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SearchToday in Islamophobia: Twenty-five NGO groups from 11 countries call on European Commission to take “immediate action against France for its state-sponsored Islamophobia, and for imposing the discriminatory and human rights-violating imam charter”. Switzerland bans Muslims from wearing a niqab or burqa in public. First independent report into Xinjiang genocide allegations claims evidence of Beijing’s ‘intent to destroy’ Uyghur people. Our recommended read today is by Hannah Ellis-Petersen on Rohingya refugees in India, who are being threatened by the government with deportation back to Myanmar. This, and more, below:
India
India detains Rohingya refugees and threatens to deport them to Myanmar | Recommended Read
About 170 Rohingya refugees living in India have been rounded up into detention centres and told they will be forcibly deported back to Myanmar where they had previously fled genocidal human rights abuses. The mass detentions, which began in the city of Jammu in Kashmir over the weekend, are part of a wider nationwide crackdown against Rohingya Muslims, who number about 40,000 in India. Many hold registered United Nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) refugee ID cards, which are supposed to offer protection from arbitrary detention. read the complete article
Sidhique Kappan: Jailed and 'tortured' for trying to report a rape
In the police lockup that night - according to an account he gave his family and lawyer - Mr Kappan was "dragged and beaten with sticks on thighs, slapped on face, forced to stay awake from 6pm to 6am on the pretext of questioning and subjected to serious mental torture". A diabetic, he was also denied his medication, he said. read the complete article
United States
Rutgers University Stands By Audrey Truschke After Online Attacks, Statement from Hindu Group
Rutgers University in Newark, US has issued a statement expressing support for Audrey Trucshke, who teaches South Asian history there, after people from the Hindu right-wing wrote an open letter to the varsity “expressing concerns” over the views she expressed on Twitter. In addition to this open letter that was reportedly signed by more than 5,000 people, the historian was subjected to a vicious online campaign and a number of violent threats. read the complete article
Audio: Anti-Muslim Activist Laura Loomer Backed Idea of ‘White Ethnostate’ in 2017 Podcast
Appearing on far-right show Nationalist Public Radio, Loomer stated, “Like, I’m a Jew, and I’m pro-Israel, and I would be a hypocrite if I were to say that I was against ethnonationalism because Israel is an ethnostate. And it’s a great country. It’s a great place. I totally support ethnonationalism. Someone asked me ‘Are you pro-white nationalism?’ Yes. I’m pro-white nationalism.” She then attempted to explain the difference between white nationalism and white supremacy, insisting that “liberals” and “left-wing globalist Marxist Jews” purposely conflated the two. She also leaned heavily on her shopworn Muslim-hating shtick, saying, “I’m totally against Muslims and Jews mixing. I’m totally against it. I don’t support it. I do not think Muslims and Jews should marry. I don’t think they should reproduce with each other. I’m totally against it.” read the complete article
US visa applicants denied under Trump ‘Muslim ban’ can reapply
People who were denied entry to the United States because of former President Donald Trump’s travel ban on 13 mostly Muslim-majority and African countries can seek new decisions or submit new applications, the US Department of State has said. Ned Price, a spokesman for the US Department of State, said on Monday that applicants who were refused visas prior to January 20, 2020, must submit new applications and pay a new application fee. read the complete article
Switzerland
Switzerland is banning Muslims from wearing a niqab or burqa in public
A country known widely for its neutrality, Switzerland is putting itself in the crosshairs of debate around freedoms of religion and expression by banning women from wearing the burqa or niqab in public spaces. By a narrow margin, Swiss voters elected to ban people from covering their face completely on the street, in shops and restaurants, exempting coverings for health and safety reasons as many across the world continue to wear face coverings to protect themselves against COVID-19. Switzerland did not mandate wearing face coverings until much later than other European countries. read the complete article
France
France: European Commission urged to investigate Paris over 'imam charter'
Twenty-five NGO groups in 11 countries - including Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Switzerland - called on von der Leyen to take “immediate action against France for its state-sponsored Islamophobia, and for imposing the discriminatory and human rights-violating imam charter”. In January, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) adopted the imam charter, which sets out a framework for Muslim faith leaders to be certified as compliant with an “Islam of France”, at the behest of France’s President Emmanuel Macron. read the complete article
International
2022 Winter Olympics without the USA? Push to boycott grows over China's alleged human rights abuses
Human rights groups and some Republicans in Congress say a U.S.-led boycott would send a forceful signal to China, as well as other authoritarian countries, about America's commitment to democratic freedoms and President Joe Biden's willingness to confront Beijing over what his own advisers have called "genocide." Others say the U.S. should not boycott the Olympics but want Biden to use America's clout to prod the International Olympic Committee to move the Games from China to another host country. read the complete article
China
First independent report into Xinjiang genocide allegations claims evidence of Beijing's 'intent to destroy' Uyghur people
The Chinese government's alleged actions in Xinjiang have violated every single provision in the United Nations' Genocide Convention, according to an independent report by more than 50 global experts in human rights, war crimes and international law. The report, released Tuesday by the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy think tank in Washington DC, claimed the Chinese government "bears state responsibility for an ongoing genocide against the Uyghur in breach of the (UN) Genocide Convention." It is the first time a non-governmental organization has undertaken an independent legal analysis of the accusations of genocide in Xinjiang, including what responsibility Beijing may bear for the alleged crimes. An advance copy of the report was seen exclusively by CNN. read the complete article