Subject: [email protected] AI statement against Islamaphobia, racism and
anti-semitism
Date: Wed, 22 May 2002

dear friends

the following advert paid for by Amnesty International will appear in the
Jewish Chronicle and Al-Quds newspaper next week.

The advert highlights the rise in Islamaphobia, raciam and anti-semitism
across Europe. We are looking for people to agree to sign it, their
signatures will appear as part of the advert.

the deadline for signatures is Monday 27th May at 5pm.

They can send them to [email protected] or ring on 0207 417 6375

Could you please sign and circulate the appeal to your own lists

cheers

asad

UNITED AGAINST RACISM, ISLAMAPHOBIA AND ANTI-SEMITISM

As members of all communities including Jews and Muslims we are gravely
concerned at the sharp increase in racism, Islamaphobia and anti-semitism
across Europe.

We note with concern the recent electoral success of Fascist and
'anti-immigrant' parties in France, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Holland,
Denmark and Norway, as well as the British National Party in the UK.
Mainstream politicians across Europe are also increasingly adopting the
agenda of the far-right by demonising refugee and asylum communities so
legitimising racism and xenophobia.

In Europe there are now attempts to use the current conflict in the Middle
East to legitimise anti-semitism. Synagogues, Jewish cemeteries and other
Jewish property as well as members of the Jewish community have become
targets for hostility, hatred and attacks. In France the Synagogue in
Marseilles was burned to the ground, whilst the ones in Brussels and Antwerp
in Belgium were also firebombed. In the UK an attack on a synagogue saw a
swastika scrawled on the lectern, whilst in other attacks members of
orthodox or Hasidic Jewish communities have been hospitalised. In Germany a
young Jewish woman was attacked simply for wearing a Star of David pendant.

Since September 11th Muslim communities in particular have become the focus
for vilification with a huge increase in racist violence and attacks.
Mosques and other Muslim property as well as members of the Muslim and Arab
communities have increasingly become the targets of hostility, hatred and
attacks. In Brussels recently, a Moroccan immigrant couple were shot dead
and two of their children wounded in a racist attack. Mosques and Islamic
schools have been firebombed in the UK, Poland, Denmark, Ireland and
Holland. Whilst in the UK a young Muslim woman was attacked for wearing a
Muslim headscarf.

We call on all governments not to let the far-right set the agenda and to
redouble their efforts to combat racism in all its forms and to bring to
justice the perpetrators of hate crimes.

We also reiterate our determination to stand united as one community in the
struggle to combat racism Islamaphobia and anti-semitism wherever it occurs.

Asad Rehman
Ethnic Minority & Religious Affairs Office
Outreach Team
Campaigns Dept
Amnesty International UK

99 Rosebery Avenue
London
EC1R 4RE

0207 417 6375 tel
0207 713 0190 fax
07930 869895 mobile