Dear
Friend,
Thank
you as always for your support of One Law for All. As you might know,
sharia is being increasingly discussed in the media quite regularly, including
an undercover report by the BBC’s Panorama programme. We write today to
give a review of that programme, and to tell you a little about our upcoming
plans.
Panorama
This
week’s BBC Panorama programme “Secrets of Britain’s Sharia Councils” confirms why One Law for All has been campaigning against the discriminatory
parallel legal system running counter to British law for nearly five years.
As
has been repeatedly stated, women are being held to ransom, told to remain in
violent situations, blamed for the violence they face, refused divorces over
many years, and placed under undue pressure including with regards child access
and welfare. The programme confirms this.
Whilst
Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Northwest, Nazir Afzal, asserts that “most of
them are absolutely fine but there are some clearly, like this one, who are
putting women at risk”, One Law for All believes that all Sharia Councils and
Muslim Arbitration Tribunals put women at risk. This is because the problem
lies not with rogue councils or judges disrespecting the tenets of Sharia but
is the result of a strict adherence to the Sharia.
Both
the previous Government (which allowed them to evade investigation) and the
current one, which asserts that existing legislation is sufficient to address
this matter have shown nothing but moral cowardice and betrayed a large segment
of British society. It is enough now.
The
British government must put the rights and equality of all citizens over and
above any religious laws and put an end to this human rights scandal once and
for all. You can read the
full text of our press release on the programme here.
We
urge you to continue to exert pressure on the Government. Clearly our message
is getting through. We must keep fighting till we win.
Arbitration
and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill
One
Law for All continues to work with Caroline Cox in the promotion of her
Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill which aims to place criminal
sanctions upon religious councils and tribunals that mislead women. The
Bill will also place a legal obligation on public sector agencies to advise
women (correctly) of their rights under English law, and aims to bring private
tribunals in to line with equality and human rights laws in the UK. The
Bill has received strong support from women's rights organisations as Inspire,
as well as by the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation, the Henna
Foundation, Karma Nirvana and British Muslims for Secular Democracy. Last
year, it passed its second reading in the House of Lords. Whilst the Bill
has stalled due to the Government’s refusal to support it, the Bill will be
re-introduced following the state opening of Parliament in May and we will
update you on its progress. You can read more
here.
Essay
Competition
One
Law for All, in partnership with the Lawyers’ Secular Society, are calling on
students across Europe to submit essays on the use of Sharia family and
criminal law in countries in the EU. The National Secular Society will
provide a cash prise for the winning essay. Submissions should be made by
the end of the summer and details of how to do so will soon appear on our
website.
Songs
for Freedom and Passion for Freedom Festival
One
Law for All is inviting musicians and songwriters to create and submit their
original material for a song competition. Song entries should be focused
on issues that relate to the work ‘One Law for All’ is engaged with, discussing
themes like religion, freedom, secularism, Sharia law, equal rights and
religious arbitration. Details of where to submit entries can be found here. The deadline for entries is 31 December.
One
Law for All’s Passion for Freedom will hold its fifth festival during 2-9
November 2013. Deadline to submit artwork is 20 September 2013. Terms and
conditions can be found here.
Other
Activities
This
year, we will release our report on the support of some on the political Left
for Islamism; “Siding with the Oppressor: the Pro-Islamist Left” will soon be
available. Another report, “Multiculturalism and Child Protection in
Britain: Sharia Law and Other Failures” will be available soon as well.
We
will continue to speak to various organisations and events, including in
Leicester, Washington, DC, Boston, Dublin, Brighton, and New York City. Full details can be
found here. Moreover, we are in
the early stages of arranging debates with proponents of Sharia law. We are
also organising a debate with the English Defence League, where we will expose
their similarities with Islamism and argue our opposition to both – further details
to follow.
Support
us
If
you can, please continue to support us in our essential work. To donate to One
Law for All, send a cheque made payable to One Law for All to BM Box 2387,
London WC1N 3XX, UK or pay via Paypal. You can also commit to giving at least £5-10 a month via direct
debit. You can find out more about how to donate or join the 100 Club here.
Also, if you shop online, please do so via the Easy Fundraising’s
website. It won’t cost you anything
extra but can help raise much needed funds for One Law for All.
Thanks
again for your support. A particular thanks to those who provide monthly
donations, which is much needed. We look forward to continuing to fight for
human rights in the months to come.
Warmest
wishes
Maryam Namazie
Maryam Namazie
Anne Marie Waters
Spokespersons
One
Law for All
BM
Box2387, London WC1N 3XX, UK
tel:
+44 (0) 7719166731
email:
onelawforall@gmail.com
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