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The Annual
ISLAMOPHOBIA AWARDS

Islamic Human Right Commission,
May 31st 2003

 

Recently the Islamic Human Rights Commission held its first Islamophobia Awards ceremony. The winners had been chosen by a panel of judges following public nominations for the different categories. The entertaining evening included Islamic musical performances, comedy, a fund-raising banquet and an auction of jewellery and arts. It offered a welcome satirical look at the year's events and presented spoof awards to the biggest Islamophobes.


Annual Islamophobia Awards ceremony held at the
Islamic Centre in London

 

Recitation of the Holy Qur'an
Introduction
Mecca 2 Medina - UKs First Muslim Hip Hop Group
Greatest Love Affair of the 21st Century
In praise of God
Most Islamophobic British Politician of the Year
Most Islamophobic International Politician of the Year
Most Islamophobic Media Personality of the Year
Most Islamophobic Media of the Year
Sister Muddassar Arani - Human Rights Lawyer
Islamophobe of the Year 2003
Massoud Shadjareh - Chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission
Press Coverage of Awards
Further Information

 


Recitation of the Holy Qur'an


Br.Muhammad Ali Hussaini

The evening started with a recitation of a selected Surah from the Holy Quran - Surah Buruj which talks of the persecution of Muslims for no reason but because of their belief in Allah. The Arabic is recited by Br. Muhammad Ali Hussaini followed by a translation in English by Sr.Abidah.

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

I swear by the mansions of the stars,

And the promised day,

And the bearer of witness and those against whom the witness is borne.

Cursed be the makers of the pit,

Of the fire (kept burning) with fuel,

When they sat by it,

And they were witnesses of what they did with the believers.

And they did not take vengeance on them for aught except that they believed in Allah, the Mighty, the Praised,

Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is a Witness of all things.

Surely (as for) those who persecute the believing men and the believing women, then do not repent, they shall have the chastisement of hell, and they shall have the chastisement of burning.

Surely (as for) those who believe and do good, they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow, that is the great achievement.

Surely the might of your Lord is great.

Surely He it is Who originates and reproduces,

And He is the Forgiving, the Loving,

Lord of the throne, the Glorious,

The great doer of what He will.

Has not there come to you the story of the hosts,

Of Firon and Samood?

Nay! those who disbelieve are in (the act of) giving the lie to the truth.

And Allah encompasses them on every side.

Nay! it is a glorious Quran,

In a guarded tablet.

 

Recitation of the Holy Qur'an (arabic & english trans)

Download (shift-click) (real audio 6:15min 769Kb)

 



Introduction

As the delicious three course meal is served, Br Reza Kazim spends a couple of minutes introducing the IHRC:

"The Islamic Human Rights Commission is fundamentally about challenging injustice..."

 

This is followed by IHRC's in-house talented stand-up duo Br.Nazim Ali and Sr.Romana Majid who host the rest of the evening.

 


Br.Nazir Ali and Sr.Romana Majid

 

 


Mecca 2 Medina
UK's First Muslim Hip Hop Group


Mecca2Medina performing at the awards banquet

The musical performance was provided by the UK's first Muslim Hip Hop group, Mecca 2 Medina.

Mecca 2 Medina was formed in 1996 by three Muslims who were studying together - Imran Kazi, Ismael Yasin, and Rakin Adbullah. They formed the group with the aim of expanding the listener's knowledge and understanding of Islam, whilst addressing social issues they felt were afflicting their communities and society as a whole. With in a month of releasing their first record, an EP entitled "Life After Death" two more Muslims joined the group - Abdul-Karim Talib and Dawud Saifullah. Since then Mecca 2 Medina have released several records and have appeared on major TV channels and radio stations.

For more information visit their website at http://www.mecca2m.com.

 


Drummer - Mecca2Medina

Mecca 2 Medina - Muslim Hip Hop Group

Download (shift-click) (real audio 17:08min 2.1Mb)

 

 



Greatest Lover Affair of the 21st Century?

Time for a bit of humour, Br. and Sr. Romana introduce the greatest lover affair of the 21st century:

 


If you want to see what these people are laughing at - the video to accompany the sound bite you just heard, please download it below (quicktime movie).

Download "Endless Love" Video (4.5Mb, duration 1min 15sec)

 



In praise of God


A traditional Iranian Tavashih group provides the second musical performance of the evening. Using only their voices, void of any musical instruments, they sing, creating harmonies and melodies, in praise of God.

 

 


Most Islamophobic British Politician of the Year


Sr.Romana Majid announces the nominees

Nominees for ‘Most Islamophobic British Politician of the Year’:

1) Nick Griffen, leader of the racist, anti-Muslim British National Party:

"Muslims are the biggest problem at present, for several reasons, because they have the highest birth rate, which means their communities need living space - that's what the ethnic cleansing is about. They have political corruption in their own countries, and when they have a chance to get council places they are there for graft. Most important of all is that Islam is an aggressive religion."

‘Far right aims to gain foothold in Oldham’,
Jeevan Vasagar, May 30, 2001 The Guardian

 

 

2) David Blunkett, Home Secretary:

"This is not to say, of course, that there isn't a continuing tension between modernity and the cultural practices of some of those entering highly advanced countries . . . In as many as 30% of Asian British households, according to the recent citizenship survey, English is not spoken at home”

‘What does citizenship mean today?’,
The Observer, September 15, 2002

 

"I don’t preach that people should have to accept our culture, but that they understand how best to accommodate theirs to living in this country as equal citizens.”

'Blunkett preaches doctrine of Fortuyn'
The Times, 1 June 2002

 

Further reasons:

  • Two recent raids on mosques (Afghani refugee family and Finsbury Park mosque).
  • New powers under the Asylum, Immigration and Nationality Act 2002 to revoke British citizenship from holders of dual nationality exclusively target Muslims
  • Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 again exclusively target Muslims

 

 

 

3) William Hauge, ex-Conservative Party leader:

"I am a friend and supporter of Israel and believe Israel has a vital role to play in the region … Israel may sometimes do things that we don't approve of in the West, but the whole point of having the State of Israel is that the Jewish people can have self-determination.”

Jewish News, 12th March 1999

 

"They [the US] pursue a ‘one-sided’ policy on Israel because without it the Jews would be driven into the sea”

'The resentments of old Europe'
The Spectator, March 8, 2003

 


4) Andrew Dismore, Labour MP (Hendon) and leading member of the Labour Friends of Israel:

"It is clear that if any British Muslim says he wants to travel to Afghanistan to try to kill British or US soldiers, then that is clearly against the public interest and his passport should be removed”

'Britain placed under state of emergency',
Kamal Ahmed, Antony Barnett and Martin Bright, Sunday November 11, 2001, The Observer

 

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department:

(1) what action he proposes to take to restrict the activities of those involved in recruiting British citizens for paramilitary training (a) in the UK and (b) overseas on behalf of Islamic fundamentalist organisations; and if he will make a statement

[Hansard Parliamentary Notes,7437]
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo011017/text/11017w04.htm

 

"I find it hard to understand why action is not taken against these people, their groups and their material”

"Labour MP demands arrest of 'anti-Semitic' Muslims",
Sean O'Neill, The Daily Telegraph, 05 Feb 2002

 

Further Information:

 

 

 

The winner is:


Most Islamophobic British Politician:
Joint-Winners
Nick Griffen & David Blunkett


BNP member wrapped in England 'football' flag collects the award,
he has a note from Mr Griffen:
"I'm shocked that a man of my integrity should in any way be
linked to a fascist Islamophobe like David Blunkett..."

 

 

Most Islamophobic British Politician of the Year

Download (shift-click) (real audio 11:18min 1.4Mb)

 

 

 



Most Islamophobic International Politician of the Year


Br.Nazir Ali announces the nominees

Nominees for ‘Most Islamophobic International Politician of the Year’:

1) Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister:

"I don’t know something called International Principles. I vow that I’ll burn every Palestinian child (that) will be born in this area. The Palestinian women and child is more dangerous than the man, because the Palestinian child’s existence infers that generations will go on, but the man causes limited danger. I vow that if I was just an Israeli civilian and I met a Palestinian I would burn him and I would make him suffer before killing him. With one hit I've killed 750 Palestinians (in Rafah in 1956). I wanted to encourage my soldiers by raping Arabic girls as the Palestinian woman is a slave for Jews, and we do whatever we want to her and nobody tells us what we shall do but we tell others what they shall do."

In an interview with General Ouze Merham, when questioned about the loss of Zionist soldiers during the massacres of Rafah and Khan Yunis in 1956.*

 

* Whilst this quotation can be found on several reputable sites, we could not independently verify its authenticity. If you know the source please do let us know. It is interesting that those that have questioned its authenticity have not pointed to Sharons genocidal words, which have been verified by his own actions, but rather his use of the term "Palestinian" in 1956 and the lack of further information on General Ouze Merham.

 

2) Vladmir Putin, Russian Prime Minister:

"Islamic Fundamentalism is a danger growing like virus.

You are in danger. They speak about the necessity of killing all kafirs [nonbelievers], all non-Muslims, all 'cross-bearers,' as they call them. If you are a Christian, you are in danger. If you decide to become a Muslim, even this will not save you, because they consider traditional Islam to be hostile to their aims. Even in this case, you are in danger. If you want to become a complete Islamic radical and are ready to undergo circumcision, then I invite you to Moscow. We are a multidenominational country. We have specialists in this question [circumcision]. I will recommend that they carry out the operation in such a way so that afterwards, nothing else will grow.”

'EU/Russia: Is European Silence On Putin Outburst Good Manners Or Good Politics?'
By Jeremy Bransten, Russia Weekly,
14 November 2002

 

 

 

3) Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister:

"Europe must revive on the basis of common Christian roots…”

Berlusconi breaks ranks over Islam,
John Hooper and Kate Connolly in Berlin,
Thursday September 27, 2001, The Guardian

 

"We should be conscious of the superiority of our civilisation, which consists of a value system that has given people widespread prosperity in those countries that embrace it, and guarantees respect for human rights and religion ... This respect certainly does not exist in the Islamic countries … [the West would] continue to conquer peoples", [as it had] "already done with the Communist world, and the moderate Arab states."

'Islam is inferior, says Berlusconi'
by Bruce Johnston
28 November 2001, The Daily Telegraph

 

 

4) Praveen Togadia, leader of the Hindu fundamentalist VHP (World Hindu Council) party:

"Ayodhya excavation establishes the existence of a temple, there is no guarantee that the Muslims will give up their claim. They are not honest”

Vacate Kashi, Mathura lands: VHP to Muslims,
Press Trust of India, March 27 2003

 

"Muslims have also contributed to the youth who are willing to be cannon fodder in the name of jehad … Muslim community has contributed Ghaznavi, Aurangzeb, Jinnah and Imam Bukhari—all symbols of vandalism … Globally, it is Muslims who are fighting everywhere, whether it is against the Christians in Chechnya and Bosnia, against the Jews in Israel or against the Roman Catholics in Philippines. Islam has an exclusive totalitarian system believing in jehad, terming the non-Muslims as kafirs. This intolerance is basically responsible for the Hindu-Muslim problem"

INTERVIEW:: Dr Pravin Togadia
15 Oct 2002, The Milli Gazette

 

 

 

The winner is:


Most Islamophobic International Politician: Winner
Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister



A Palestinian freedom-fighter collects the award
on Ariel Sharons behalf,
"Make sure you give this to Sharon personally"

 

 

Most Islamophobic International Politician of the Year

Download (shift-click) (real audio 5:45min 709Kb)

 

 



Most Islamophobic Media
Personality of the Year


Among the nominees, Polly Toynbee
- Islamophobic columnist of the Guardian newspaper.

Nominees for ‘Most Islamophobic Media Personality’:

1) Melanie Phillips, Daily Mail columnist:

"We have a fifth column in our midst... Thousands of alienated young Muslims, most of them born and bred here but who regard themselves as an army within, are waiting for an opportunity to help to destroy the society that sustains them. We now stare into the abyss, aghast. "

The Sunday Times article ‘Britain ignores the angry Muslims within at its peril’ 4 Nov 2001

 

"Since most of the mass immigration now convulsing Europe is composed of Muslims, it is therefore hardly surprising that anti-immigrant feeling is largely anti-Muslim feeling. The sheer weight of numbers, plus the refusal to assimilate to western values, makes this an unprecedented crisis for western liberalism. The crisis is forcing it to confront the fundamental questions of what constitutes a country, national identity and the very nature of a liberal society."

Spectator Magazine, May 2002

 

 

2) Nicky Campbell, Radio 5 presenter:

"Miss World v Islam: What is more harmful to women - Miss World or Islam?

Title of show, Cambell Phone-in
BBC Radio 5, 25 Nov 2002

 

 

 

3) Robert Kilroy-Silk, BBC presenter and Daily Express columnist:

"they (Muslims) are backward and evil, and if it is being racist to say so then I must be and happy and proud to be so."

The Daily Express
15 Jan 1995

 

 

4) Polly Toynbee, The Guardian columnist:

"The pens sharpen - Islamophobia! No such thing. Primitive Middle Eastern religions (and most others) are much the same - Islam, Christianity and Judaism all define themselves through disgust for women's bodies.”

Behind the burka, Polly Toynbee
September 28, 2001 The Guardian

 

"More moderate versions of the garb - dull, uniform coat to the ground and the plain headscarf - have much the same effect, inspiring lascivious thoughts they are designed to stifle..."

"Religious politics scar India, Kashmir, Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, Sudan ... the list of countries wrecked by religion is long. But the present danger is caused by Islamist theocracy … There is no point in pretending it is not so. Wherever Islam either is the government or bears down upon the government, it imposes harsh regimes that deny the most basic human rights."

Last chance to speak out, Polly Toynbee
October 5, 2001, The Guardian

 

 

 

The winner is


Most Islamophobic Media Personality: Winner
Melanie Phillips, Daily Mail columnist


A lady from the liberated country of Afghanistan collects the award,
"she did want to say something but the Americans wont let her"


 

Most Islamophobic Media Personality of the Year

Download (shift-click) (real audio 5:14min 646Kb)

 

 


Most Islamophobic Media
of the Year

 

Nominees for ‘Most Islamophobic Media’:

1) The Daily Mail:

"Fanatics with a death wish: I was born in Britain but I am a Muslim first"

Headline

 

 

2) The Daily Telegraph:

"Gangsters destroy distilleries in the name of Islamic purity

"Islamic schools where zealots learn to hate West

"London to host Islamic ‘celebration’ of Sept 11”

"Islamic extremists join Battle in Britain

Headlines

 

 

 

3) The Sun:

"We can only hope that the courageous refusal of so many prominent politicians, religious leaders and others to sign the Pledge to British Muslims is a turning-point. Tolerance is a two-way street. As Dave Allen used to sign off - goodnight, and may your God go with you"

The Sun opinion piece

 

 

4) Fox Network News:

"U.S. Islamic Schools Teaching Homegrown Hate”

"Muslims in Netherlands Being Recruited for Suicide Missions"

"Husband Arrested in Killing of Wife and Two In-Laws over Islam Belief"

"Warm Words for Bin Laden as Muslim Fundamentalists Gather in Britain"

Headlines

 

 

The winner is:


Most Islamophobic Media: Winner
Fox Network News


First Asian fox hunter comes to collect the award!

 

 

Most Islamophobic Media of the Year

Download (shift-click) (real audio 4:05min 505Kb)

 

 

 


Sister Muddassar Arani - International Human Rights Lawyer

 


Muddassar Arani, International Human Rights Lawyer

Sr. Muddassar Arani is an international human right lawyer. She is on the advisory board of the Islamic Human Rights Commission and has recently been nominated for an award by Liberty for her human rights work.

"Unfortunately Islamophobia has left its hallmarks in the recent legislation's that have been passed which have been targeted towards the Muslim community.

We had the anti-terrorist act 2000 which came in to force which was primarily going to target the Muslim community. But that was not enough, what happened then was that we had the anti-terrorism crime and security act 2001 that widened the scope - where Muslims that were living in this country but unfortunately did not hold a British passport could be interned indefinitely without evidence, without access to their lawyers, with out even evidence being produced and shown to them or their lawyers and this unfortunately created a Muslim concentration camp, in my opinion, in Balmarsh prison. But Balmarsh isn't the only place a Muslim concentration camp has been created in, we know that there is another Muslim concentration camp in Cuba that exists. How many more concentration camps are they going to build for us Muslims?

But it doesn't stop there, that wasn't enough to satisfy the government. Unfortunately what happened was that we had the new act that came in to force this year. Some people may have heard about this act - this was the immigration, nationality and asylum act 2003. And what does this act do? It attempts to rope in more Muslim people, Muslim people who hold dual nationality. What effects can this have on people who hold dual nationality? It is very important for Muslim people to be aware of this. It can mean that the secretary of state can deprive you of your British citizenship - not because you have done any criminal activity, or wrong doings - because there is a terrorist act [for that] that can catch you - but no, what will happen is those people who haven't done anything wrong can be caught in this, and your British nationality can be taken away.


Sr .Muddassar Arani, International Human Rights Lawyer

But hold on, what were we told? We were told by the press that this act has been passed for one man alone and only one man alone. Who is this man, who is the states enemy number one? I think some people may guess this - its obviously Shaykh Abu Hamza. He has received a letter from the secretary of state to deprive him of his nationality. But then we are falsely lead to believe that he is the only man that this act is going to bite. Please don't be misled by this. Unfortunately this act is going to bite other people - other Muslims who cannot be targeted or detained under the terrorism act - either the terrorism act 2000 or the terrorism act 2001. So this act is going further - beyond that - it wants to take you all in, even if it doesn't have evidence against you.

So you may be sitting their thinking so what? I'll tell you so what - it is very important for you to realise that if you have dual nationality, and if you do not give up your other nationality, if you are vocal - if you exercise your freedom of expression, the secretary will write a simple letter and take away your nationality. You can appeal, if you lose the appeal procedure what will happen to you then? Under the 2001 act you can be detained indefinitely in Belmarsh prison without access to lawyers, with out access to any evidence held against you, without a trial. There are 50 Muslim brothers who are going through this procedure at the moment, but its very important to ensure that other Muslim people are aware of this and this word spreads because we cannot allow this situation to occur.

But the abuse doesn't end there - the list is endless unfortunately. I'm dealing with a case where I dread to think what this man, the father of this child, would have been thinking when he had a live firearm put to his head and he had a ten year old child - his son - in the car with him. Live firearm not just put to my clients head, but his sons. Oh we forgot he's a Muslim so he must be a terrorist! Then the father had to endure the police officers stating to the client - the father - 'we will shoot your son's brains off' and used abusive and filthy language. A Mosque is not a place for me to repeat that abusive and filthy language.


The audience moved by Sr. Muddasir Arani's talk

But it doesn't stop there. The unfortunate sorry saga continues. Another case, another example of the abuse that's taking place. A Muslim couple who have Islamically married, attend a registry office to under go a civil marriage. Nothing extraordinary about that - everybody accepts that internationally, nationally, everywhere its accepted they want to get married they go to the registry office. What happens? The woman is taken in to the room, armed police officers - nine men with real firearms in their possession arrest the lady - the bride to be, handcuffed her and take her away. And the poor groom, I do feel sorry for him, he's left waiting - not even informed where his wife to be has been taken. She gets taken to the police station and what happens then? She's told by the officers 'You cannot get married - you are not allowed to get married'. Is this the kind of law that we are living under? If that isn't an abuse what kind of abuse would one call this? Its an outrage - 'You cannot get married'. Why not? For Gods sake its not a criminal offence to get married. The poor women collapses at the police station. She doesn't know her rights - she doesn't ask for a solicitor to be present to represent her. She is detained for 36 hours in police custody in London. What happens then? Released without charge. She has been through such a trauma - that was supposed to be their happy occasion for them - a time to get married, and yet what happens? It is an abuse that's taking place.

Its very important for us all to understand the abuses that are taking place and the list is endless. I am dealing with so many cases where people don't have anybody else to speak up for them, to fight for them. Its very important for everybody to assist us in this fight, to curtail the abuses that are taking place because if we don't do so nobody else will do so on our behalf. Its very important for us to forget our differences and to unite. If we unite we will be able to do something together. It doesn't matter what religion you are, it doesn't matter what race you are, none of that matters. Its peoples liberties that matter - forget your differences and unite and work together. Its a very hard long struggle, but I wish there were more people out there fighting for these people. Its so sad that I have people coming from Newcastle to see me because they cant get local lawyers to fight for them. Please assist and help us curtail this - thank you."

 

Sr. Muddassar Arani - International Human Rights Lawyer

Download (shift-click) (real audio 10min 1.2Mb)

 

Related Items

Experiences of harassment by the police and security services - a talk by Sr. Muddassar Arani

 

 


Islamophobe of the Year

 

Nominees for ‘Islamophobe of the Year’:

1) George Bush Jnr, President of the USA:

"Over time it's going to be important for nations to know they will be held accountable for inactivity … You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror"

"Bush says it is time for action",
6 Nov 2001, cnn.com

 

 

 

2) Franklin Graham, evangelical preacher:

"This nation has been attacked, we've been attacked by men who claim to worship Allah. We have been attacked by a people, a group, in the name of Islam, and the clerics, the religious leaders of Islam have not denounced it

"Now they recognize Jesus, but they don't recognize his deity. They've even taken excerpts out of the Old Testament and New Testament, and thrown it into the Qur'an, to sprinkle a few Bible verses throughout to give it validity. But the Qur'an is not the word of God. The Holy Bible is God's word

"Franklin Graham on Islam",
Religion and Ethics Newsweekly,
May 16 2003

 

 

 

3) John Ashcroft, U.S Attorney General:

"Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him. Christianity is a faith in which God sends his son to die for you"

Los Angeles Time, February 16 2002

 

 

4) Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Secretary of Defence:

"If you're suggesting, how we would feel about an Iranian-type [Islamic] government [in Iraq] with a few clerics running everything in the country, the answer is: That isn't going to happen”

Rumsfeld says no Iranian-style government for Iraq,
CBC News, 25th April 2003

 

 

 

The winner is:


Islamophobe of the Year: Winner
George Bush Jnr, President of the USA


 

 


 

Fund-raising Auction

To help raise funds an auction was held as part of the evenings events. The lots consisted of jewellery and art. The on-line catalogue showing the lots can still be viewed here.

 


Massoud Shadjareh - Chairman, Islamic Human Rights Commission


Massoud Shadjereh, Chairman of Islamic Human Rights Commission

Massoud Shadjareh rounded the evening by thanking everyone and warned Islamophobes out there that we are watching them. He ended on a positive note by praising a Judo teacher who had the courage to fight Islamophobia.

"It is very important for us to stand up against those Islamophobes and to say that we recognise your hatred of us, we see it and we make mark of it and we will remember, and we are going to expose you from this year on. Every year, inshallah, we will get together and expose those Islamophobes. And let us move forward. Also we need to recognise that in this society not everyone is an Islamophobe. We have got many people from the community at large who have been standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us and helping and supporting our community. As much as we have Islamophobes and xenophobic people that have been recognised and awarded today we have also got nice people. And for that end I need to share with you one individual case this year.

There was a Judo teacher in North London who took a number of his students to France for a competition. One of those students was a young girl with a scarf. When they went for this competition, the French authorities refused to allow that young little girl to enter and do her competition [because he wore a scarf]. And what this teacher and the rest of the team did was that they actually removed themselves from the competition [in protest], every single one of them, and they gave those awards that they had already won back and they said if you are going to treat our colleague in that way we are not going stand with you. I have spoken to that teacher - that teacher is not particularly a friend of Muslims or friends of anyone - that teacher has made that stand because he feels that everyone should be treated equally, and that is something we should praise. To that end we are going to send a letter praising that behaviour. And we should inshallah from this year onwards not only expose islamophobes but also take one individual who has fought Islamophobia and praise them for that."

Massoud Shadjareh - Chairman,
Islamic Human Rights Commission

Download (shift-click) (real audio 4:47min 589Kb)

 

Hijab, Judo and a Stand for Justice

On Sunday, 10 June 2002, about 100 people from four British Judo Clubs attended a ‘friendly’ match alongside several French judo clubs near Paris..

All was proceeding well; children and youth from the British teams had won over 35 medals; everyone was enjoying the day.

Then, a 10-year old competitor on a British team was forbidden from taking part in the match. Why? Because this young girl Zainab wore a Muslim head covering along with her judo uniform. If she would remove the head covering, she would be allowed to play.

Leigh Davies, of the Willesden Judo Club, protested the French ruling, but to no avail. When Leigh called on the British contingent to walk out, all 100 British Participants did so immediately. Without being told to do so, the children and youth who had played and won, began to renounce their medals to the French hosts.

Afterwards I asked children how they felt about walking out of the match, and returning their hard-earned medals. The children referred to how angry they were by the way Zainab had been treated. They kept asking, why would someone be kept from a game just because she follows her religion by wearing a head covering? Many said that they never want to see that kind of people again. Repeatedly, children said they were proud of Zainab for taking a stand for what she believes in.


10 year old Zainab

In turn, I am extremely proud of all the 100 people from the British side, children and adults, who stood beside Zainab. They are of many races and religions, but they are united in their respect for sport and for fair play.

I am Zainab’s Mom:
I humbly request each of you to write to Leigh Davies of Willesden Judo Club, the person that initiated this demonstration of justice.

Even if only in a few words, please take the time out to show gratitude and appreciation.

This brave and forceful stand taken by so many people on behalf of fair play and justice should not pass by, without the acknowledgement it deserves..

Please send an email to Leigh Davies of Willesden Judo Club(the person that initiated this demonstration of justice) : leighdavies@willesdenjudo.freeserve.co.uk

 

 


Press Coverage of Awards

Channel 4 News, 31 May 2003

Download Video Clip of news segment featuring the awards.( real video, 713Kb, 1min 13sec dur)

 

Blunkett hit by 'Islamophobia' claims
Financial Times, 30 May 2003

The home secretary has been voted as Britain's most Islamophobic politician.

Blunkett will share the award with BNP leader Nick Griffin after he gained the most votes in an online poll run by the Islamic Human Rights Commission.

The organisation, which seeks to promote justice "for all peoples regardless of their racial, confessional or political background", will announce the result at "The Annual Islamophobic Awards".


The commission presents the awards as "an unparalleled night of fun and entertainment" which "takes a satirical look at the year's events".

Despite the flippant nature of the award, critics say it demonstrates genuine disquiet amongst the Islamic community about the home secretary's approach.

Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the commission, said the awards should "send a clear message" to the Home Office.

"The Muslim community is watching and listening to what you are saying," he said.

David Blunkett has made no secret of his desire to encourage public discussion on race relations.

Some Muslims feel that Blunkett has gone too far in courting controversy.

In the past he has remarked that ethnic tensions arising from asylum applications are "like a coiled spring".


And he once stated that "ethnic minorities in Britain should adopt British norms of acceptability."

The introduction of new laws to crack down on terrorisism have also been identified as a reason why the home secretary has been nominated for the award.

Plans to strip citizenship from duel passport holders in the event of them acting in a way that is prejudicial to the national interest is felt to be biased against members of the Islamic community.

A Home Office spokesman rubbished claims that the home secretary was in any way Islamophobic.

"To suggest that the home secretary is Islamophobic is ridiculous and offensive," she said.

The home secretary will not attend Saturday's awards ceremony although organisers plan to present a certificate to his department.

 

 


Further Information

Powerpoint Presentation of the Awards, as used on the evening.

 

How to Campaign for Human Rights, an IHRC Student Workshop, 27 Oct 2002

See the highlights from a recent student workshop on how to campaign for justice and human rights - listen to the seminars & learns the skills.

 

9/11 The Hidden Victims, an IHRC Conference, 8 Sept 2002

A conference on the on-going persecution of Muslims in the wake of 9/11 with specific focus on the UK.

Speakers include:

  • Muddassar Arani (human rights lawyer)
  • Sulayman Zain-ul-Abidin (wrongly imprisoned, then released)
  • Yvonne Ridley (journalist)

 

The Islamic Human Rights Commission has members all around the world, all working together to fight for justice and human rights. If you would like to become a member of just find out more about the work IHRC is doing please visit their website or email them.

THIS PAGE URL:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/islamophobia-awards-2003.html