Anti-racism activists have condemned plans to hold a "pork sausage and wine" party in a multi-ethnic Paris district to protest against what the organisers call the area's "Islamisation".
SOS Racisme called for the event scheduled for Friday in the Goutte d'Or area of north Paris to be banned because it sent out a "message of hate and of violence towards groups of people because of their real or supposed origins".
The opposition Communist Party said in a statement that "this disgusting joke seeks to exacerbate the differences that make for the richness of the 18th arrondissement (district)".
Sylvie Francois, a local resident, told French radio that she set up a Facebook page for the event to fight against what she saw as the increasing "Islamisation" of her area.
The project has been publicised on internet social networking sites by a small far-Right group that calls itself the Bloc Identitaire.
Paris police said they will meet with the event's organisers on Tuesday to consider their official request for permission to hold the event.
The Telegraph
Thursday, 17 June 2010
NAVAPOLATSK AUTHORITIES WANT TO PRESENT HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AS NEO-NAZI (Belarus)
In Navapolatsk police investigates a criminal case related to neo-Nazi writings which had emerged in the city. In the framework of the investigation they hold searches at the places of human rights activists. They lodge complaints to the prosecutor’s office, but are sent strange letters in response. A human rights activist Dzmitry Salauyou calls the answer from the prosecutor’s office of Navapolatsk in reply to his complaint ‘a provocation’. The answer is signed by the city prosecutor A. Ausyuk. Dzmitry Salauyou has filed a complaint against actions of policemen who searched the flat belonging to him in the framework of the criminal case under Article 341 of the Criminal Code (related to fascist writings which appeared in Navapolatsk), “Belarusian partisan” informs. The human rights activist attracts attention to the facts that were set forth in the answer of the city prosecutor. These facts do not reflect reality. “A number of persons have been interrogated in this case, and one of them testified that about two years ago he met guys who offered him to become a member of the Young Front organisation. The headquarters of the organization were situated in Alimpiyskaya Street, 2 in Navapolatsk, on the ground floor, left to the entrance, and it was a room with several tables, a computer, books, flags of different states… In autumn 2009, on the request of those young people, he painted a swastika on the wall of the headquarters in the street…”
Dzmitry Salauyou stated that since 2003, when he received that office, the Young Front organization had never been there:
“Young people really gather here, but there have never been the Young Front there. Activists often visit the office, Moladz BPF for instance, and others who are engaged in cultural studies and activities”. The human rights activist is sure that it is a provocation. “It is a total lie. They are not searching the neo-Nazis who had painted the swastika in the city. I received denials three times; I was written that there is no criminal offence in the actions of these people. And now they are simply trying to frame-up a case, and the reasons for that are unknown for me. It is inexplicable in general, why the prosecution bodies and police do not catch these neo-Nazis, but create problems for other people. They are trying to daub us with mud and put a certain label to us,” Salauyou stressed. The human rights activist prepares a new complaint to the prosecutor’s office.
charter 97
Dzmitry Salauyou stated that since 2003, when he received that office, the Young Front organization had never been there:
“Young people really gather here, but there have never been the Young Front there. Activists often visit the office, Moladz BPF for instance, and others who are engaged in cultural studies and activities”. The human rights activist is sure that it is a provocation. “It is a total lie. They are not searching the neo-Nazis who had painted the swastika in the city. I received denials three times; I was written that there is no criminal offence in the actions of these people. And now they are simply trying to frame-up a case, and the reasons for that are unknown for me. It is inexplicable in general, why the prosecution bodies and police do not catch these neo-Nazis, but create problems for other people. They are trying to daub us with mud and put a certain label to us,” Salauyou stressed. The human rights activist prepares a new complaint to the prosecutor’s office.
charter 97
POLAND STRUGGLING TO STAMP OUT RACISM, REPORT WARNS
Racial discrimination and anti-Semitism remain a problem in Poland despite efforts to stamp them out, the Council of Europe's anti-racism agency warned Tuesday. "Discriminatory attitudes persist in many fields, including employment, housing and law enforcement," the European Commission against Racism and Intolerence (ECRI) said in a broadly critical report. Anti-Semitism remains a problem, the report said, and "a particularly worrying aspect is its tacit acceptance by an influential media group belonging to a Catholic organisation and sometimes even by mainstream political parties." The agency noted with concern the continuing belief in a Jewish conspiracy, which it said was linked to the current difficult economic situation. Anti-Semitic publications are still sold openly in kiosks in Warsaw and other cities, the report found. But the report acknowledged that "most people agree that today Poland has become again an important centre of Jewish culture to be enjoyed by its citizens, residents and visitors. ECRI considers this to be a positive development and encourages the authorities in their efforts in this direction."
Some football fans in Poland, which is a co-host of the European Championships in 2012 along with Ukraine, exhibit racist behaviour, while numerous websites and publications encouraged ethnic and religious hatred. "The activities of certain extreme right-wing organisations continue unabated. There have been instances of racist violencem," the ECRI said. The ECRI said the situation for Poland's Roma community "still leaves a lot to be desired". "The very low rate of attendance of compulsory-schooling facilities by Roma children is very disturbing," said the agency, which urged the seperate schooling of Roma children to be gradually abolished. Furthermore, support for the Roma community is not carried out with equal enthusiasm across the country, and Poland "should have an independent specialised body for combatting racism and racial discrimination." In its conclusions and recommendations, the agency said authorities should continue efforts to prosecute all racially motivated offences, including those committed on the Internet.
"The courts should recognise that public incitement to racial hatred may take different forms. Evidence that would warrant the disbanding of groups promoting racism should be actively collected," the report said. In addition, the report said the role of the Catholic Church in the fight against racism needed to be questioned as it is a major opinion leader. "A large-scale campaign for tolerance should be addressed to society at large," the agency said.
AFP
Some football fans in Poland, which is a co-host of the European Championships in 2012 along with Ukraine, exhibit racist behaviour, while numerous websites and publications encouraged ethnic and religious hatred. "The activities of certain extreme right-wing organisations continue unabated. There have been instances of racist violencem," the ECRI said. The ECRI said the situation for Poland's Roma community "still leaves a lot to be desired". "The very low rate of attendance of compulsory-schooling facilities by Roma children is very disturbing," said the agency, which urged the seperate schooling of Roma children to be gradually abolished. Furthermore, support for the Roma community is not carried out with equal enthusiasm across the country, and Poland "should have an independent specialised body for combatting racism and racial discrimination." In its conclusions and recommendations, the agency said authorities should continue efforts to prosecute all racially motivated offences, including those committed on the Internet.
"The courts should recognise that public incitement to racial hatred may take different forms. Evidence that would warrant the disbanding of groups promoting racism should be actively collected," the report said. In addition, the report said the role of the Catholic Church in the fight against racism needed to be questioned as it is a major opinion leader. "A large-scale campaign for tolerance should be addressed to society at large," the agency said.
AFP
MUSLIM STATES SEEK U.N. ACTION ON WEST'S 'ISLAMOPHOBIA'
Muslim states said Wednesday that what they call "islamophobia" is sweeping the West and its media and demanded that the United Nations take tougher action against it. Delegates from Islamic countries, including Pakistan and Egypt, told the United Nations Human Rights Council that treatment of Muslims in Western countries amounted to racism and discrimination and must be fought. "People of Arab origin face new forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance and experience discrimination and marginalisation," an Egyptian delegate said, according to a U.N. summary. And Pakistan, speaking for the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said the council's special investigator into religious freedom should look into such racism "especially in Western societies." Acting for the OIC, Pakistan has tabled a resolution at the council instructing its special investigator on religious freedom "to work closely with mass media organizations to ensure that they create and promote an atmosphere of respect and tolerance for religious and cultural diversity." The OIC -- and its allies in the 47-nation council including Russia, China and Cuba -- dub criticism of Muslim practices and linking of terrorism waged under the proclaimed banner of Islamism as "islamophobia" that pillories all Muslims.
Bound to pass
Diplomats say the resolution, which also tells the investigator to make recommendations to the Human Rights Council on how its strictures might be implemented, is bound to pass given the majority the OIC and its allies have in the body. The countries of the majority group, which also include India and Brazil, ensure that its members and their friends outside the council -- such as Sri Lanka and Iran -- are shielded from any serious criticism of their rights record. The group ensures that council fire is largely aimed at Israel over its occupation of Palestinian territories and treatment of people living there as well as on the Israeli blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza. Tuesday, after hours of wrangling, the group allowed a statement to be read to the council by Norway on behalf of 56 U.N. member states strongly criticising Iran for its treatment of dissenters. But although the statement was hailed by U.S. ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe as a victory for the Iranian people, diplomats noted that only just over a quarter of U.N. member states had backed it, of them only 14 countries in the council. Human rights activists who are allowed to speak at the body if their organizations are accredited by the United Nations said the statement -- drafted largely by the United States -- was the best available substitute for a formal resolution. "The Western group knows it could never get such a resolution passed in this council, and this is the only way they have of fighting back," said Roy Brown, long-time chief representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. Brown said the loophole was likely to be closed in a coming review of the council's activity since it was launched in 2006 to replace a discredited predecessor.
Reuters
Bound to pass
Diplomats say the resolution, which also tells the investigator to make recommendations to the Human Rights Council on how its strictures might be implemented, is bound to pass given the majority the OIC and its allies have in the body. The countries of the majority group, which also include India and Brazil, ensure that its members and their friends outside the council -- such as Sri Lanka and Iran -- are shielded from any serious criticism of their rights record. The group ensures that council fire is largely aimed at Israel over its occupation of Palestinian territories and treatment of people living there as well as on the Israeli blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza. Tuesday, after hours of wrangling, the group allowed a statement to be read to the council by Norway on behalf of 56 U.N. member states strongly criticising Iran for its treatment of dissenters. But although the statement was hailed by U.S. ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe as a victory for the Iranian people, diplomats noted that only just over a quarter of U.N. member states had backed it, of them only 14 countries in the council. Human rights activists who are allowed to speak at the body if their organizations are accredited by the United Nations said the statement -- drafted largely by the United States -- was the best available substitute for a formal resolution. "The Western group knows it could never get such a resolution passed in this council, and this is the only way they have of fighting back," said Roy Brown, long-time chief representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. Brown said the loophole was likely to be closed in a coming review of the council's activity since it was launched in 2006 to replace a discredited predecessor.
Reuters
NUMBER OF MIGRANTS VOTING IN LOCAL ELECTIONS RISES 44% (Ireland)
There was a 44 per cent increase in the number of immigrants who voted in last year’s local elections, following a campaign which encouraged more immigrants to register and vote. The campaign, by the Africa Centre and the New Communities Partnership, aimed to encourage 10,0000 more immigrants in 10 local authority areas to get involved in the June elections. An additional 15,681 immigrants registered and voted in those 10 areas. While Irish citizens may vote in all elections and referendums, non-EU citizens may only vote in local elections. British citizens may vote in Dáil, European and local elections, while other EU citizens outside Britain may vote in European and local elections. Eric Yao, of the Africa Centre, said there had been an increase in immigrant candidates standing for election and “although we didn’t see a lot of immigrant candidates winning the election, we think this is a first step in the right direction”.
Prof Bryan Fanning of UCD’s school of applied social studies said immigrants would not have political clout until a significant number became Irish citizens. He said almost half of all applications for citizenship from eligible long-term residents were turned down in Ireland, compared with just 9 per cent in the UK. “So civil servants pretty much are saying that one in two immigrants will never get to vote in this country,” he said. “Comparatively speaking, there is something odd about how the Irish State is responding to immigrants. There is something very, very impoverished about its commitment to integration.” He urged immigrant communities to focus on a campaign of turning immigrants into Irish citizens. “If a significant number of immigrants are Irish citizens, political parties are interested in immigrants all the way along. They are interested potentially in grooming immigrant candidates for general elections,” Prof Fanning said.
He pointed to the possibility that Dublin citizens would elect their lord mayor for the first time later this year and said if immigrants were on the voting register their views could be reflected in the city’s politics. Issah Huseini, of the New Communities Partnership, said it took an immigrant at least eight years to have the right to vote in a general election here, as it took five years to apply for citizenship and another three for the process to be completed. “It reinforces the perception that immigrants are outsiders notwithstanding the number of years they’ve lived in the country,” he said. Minister of State for Integration Mary White said it was “vital” that immigrants be encouraged to participate to the greatest extent possible in the political system. “People from migrant backgrounds bring a new perspective, experience and vision to local and national politics,” she said.
Irish Times
Prof Bryan Fanning of UCD’s school of applied social studies said immigrants would not have political clout until a significant number became Irish citizens. He said almost half of all applications for citizenship from eligible long-term residents were turned down in Ireland, compared with just 9 per cent in the UK. “So civil servants pretty much are saying that one in two immigrants will never get to vote in this country,” he said. “Comparatively speaking, there is something odd about how the Irish State is responding to immigrants. There is something very, very impoverished about its commitment to integration.” He urged immigrant communities to focus on a campaign of turning immigrants into Irish citizens. “If a significant number of immigrants are Irish citizens, political parties are interested in immigrants all the way along. They are interested potentially in grooming immigrant candidates for general elections,” Prof Fanning said.
He pointed to the possibility that Dublin citizens would elect their lord mayor for the first time later this year and said if immigrants were on the voting register their views could be reflected in the city’s politics. Issah Huseini, of the New Communities Partnership, said it took an immigrant at least eight years to have the right to vote in a general election here, as it took five years to apply for citizenship and another three for the process to be completed. “It reinforces the perception that immigrants are outsiders notwithstanding the number of years they’ve lived in the country,” he said. Minister of State for Integration Mary White said it was “vital” that immigrants be encouraged to participate to the greatest extent possible in the political system. “People from migrant backgrounds bring a new perspective, experience and vision to local and national politics,” she said.
Irish Times
REPORT: RACIAL PROFILING, XENOPHOBIC VIEWS PERSIST IN FRANCE
Racial profiling and some politicians exploiting racial and xenophobic stereotypes persist in France despite progress in fighting discrimination, a Council of Europe report said Tuesday. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) issued its fourth report on France with positive comments on the country's High Authority against Discrimination and for Equality (HALDE) for "its key and growing role in the fight against racism". However, "while there had been improvements in certain areas, some issues gave rise for concern, such as minorities' perception of the police, prejudice against Muslims and the tone of the immigration debate," said Nils Muiznieks, chair of ECRI, the Council's independent human rights body. Many racial acts go unreported and for those that are referred to authorities there is a low conviction rate, the report said. "The police frequently resort to racial profiling and take law enforcement decisions on the basis of racial, ethnic or religious stereotypes" rather than individual behaviour, it said.
In the political arena, the report noted that most politicians condemn openly racial comments and race-related acts, but that there are some who exploit the issue. In relation to immigration, "there is widespread suspicion that non-citizens engage in fraud to obtain residence permits and access to rights," the report said. Regarding Muslims, part of French society doubts their willingness and ability to "respect French values". "The debate on the prohibition of the niqab (the face-covering veil) has increased feelings of discrimination among Muslims and may result in further excluding some Muslim women from society," the report said about the government's considering a ban on Muslim women wearing the full Islamic veil in public. Problems of discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, nationality or ethnic origin persists in access to employment, education, housing, and goods and services, the report added.
In its response to the report, France stressed that the number of reported racially-motivated acts had increased in recent years. And regarding racial profiling, particularly among young people, France said that "ethnic appearance has nothing to do in the fight against delinquency and it is of no consequence in the (police) decision to check this or that person", it said. The ECRI's recommendations included that France consult and take on board HALDE's recommendations and that it step up the fight against racist comments on the Internet, informing the public that such incitement to racial hatred can be reported to authorities.
AFP
In the political arena, the report noted that most politicians condemn openly racial comments and race-related acts, but that there are some who exploit the issue. In relation to immigration, "there is widespread suspicion that non-citizens engage in fraud to obtain residence permits and access to rights," the report said. Regarding Muslims, part of French society doubts their willingness and ability to "respect French values". "The debate on the prohibition of the niqab (the face-covering veil) has increased feelings of discrimination among Muslims and may result in further excluding some Muslim women from society," the report said about the government's considering a ban on Muslim women wearing the full Islamic veil in public. Problems of discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, nationality or ethnic origin persists in access to employment, education, housing, and goods and services, the report added.
In its response to the report, France stressed that the number of reported racially-motivated acts had increased in recent years. And regarding racial profiling, particularly among young people, France said that "ethnic appearance has nothing to do in the fight against delinquency and it is of no consequence in the (police) decision to check this or that person", it said. The ECRI's recommendations included that France consult and take on board HALDE's recommendations and that it step up the fight against racist comments on the Internet, informing the public that such incitement to racial hatred can be reported to authorities.
AFP
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