Category Archives: diversity
AOBM condemns Anti-Gay stickers posted in East London
The Association of British Muslims condemns the anti-gay stickers posted in several locations in East London.
There is nothing in the Qur’an against LGBT people. Allah has honoured every son/daughter of Adam, so such a hateful message is not only morally and ethically wrong but actually unislamic.
“NOW, INDEED, We have conferred dignity on the children of Adam, and borne them over land and sea, and provided for them sustenance out of the good things of life, and favoured them far above most of Our creation” Holy Quran 17:70 (M. Asad)
We call upon the police to open an immediate investigation into who put these stickers up in an attempt to spread hatred.
Islam means peace and can and did throughout history embrace and respect diversity.
Such incidents highlight the urgent need of community based education for diversity in Muslim communities across the U.K. and promoting real Islam, that respects and accepts the rights of every human being. We call upon the British government to immediately address this issue.
Paul Salahuddin Armstrong, Co-Director of the Association of British Muslims
Mohammed Abbasi, Co-Director of the Association of British Muslims
Dan Littauer, Human Rights and Press Director of the Association of British Muslims
press@aobm.org
Untold Stories : Holocaust Memorial Day 2011
It’s Going to Rain
Valdemar Kalinin
It’s about to rain, getting darker,
The leaves have long fallen from the trees,
Leaving desolation where just an old man
Roams,
Picking handfuls of earth where Roma
Perished.
During this war Nazis shot them dead,
Roma seized and put in wagons, oh
Filled with children and the Roma old,
No mercy shown to a single soul.
Buried here auntie, grandpa, grannie,
But God spared a small one,
Who visits to imagine,
The perished wait for him.
No monument stands,
Except in the minds of the old,
Woods and land bore witness,
This older man declares:
Roma are buried here, don’t disturb this land!
There Is a Last Solitary Coach
David Vogel
There is a last, solitary coach about to leave.
Let us get in and go,
For it won’t wait.
I have seen young girls going softly
With sad faces
That looked ashamed and sorry
Like purple sunsets,
And chubby, pink children
Who went simply
Because they were called.
And I’ve seen men
Who stepped proud and straight through the world’s streets,
Whose large eyes went ranging
Far and wide,
They too got in calmly
And left.
And we are the last.
Day is declining.
The last, solitary coach is about to leave.
Let us too get in quietly
And go,
For it won’t wait.
First They Came
Pastor Martin Niemoller
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialist
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Statement of Commitment
HMD has taken place in the UK since 2001. It was established at a meeting on 27 January 2000, when representatives from forty-four governments around the world met in Stockholm to discuss Holocaust education, remembrance and research. At the conclusion of the forum, the delegates unanimously signed a declaration. This forms the HMD Statement of Commitment which is used a basis for HMD events in the UK and Internationally.
- we recognise that the Holocaust shook the foundations of modern civilisation. Its unprecedented character and horror will always hold universal meaning
- we believe the Holocaust must have a permanent place in our nation’s collective memory. We honour the survivors still with us, and reaffirm our shared goals of mutual understanding and justice
- we must make sure that future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its consequences. We vow to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and of all genocides
- we value the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives to protect or rescue victims, as a touchstone of the human capacity for good in the face of evil
- we recognise that humanity is still scarred by the belief that race, religion, disability or sexuality make some people’s lives worth less than others’. Genocide, anti-semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination still continue. We have a shared responsibility to fight these evils
- we pledge to strengthen our efforts to promote education and research about the Holocaust and other genocides. We will do our utmost to make sure that the lessons of such events are fully learnt
- we will continue to encourage Holocaust remembrance by holding an annual UK Holocaust Memorial Day. We condemn the evils of prejudice, discrimination and racism. We value a free, respectful, and democratic society
Many organisers have incorporated the Statement of Commitment into their remembrance events, reminding everyone why we commemorate HMD. It may be appropriate at your event to ask different community representatives to each read a clause of the Statement of Commitment as a symbol of joining together to fight all forms of discrimination.
In order to increase understanding of the purpose of HMD and the principles which guide commemorations of HMD amongst diverse communities and new migrants to the UK the Statement of Commitment has been translated into a variety of languages.
Introducing Abdullah Hamzah, AOBM’s Culture Director
Abdullah Hamzah, Culture Director at the Association of British Muslims, aka “Celt Islam” introduces himself ahead of his group’s debut at Glastonbury on the BBC Introducing stage.
A clip from Rachel Davies’s documentary about three unsigned acts playing Glastonbury for the first time.What does playing Glastonbury mean to them and how will they fare? With special guest appearances from Corinne Bailey Rae, Mumford & Sons, Plan B and Laura Marling, and featuring headline performances from Gorrillaz and Muse.
Credits:
Director: Rachel Davies
Producer: Rachel Davies
Please check out Abdullah’s websites for more info…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2010/artists/celtislam/
Response to the UN’s Decision to Remove Sexual Orientation from the Resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions
Association of British Muslims calls on the UN General Assembly to reverse its vote on the exclusion of sexual orientation from the Resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions
On 16th November 2010, the United Nations’ General Assembly’s Third Committee voted to amend a previous resolution of the General Assembly that had outlawed extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
This resolution is reviewed every two years, and in 2008 it had been amended to mention specifically those killings that take place because of the sexual orientation of the victims. The 16th November vote removed that special mention.
The Association of British Muslims views this decision with considerable concern. It is the duty of the UN’s Human Rights Committee to uphold the rule of law, so it should vigorously oppose any extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions by whatever party and for whatever reasons.
It should also act to preserve the human rights of all vulnerable communities.
Removing this clause at this time will send quite the wrong signal to those regimes that indulge in these barbaric practices, implying as it does that United Nations is no longer concerned at the maltreatment of people because of their sexual orientation or considers it to be a lesser matter.
Referring to the Nazis, Paster Martin Niemoller once wrote, ‘First they came…’. Have we not learned anything since the tragedies of World War 2? Niemoller started out by saying, ‘First they came for the communist’s, and I did not speak out, because I was not a communist’ Then, the socialists, trade unionists, Jews and other groups until finally he writes, ‘Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me’.
The Committee vote is to be ratified in December. The Association of British Muslims calls on member states of the General Assembly not to endorse the decision of its Third Committee, and to reinstate the deleted clause.”
Dan Littauer, Human Rights and Press Relations Director of AOBM
Mohammed Abbasi, Strategy Director of AOBM
Paul S. Armstrong, Director for Interfaith and Interpolitical Dialogue of AOBM
Adeel Rahman, Education Coordinator of AOBM
Contact: press@aobm.org
BBC Panorama – British Schools, Islamic Rules: AOBM’s response
The BBC Panorama programme, titled “British Schools, Islamic Rules”, screened on the night of 22nd of November uncovered “disturbing evidence that some Muslim children are being exposed to extremist preachers and fundamentalist Islamic groups.” In addition it documented “part-time schools where hate is on the curriculum.” In these schools pupils are being taught through Saudi National Curriculum text books that some Jews are transformed into pigs and apes and that the gays and lesbians should be killed. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w8kwz
Shaykh David Rosser Owen, Amir/President of AOBM (the oldest community organisation of the Muslims of the British Isles) responded to the findings of the BBC Panorama documentary by stating:
“There is no place for hate and intolerance towards any group whatsoever in any British school curriculum, rather the contrary.
Islamic scholars from all schools of thought have repeatedly called for schools serving the Muslim communities in the United Kingdom to be British schools teaching a British curriculum within an agreed Muslim ethos. Such schools must educate pupils to be part of, understand, value and respect the diversity and complexity of British contemporary society.
The Panorama programme highlighted the need for a proper agreed curriculum for all schools, and proper and rigorous oversight by those public bodies charged with that trust. In the absence of these, clearly unsuitable material that does not fit within British traditions will find its way into our educational system that may affect positive contribution of individuals to their community and to society at large.
It also highlighted the inherent dangers to communities of segregation from the mainstream or host environment, which is unIslamic, and the need to break down self-imposed and reinforced barriers to interaction. Within such ghettoes extremism finds a fertile breeding ground.”
Dan Littauer, Human Rights and Press Relations Director of AOBM
Mohammed Abbasi, Strategy Director of AOBM
Paul S. Armstrong, Director for Interfaith and Interpolitical Dialogue of AOBM
Adeel Rahman, Education Coordinator of AOBMContact: press@aobm.org