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SearchToday in Islamophobia: New York Times names Nike, Coca-Cola, and Apple as reportedly lobbying to weaken a bill aimed at preventing them from manufacturing products in China using forced Uighur labor. In the U.S, a Michigan Representative is targeted by anti-Muslim attacks after county election meetings. Our recommended read today is by Andrew Bell, Thomas Gift, and Charles Miller on the Australian military, and how soldiers committed atrocities against civilians in Afghanistan. This, and more, below:
Australia
CW: Torture | Australia discovered that its special forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan
From 2005 to 2016, members of the Australian special forces killed 39 Afghan noncombatants — killings perpetrated not in the “fog of war” but against defenseless civilians and detainees. That’s the key finding from a 531-page report released in November by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), an inquiry that has rattled not only Australia but also human rights advocates and onlookers around the world. read the complete article
United Kingdom
Redbridge Labour party investigating rogue ‘Islamophobic’ comment from official Twitter account
The Redbridge Labour party is investigating a rogue “offensive” and “Islamophobic” tweet that was sent out from its official account criticising Jeremy Corbyn’s support for Palestine. On Sunday, November 29 the former Labour leader and MP for Islington North tweeted out the message “Solidarity with the Palestinian People #PalestineDay”. Soon after the Redbridge Labour account replied to the tweet: “Your solidarity is not for them, it’s simply anti Jewish. Of all the conflicts in the world the one that is the least harmful and where one side, Israel, has never instigated war or attacks. Antisemitism is rife thanks to you.” Council leader Jas Athwal said as soon as he was made aware of the tweet he had it deleted, with a full retraction published and issued a public apology himself. read the complete article
Keir Starmer urged to return donations from 'Islamophobic' property developer
Muslim communal groups and a Labour NEC member challenged Starmer to take action over the “abhorrent and Islamophobic” posts by David Abrahams, a businessman and philanthropist. Abrahams is the latest Blair-era donor drawn back to Labour by Starmer. He confirmed last month that he had set up a direct debit to the Labour party, having ceased donations in 2016. read the complete article
International
Nike, Coca-Cola, and Apple reportedly lobbied to weaken a bill aimed at preventing them from manufacturing products in China using forced Uighur labor
Nike, Coca-Cola, and Apple were among the companies that lobbied to weaken a bill aimed at banning US firms from relying on Chinese forced labor, The New York Times reported Sunday. HSBC, American Apparel, and several industry groups also lobbied on the bill, which would ban many goods imported from Xinjiang unless companies prove they weren't made with forced labor. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, as it's called, passed the House in September by a 406-3 margin, and according to The New York Times, has the support needed to pass the Senate. Various reports have linked Nike, Coca-Cola, Apple, and other major US companies to suppliers in the region, where China has been accused of detaining and violating the rights of as many as one million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities. read the complete article
What Pope Francis’ friendship with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar means for Muslim-Christian relations
The English-born cardinal, 83, is a leading expert on Islam and Christian-Muslim relations and a member of the society of the Missionaries of Africa—popularly known as the White Fathers. He discussed the encyclical and the Human Fraternity document with America at the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies in Rome, where he was once rector. After that assignment, he was called by John Paul II to work at the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, first as secretary and then as prefect for four years until Benedict XVI, in an unexpected move, assigned him as nuncio to Egypt and delegate to the Arab League (2006-2012). Pope Francis made him cardinal in 2019 and told journalists he did so “as an act of justice.” read the complete article
Daily Mail gave NHS masks linked to Chinese Uighur factory
A charity set up by the Daily Mail to buy protective equipment for NHS staff donated 100,000 face masks suspected of being made by workers in a controversial Chinese labour programme. The masks were flown in from China by the paper's Mail Force campaign, which was launched in April to buy PPE. They were bought from Medwell Medical Products, a firm suspected of using Uighur Muslims in the labour scheme. read the complete article
United States
Michigan Rep. Victim Of Anti-Muslim Attacks After County Election Meetings
Two Detroiters say they've been doxxed and threatened since the contentious Wayne County Board of Canvassers meeting to certify local elections. Board chairperson Monica Palmer and member William Hartmann have been vocal about the harassment they faced, yet state Rep. Abraham Aiyash, D-Detroit, and Ned Staebler, a Wayne State vice president, say they also found themselves at the center of a vicious online attack. read the complete article