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SearchToday in Islamophobia: India threatens to deport Rohingya Muslim refugees to military-ruled Myanmar. Legal report on Uighurs says China is breaching every article in genocide convention. Our recommended read today is by Bilal Kuchay on 127 Indian Muslims charged with “terror” who have been acquitted after 19 years. This, and more, below:
India
127 Indian Muslims charged with ‘terror’ acquitted after 19 years
On the night of December 26, 2001, Mohammad Abdul Hai boarded a train from Jodhpur in northwestern India’s Rajasthan state to Surat city in neighbouring Gujarat to attend a three-day seminar on Muslim education. The seminar was organised by the All India Minority Education Board, of which Hai – then an associate professor at Jodhpur’s Jai Narain Vyas University – was a member. The three-day event was expected to be attended by nearly 400 Muslim scholars, activists and community leaders from across India. read the complete article
India to deport Rohingya Muslim refugees to military-ruled Myanmar
Mohammad Ibrahim, a Rohingya living in Jammu, told Al Jazeera police had instructed community leaders to send groups of refugees to a nearby sports stadium where they would be given Covid-19 tests. More than 300 people gathered in the stadium, where they were vaccinated for the disease and given biometric scans after showing their identity documents from the UN refugee agency. "The gates of the stadium were shut and no one was allowed to leave," Ibrahim said. "In the afternoon, officials announced the names of some refugees and asked them to separate from the rest. Then they were whisked away in buses." Police raided camps in the area over the weekend and detained more refugees. read the complete article
China
City of lost mosques: how Suzhou tells the story of China’s Islamic past
Before the Panthay and Tungan rebellions in the second half of the 19th century in western China, when millions of Muslims were killed or relocated, Islam was considered by Christian missionaries in the country – and particularly by Russian scholars – as a growing threat. Islam was considered by many in the west to have the potential to become the national religion in China – which would have made China the biggest Islamic country in the world. read the complete article
Beijing denies Uyghur genocide claims. Hear report's author react
CNN's Becky Anderson speaks with Yonah Diamond, who worked with more than 50 global experts in human rights, war crimes and international law on an independent report which claims that the Chinese government's alleged actions in Xinjiang have violated every single provision in the United Nations' Genocide Convention. read the complete article
China breaching every article in genocide convention, says legal report on Uighurs
In Beijing on Monday, China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, told reporters that claims of genocide in Xinjiang “could not be more preposterous”. “It is a rumour fabricated with ulterior motives and a total lie,” Wang said. Under the UN convention, signed by 152 countries including China, a finding of genocide can be made if a party violates any one of five defined acts. Tuesday’s report by the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy found that the CCP had violated all of them and accused the party of clearly demonstrating an “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”. “The intent to destroy the Uighurs as a group is derived from objective proof, consisting of comprehensive state policy and practice, which President Xi Jinping, the highest authority in China, set in motion,” the report said. read the complete article
United States
ACLU STATEMENT ON BIDEN’S REFUSAL TO ADDRESS DIVERSITY VISAS
According to Manar Waheed, senior legislative and advocacy counsel: “While President Biden is right to call the Muslim ban ‘a stain on our national conscience,’ he has failed to help so many of those harmed by it. The opportunity to ‘win’ a diversity visa is a rare and life-changing opportunity that was snatched away from thousands of people because of President Trump’s hatred and discrimination. Instead of restoring this opportunity, President Biden just dusted off Trump’s ‘CLOSED’ sign and locked the door behind him. This decision threatens to forever prevent thousands of Black and Brown immigrants who meet all of the legal requirements to immigrate to the United States from doing so, perpetuating the effects of the discriminatory ban. Although Biden made the Muslim ban recession a day one priority, that alone is not enough. Today, he cemented Trump’s legacy of harm.” read the complete article
Muslim Casting Agency Sets Out to Authenticate Representation in the Film Industry
While there are many Muslims active in Hollywood from Mahershala Ali to Riz Ahmed, who is drawing awards buzz for his role in “Sound of Metal,” Serena Rasoul thought they were among the few. Rasoul has launched Muslim American Casting and is building a database of Muslim and Southwest Asian/North African talent. “We can make a bigger impact if we’re united,” Rasoul said. “I started this casting agency to go beyond advocacy and into action. Instead of being on the outside knocking, we can be on the inside talking. No more stories about us, without us.” read the complete article
US says visa applicants denied by Trump 'Muslim ban' can reapply
Most US visa applicants who were denied because of former President Donald Trump's travel ban on 13 mostly Muslim-majority and African countries can now seek new decisions or submit new applications, the State Department has said. The department said on Monday that those who received a final refusal on their visa application on or after 20 January 2020 "could seek re-adjudication without resubmitting their application forms or paying any additional fees, provided the underlying visa petitions remain valid". read the complete article
Switzerland
UN rights office laments Swiss ban on Muslim face-coverings
In a referendum on Sunday, Swiss voters narrowly approved a measure to ban the wearing of full-face-covering burqas and niqabs, which have slits for the eyes, in addition to ski masks and bandannas worn by some protesters. The move will outlaw covering one’s face in public places, with some exceptions — including for health reasons like wearing masks to help prevent the spread COVID-19. Authorities now have two years to draw up detailed legislation. read the complete article