately. IHRC Chairman, Massoud Shadjareh, said:

"It is unacceptable that the rights of so many people can be trampled upon by a country which claims to be the world's largest democracy. If India is to be taken seriously in its claim, it must lift the curfew and release detainees immediately. Its actions in Lucknow, are simply the latest in a long list of human rights abuses perpetrated against India's minority communities."