2008
The One Law for All Campaign was launched on 10 December 2008, International Human Rights Day, to call on the UK Government to recognise that Sharia and religious courts are arbitrary and discriminatory against women and children in particular and that citizenship and human rights are non-negotiable. The Campaign aimed to end Sharia and all religious courts on the basis that they work against, and not for, equality and human rights.
Maryam Namazie’s speech at the launch of One Law for All
Gina Khan’s Speech at the launch of One Law for All
Maryam Namazie interviewed in The Times: It’s time to take a stand against Islam and Sharia.
2009
One Law for All in a march against Sharia from Trafalgar Square to Conway Hall, followed by a public meeting entitled Sharia Law, Sexual Apartheid and Women’s Rights. Maryam’s speech at the rally in Trafalgar Square.
One Law for All joins in formation of an International Bureau for Laicite in Paris with a wide number of non-governmental organisations and individuals from across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas affirming the nefarious role of fundamentalist politics and the need to counter it internationally.
Hundreds joined a One Law for All rally for an International Day against Sharia law and for human rights in Hyde Park with simultaneous acts of solidarity and support for the rally and its aims in over 20 countries.
2010
One Law for All hold 8 March seminar on Sharia Law in Britain to mark International Women’s Day. The seminar brought together Muslims, ex-Muslims, women’s rights campaigners, lawyers and politicians to outline the problems with Muslim Arbitration Tribunals and Sharia Councils and to propose recommendations for prohibiting religious tribunals and bringing about equal rights for all.
One Law for All organises 20 June rally at Downing Street against Sharia and religious laws and for secularism and universal rights. Unite Against Fascism joins Muslims Against Crusades’ counter-demonstration against our group.
Sharia Law in Britain: A Threat to One Law for All and Equal Rights – found that Sharia Councils and Muslim Arbitration Tribunals to be in violation of UK law, public policy and human rights.
Maryam Namazie writes a piece in The Guardian entitled: What isn’t wrong with Sharia Law?
One Law for All joined September international action against stoning and in defence of Iranian stoning case, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
One Law for All holds Passion for Freedom art exhibition.
One Law for All requests clarification on the law from then Home Secretary. Receives no response.
Maryam Namazie speaks at Lord Justice Laws Treasurer of the Inner Temple on The Role of Religion in the Law. Panellists are: Professor Mark Hill QC – expert in ecclesiastical law, Maryam Namazie – Rights activist, commentator and broadcaster, and spokesperson of One Law for All, and Ahmad Thomson – Head of Wynne Chambers specialising in Sharia Law and Co-founder of the Association of Muslim Lawyers.
In December, One Law for All organised a conference on Apostasy, Sharia Law and Human Rights. Videos of the conference can be seen here.
One Law for All wrote to Director of Public Prosecutions to request confirmation as to whether or not the CPS is engaged in discussions with members of sharia tribunals, such as Sheikh Faiz Ul-Aqtab Siddiqi, and whether the CPS favours the decriminalisation of domestic violence and marital rape.
2011
In January 2011 One Law for All held an important seminar to expose ‘Enemies, not Allies,’ which focused upon the far-Right and pro-Islamist Left groups. According to One Law for All’s Spokesperson, Maryam Namazie, ‘standing up against Sharia law and Islamism is crucial in this day and age but how and why it’s done is important too. It has to be done to protect humanity, secularism and universal rights for it to bring about change for the better. Groups like the English Defence League and Stop Islamisation of Europe are using real concern about Sharia law in order to promote their racist and anti-immigrant agenda. Like the Islamists, they blame everyone who they consider Muslim for the crimes of Islamism. Pro-Islamist Left groups like Stop the War Coalition, United Against Fascism and Respect Party are no better. They excuse and justify Islamism at the expenses of the lives, rights and freedoms of innumerable people.’
Enemies not Allies: The Far-Right A report by One Law for All explores how the far-Right has attempted to hijack opposition to Islamism for its own ends. It focuses on the British National Party, the English Defence League and Stop Islamisation of Europe/America, and exposes how their activities, associations, opinions and intentions reveal a racist and inhuman worldview, which must be resisted and criticised with as much vigilance as Islamism itself.
The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal has lied about discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service with regard to domestic violence. Sheikh Faiz Ul-Aqtab Siddiqui told the BBC in an interview for Daily Politics that there are on-going discussions with the CPS and that these explore “an alternative form of resolution” of domestic violence cases for Muslims in Britain. One Law for All contacted the Crown Prosecution Service to seek clarity on this. The CPS has confirmed that it has not been in any negotiations with any sharia tribunals or councils, and has not discussed the issue with Sheikh Siddiqui.
OLFA holds successful conference on Women’s Rights, Sharia Law and Secularism.
OLFA and National Secular Society write to MPs and Peers asking for support in campaign against Sharia courts and religious arbitration sending all a copy of One Law for All’s report on Sharia law.
In July 2011, One Law for All holds a debate on Sharia in the House of Commons with president of Muslim Association of Britain and lawyer Aina Khan defending Sharia courts. Maryam’s speech explains how Sharia is a code of despair, obsessed with women.
One Law for All responds to Stop Islamization of America’s criticism of Enemies Not Allies report. Also see Like Brighton Through Rock.
Maryam Namazie has successful visit to Australia to highlight Sharia law inequities.
Hundreds come out to rally for a Secular Europe.
One Law for All and others issue Manifesto for a Free and Secular Middle East and North Africa.
One Law for All holds its third Passion for Freedom Art Competition.
2012
One Law For all hold a successful rally in defence of free expression at the Houses of Parliament. Hundreds brave the cold weather to join the rally at Old Palace Yard. Jesus & Mo dedicates a cartoon to One Law for All and others.
One Law for All and others’ open letter to Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch expressing concern of his defence of Islamists and calling for HRW to recognise separation of religion from state as a basic guarantee of rights.
DV8 Physical Theatre’s Can we Talk About This? Dealing with freedom of speech, censorship and Islam featuring interviews, thoughts and speeches of individuals such as Maryam Namazie, the director of ‘One Law for All,’ which fights for the rights of women, and against Sharia courts and Sharia law being introduced in Britain.
One Law for All meets with Trevor Phillips, Chair of Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on 28 June to raise its concerns about sharia courts in Britain and the Charities Commission’s refusal of charity status for secular organisations. Nobel Laureate Harry Kroto is also present at the meeting.
OLFA issues statement against child marriages.
OLFA holds Passion for Freedom Art Competition.
2013
OLFA issues statement against High Court Beth Din case where the judge approved a Get given by the New York Beth Din after establishing that it would be accepted by all rabbinical courts and orthodox synagogues around the world’. In effect, this means that if a ruling is acceptable to religion, it is therefore acceptable in law. This ruling sets a dangerous precedence. Gender discrimination is wrong – both in law and in natural justice – and this remains the case whether it is reinforced by religion or agreed to by the person being discriminated against. People are free to live their lives as they wish, but the state should not under any circumstances give credence or credibility to gender discrimination, or adopt it in to law.
Siding with the Oppressor: The Pro-Islamist Left This report exposes Stop the War Coalition, Respect Party, Unite Against Fascism and individuals such as Ken Livingstone and George Galloway and their agenda and methods. This section of the Left uses accusations of racism and Islamophobia and a conflation of Muslim with Islamist in order to defend Islamism and Islam rather than out of any real concern for prejudice against Muslims or their rights, particularly since Muslims or those labelled as such are the first victims of Islamism and on the frontlines of resisting it.
OLFA publishes report on Multiculturalism and Child Protection in Britain: Sharia Law and other Failures.
One Law for All statement against child marriages.
2014
OLFA issues statement “walking a tightrope: between the far-Right and the pro-Islamist Left”
OLFA calls for Universities UK to rescind its support of gender segregation.
Over a hundred people join One Law for All organised protest against gender segregation at universities.
One Law for All signs joint statement on legal note to Universities UK against their guidance condoning gender segregation.
Universities UK, a regulator for universities publishes guidance allowing visiting speakers to gender segregate their lectures. This follows struggles by students to oppose gender segregation, and reports of many universities segregating their meetings and events. One Law for All organises protests. Southall Black Sisters seeks legal advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which confirms that gender segregation is discriminatory, forcing UUK to withdraw its advice.
One Law for All and others call on Law Society to withdraw its guidance on Sharia succession rules.
One Law for All organises rally against Law Society for its endorsement of Sharia compliant wills.
One Law for All Coalition successfully campaigns against the Law Society for issuing a guidance note on ’sharia compliant wills’. An open letter to the Law Society is signed by senior women’s rights and secular campaigners from numerous countries. An open letter is sent to Asma Jehangir, Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Religion or Belief. Content derived from extremist preachers is exposed by Maryam Namazie’s research and The organisers of the campaign also obtained legal advice from Karon Monaghan QC of Matrix Chambers, which stated that the Practice Note was unlawful as it provided guidance to solicitors that promotes an interpretation of Sharia that is discriminatory on the grounds of gender, religion and ethnicity and thus gave rise to the possibility of direct discrimination by solicitors. This came after the Solicitors Regulation Authority had already withdrawn its endorsement of the Law Society’s Practice Note on July 10, following the threat of legal action from Southall Black Sisters.
Equality and Human Rights Commission rules gender segregation unlawful.
One Law for All organises a two-day international conference on the Religious Right, Secularism and Civil Rights. Notable free-thinkers, atheists and secularists from around the world came together for a weekend of discussions and debates on the religious-Right, its attacks on civil rights and freedoms, and the role of secularism for 21st century humanity. The exciting two-day conference discusses the Arab Spring, Sharia and religious laws, the limits of religion’s role in society, free expression, honour killings, apostasy and blasphemy laws, faith schools, women’s rights, secular values and much more. The 250 delegates made an unequivocal stand with the brave women and men of Kobane saying: “Their struggle is ours. Their fight is a fight for us all. We are all, today, Kobane.”
One Law for All and others sign statement: After the Charlie Hebdo Massacre, Support those Fighting the Religious-Right.
2015
OLFA issues statement against Passion for Freedom and pulls out of sponsoring the art competition.
One Law for All organise a Conference on Sharia Law, Apostasy and Secularism to discuss freedom of expression, apostasy and blasphemy laws, Islamism and the religious-Right, as well as Sharia in the law, educational system and public policy. They will also highlight the successful campaigns against the Law Society and Universities UK and pay tribute to Charlie Hebdo and the many Muslims, ex-Muslims and others who have been killed or persecuted for their dissent.
Human Rights Day – On Thursday 10 December 2015, Southall Black Sisters (SBS), One Law for All, Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO), Centre for Secular Space and British Muslims for Secular Democracy attended 10 Downing Street to hand deliver a letter signed by nearly 400 individuals and organisations urging David Cameron to hold an inquiry into the discriminatory nature of Sharia ‘courts’ and other religious arbitration forums, restore legal aid and commit to maintaining the Human Rights Act.
2016
Is Sharia discriminatory against women? Spokespersons Maryam Namazie and Gina Khan do interviews in the media opposing religious arbitration.
One Law for All coalition and unprecedented number of women’s rights campaigners publish open letter to Home Secretary urging government to impartially and fully investigate Sharia bodies.
Over 300 abused women sign a statement opposing Sharia courts and religious bodies warning of the growing threat to their rights and to their collective struggles for security and independence.
Government announces a full, independent inquiry into sharia – it does not extend to other religions courts and tribunals. The inquiry will examine whether there is misuse of sharia and what if any problems it causes. One Law for All welcomes inquiry but argues for wider terms of reference. Government announces that theologian Mona Siddiqui will lead the inquiry, Two Imams are appointed as advisors, members of the inquiry include a Christian fundamentalist judge and two lawyers. After a refusal to even respond to concerns by voiced by the One Law for All coalition that the inquiry should be transparent, judge-lead and human rights based and not a theological inquiry, the Coalition called for a boycott of the inquiry.
Home Affairs Select Committee in Parliament also establishes inquiry into sharia. While the government appointed Siddiqui inquiry is not making either its hearings or its evidence public, the Home Affairs Select Committee will do so. The Coalition mobilises to collect testimonies of individual women and puts in a wide range of evidence detailing the international fundamentalist networks involved with running Sharia ‘courts.’ OLFA shows that the ‘courts’ are abusive and adversarial. They are not a mechanism for alternative dispute resolution. The Coalition establishes that a community based ‘zina’ law is in operation. Women feel that they cannot remarry after having a civil divorce, unless they are also granted a religious divorce. The Coalition shows that these attitudes were not held by Muslims a generation ago.
Maryam Namazie gives oral evidence at the Home Affairs Select Committee, and provides devastating supplementary evidence, to clarify that many sharia courts are run as charities, produce fatwas and pressure that goes beyond women’s divorces and are part of international networks. They also do call themselves ‘Judges’ and refer to their proceedings as a ‘court’. IKWRO and Southall Black Sisters also submit evidence, along with other members of the Coalition. Dozens of testimonies are also submitted and a petition from women affected by violence. This inquiry is closed due to the calling of the general election.
2017
OLFA Spokesperson Gina Khan writes on how child veiling is child abuse in discussing Waseem Zafar and Islamicising the Biraadari.
Maryam Namazie writes about Sayeeda Warsi’s blinkered views on Islamism in the Evening Standard.
One Law for All joins protests at Court of Appeals to say gender segregation is discriminatory.
SBS and Inspire act as intervenors to explain why gender segregation of girls at a state funded Islamic school run by the al Hijrah trust, is discriminatory in case between schools regulator Ofsted v Birmingham City Council. The Court of Appeal rules that gender segregation can amount to unlawful sex discrimination.
OLFA sponsors International Conference on Freedom of Conscience and Expression.
2018
The Siddiqui review reports after 18 months, having interviewed only 8 women (far fewer than the OLFA coalition), and recommends regulation of sharia courts, which the government rejects. OLFA Coalition urges caution in accepting the suggestion that a ‘compromise’ involving regulation and training of Sharia courts provides a way forward. Regulation is neither desirable nor viable it says.
One Law for All Coalition write to Secretary of State on the Independent Review on Sharia saying that Sharia Laws are part of the extremist threat and not a solution.
One Law for All defends Noura Hammad, facing the death penalty in the Sudan.
One Law for All Coalition calls on the British Government to Stop Pushing Minority Women Towards Religious Courts and protests about government having conceded the need for a civil divorce by changing the divorce form to indicate that a civil divorce may not be sufficient. This fundamentally undermines British law and justifies Islamists and other fundamentalists insistence on separate religious divorces.
Spokesperson Maryam Namazie asks why the Inclusive Mosque is so afraid of secularism.
One Law for All organises landmark International Conference on Sharia, Segregation & Secularism in London to mark its 10th anniversary. Resolution in support of Asia Bibi is adopted, including her right to asylum and protection in the UK. Manifesto on Women and Secularism is also adopted.
2019
In March, Australian singer-songwriter Shelley Segal’s releases ‘Our Resistance’, inspired by One Law for All to empower women around the world to resist the injustices placed upon them.
One Law for All condemns far-Right terrorist attacks on mosques in New Zealand and stands with Muslims everywhere who face discrimination, violence and terror. #OneRace_HumanRace
Vrij Links publishes interview with Maryam Namazie on how Fundamentalism and White Nationalism: the same, just wearing different clothes
In May, One Law for All signed Open Letter to Home Secretary Sajid Javid stating that APPG Islamophobia Definition Threatens Civil Liberties.
Sister-hood publishes an article by Maryam Namazie: The APPG’s definition of ‘Islamophobia’ is a triumph for fundamentalists
Interview in Sri Lankan paper with Maryam Namazie: Must take an unequivocal stand against all forms of hate
In July, One Law for All and CEMB organised an online event: LGBT Rights, Apostasy and Blasphemy.
During 31 August – 1 September, Maryam Namazie organised an Epic Celebrating Dissent Festival in Amsterdam with De Balie Centre.
Consisting of a mixture of intense, probing conversations, comedy, art, poetry and dance performances, films, lectures and protest, the weekend was an education in the issues facing dissenters fighting religious constraints and the religious-Right. The work of ex-Muslims and women campaigners was particularly evident.
More than 50 speakers from 30 countries worldwide discussed Women’s Dissent; Touching the Holy Subject; Comedy, the Sacred and Islamophobia; Separation of Religion from the State; Women against Gods; Identity; and Fighting the Far-Right. The deep wound left by silence within families was portrayed in a gut-wrenching film ‘No Longer Without You’ by Nazmiyeh Oral. Nadia El Fani’s brave film ‘Neither Allah nor Master’ explored the importance of laicité. Speaker upon speaker showed how some of the most vibrant responses to fundamentalism have come from the universal desire for freedom – especially where survival has become synonymous with challenging religion and the religious-Right.
To highlight the dangers facing dissenters, a public protest of 160 balloons with the names of those persecuted or murdered for blasphemy and apostasy was held. Participants at the Festival carried balloons to a nearby square and chalked the names of dissenters into the pavement as a memorial of sorts.
The historic event was an astounding celebration of apostasy, blasphemy and dissent. From the moment the city’s Mayor, Femke Halsema, opened the festival by welcoming ‘heretics, infidels and renegades,’ it was clear that this would be a historic and remarkable festival committed not only to defending free thought and expression but also the lives and freedoms of dissenters.
Video footage
30 August 2019
Celebrating Dissent: Interview Marathon with Maryam Namazie
Celebrating Dissent: Interview Marathon with Taslima Nasrin
Celebrating Dissent: Interview Marathon with Inna Shevchenko
Celebrating Dissent: Interview Marathon with Saif Ul Malook
Celebrating Dissent: Interview Marathon with Zineb El Rhazoui. An empty chair since she was prevented from coming by Dutch government.
31 AUGUST 2019
A Conversation on Women’s Dissent with Inna Shevchenko, Maryam Namazie and Taslima Nasrin. Music by Shelley Segal. Protest Art by Victoria Guggenheim. Chair: Samira Bouchibti.
Touching the Holy Subject with Nadia El Fani, Rishvin Ismath, Saif Ul Malook and Sarah Haider. Music by Veedu Vidz. Chair: Bahram Sadeghi.
Comedy, the Sacred and Islamophobia with Shabana Rehman, Ali Rizvi and Armin Nabavi. Chair: Sherin Seyda.
Public Art Protest commemorating dissenters in a public square.
Separation of Religion from the State with Afsana Lachaux, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Elżbieta Podleśna, Homa Arjomand and Sadia Hameed. Chair: Bercan Gunel.
Women against Gods with Gita Sahgal, Ibtissame Betty Lachgar, Maaike Meijer, Mineke Schipper and Rana Ahmad. Performance by Atoosa Farahmand. Chair: Ianthe Mosselman.
1 SEPTEMBER 2019
Film Screening Neither Allah Nor Master by Nadia El Fani followed by a conversation with Hind Bariaz, Karrar Al Asfoor, Wissam Charafeddine and Zara Kay. Chair: Sophie Rutenfrans.
Film Screening No Longer without You by Nazmiyeh Oral followed by a conversation with Cemal Knudsen Yucel, Fauzia Ilyas, Mimzy Vidz, Omar Makram, Rishvin Ismath, Sohail Ahmad and Zehra Pala. Chair: Parwin Mirahimy.
On Identity with Kenan Malik, Harris Sultan, Jimmy Bangash, Rahila Gupta and Yasmin Rehman. Poetry by Halima Salat. Chair: Jorgen Tjong a Fong.
Fighting the Far-Right; Celebrating Dissent with Halima Salat, Maryam Namazie, Mohamed Hisham, Muhammed Syed, Sadia Hameed and Sami Abdallah. Music by Shelley Segal. Chair: Samira Bouchibti.
There was also artwork by Mahshad Afshar and Jenny Wenhammar.
Media coverage of De Balie #CelebratingDissent Festival
Photos of De Balie #CelebratingDissent Festival.
On 13/14 November, Southall Black Sisters (SBS) is intervening in an important case (Akhter v Khan) with far-reaching implications for minority women’s rights. As part of the One Law for All campaign, a protest was held outside the Court of Appeal to let the government and the public know that minority women will not tolerate being trapped in marital captivity and treated as subjects of their so called religious communities rather than as citizens with equal rights.
Maryam Namazie and Afsana Lachaux were joint winners of the 2019 Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize for their campaigning work in support of women under Sharia laws. The award recognised the links with Sharia and religious laws and violence against women.
2020
In January, Centre for Women’s Justice published “On The Side Of Those Who Fight For Freedom” by Maryam Namazie, joint prize winner of the Emma Humphrey’s Memorial Prize 2019.
In February, One Law for All criticised Court of Appeal ruling that will force women to discriminatory Sharia courts. Maryam Namazie of One Law for All says: “The court of appeal’s decision to deny Muslim women financial remedies by refusing to deem a Sharia marriage a void marriage is a travesty of justice. The court, like the Government, is perfectly happy to relegate minority women to kangaroo courts and faith-based parallel legal systems in order to appease fundamentalists and manage minority communities at the expense of women’s rights. Today’s judgment will only further discrimination against minority women.” Gita Sahgal of One Law for All says: “The One Law for All campaign’s research has shown that the collapse of civil marriages in Muslim communities has been used to spread the influence of sharia ‘courts’. Women are trapped in a legal limbo unable to divorce, and unable to remarry. We believe all marriages must be registered; but we do not support this judgment. The government, which has failed to act against sharia councils, is now threatening to send women back to them, by closing off this remedy.”
In March, Southall Black Sisters (SBS), with support from the One Law For All campaign, intervened in the Court of Appeal case of Akhter v Khan to outline our concerns about the current law on marriage and its serious implications for black and minority (BME) women and their rights. The Court of Appeal judgment (14 February 2020) ruled that women who are unable to register their marriage in accordance with the law cannot on the break-up of their marriage seek to ‘void’ it, which means that they are not entitled to any financial remedies. This outcome has profoundly discriminatory consequences for minority women.
In light of this judgment, SBS and One Law for All have now written to the Law Commission as it is currently conducting a review of the law on marriage. We want to ensure that this issue is given proper consideration. You can find out more about the scope of the review here.
Our letter to the Law Commission follows a previous letter from SBS to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, dated 6th August 2018, setting out our concerns on Sharia law and civil divorce to which we received no response. You can read both letters here and here.
You can also read more about the One Law for All campaign here and on our website.
1 July, sister-hood published Conflating face masks with burqas is an an act of cultural assassination
On 22nd August, One Law for All, including thousands participated in Apostasy Day, including by taking selfies with the hashtag #HandsUpforApostasyDay #ApostasyDay #ApostasyNotACrime. Overall, 83,000 people engaged in the day reaching 233,000 people.
Global: One Law for All issued action in support of Nigerian civil society initiatives against death penalty and blasphemy laws.
In September, One Law for All calls for Ban on Islamic Republic of Iran from International Arena and Sports for Navid.
In October, Lawrence Krauss joins human rights activist Maryam Namazie at her office in London to discuss her work with The Council of Ex-Muslims, the rise of fascism in the west, blasphemy, “safe spaces”, and much more.
In October, One Law for All called on women and women’s groups to respond to The Law Commission’s consultation on weddings law. The law as it stands does not recognise the experiences of many minority women who are abused, deceived or coerced into having religious marriages only. This means that if the marriage is not registered and breaks down, women are left without financial rights or legal remedies. This is a profoundly discriminatory outcome for minority, especially Muslim women. Christian women in a similar situation are able to have their marriages declared ‘void’, and thus have access to financial remedies from the courts, but women who have married in other religious systems, do not have the same access. Unregistered marriages also have other harmful consequences; they have led to a rise in polygamy and violence against women.