* Violations of children’s and women’s rights
* Decriminalisation of domestic violence and marital rape
* Breach of the Human Rights Act and public policy
Dear friend
These are just a few examples of what is wrong with Sharia courts in Britain and elsewhere.
As you know, One Law for All is the only organisation focusing solely on challenging these medieval laws from a human rights perspective. Our campaign provides the only real alternative for decent people everywhere to stand up and be counted. And whilst a major focus of our work is to insist on equal rights, our campaign is fundamentally about the hope and demand for a society – and world – worthy of people in the 21st century.
Since our establishment in December 2008 and with your support, we have published a number of reports, been up and down the country speaking to the public on the need to stand up to Sharia and religious laws, held seminars, rallies and conferences, joined various debates, organised a free helpline, raised awareness via the arts, and advocated on behalf of those in need of assistance…
As one of our supporters has said, “it is this type of dedicated work that changes attitudes and lives.”
Given the importance of our work, we find it hard to believe how regularly requests for funding are rejected outright by foundations for being “too controversial.” More recently, funding has been refused for our bringing an amendment to the Arbitration Act, which can help to prohibit religious courts in family and civil matters as was done successfully in Ontario, Canada, outreach to MPs and Peers and for conferences and seminars, amongst other activities.
We must, therefore, continue to rely on you to help us get the job done. And I’m sure you will agree that it is a job worth doing and seeing through.
Whilst wishing you a wonderful holiday and New Year, we ask for your ongoing support in determining a different and brighter future.
Any donation, whatever you can give, will truly help.
Every penny counts.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Warmest wishes
Maryam
Maryam Namazie
Spokesperson
NOTES:
1. To donate to the crucial work of One Law for All, please either send a cheque made payable to One Law for All to BM Box 2387, London WC1N 3XX, UK or pay via Paypal.
We need regular support that we can rely on and are asking for supporters to commit to giving at least £5-10 a month via direct debit. You can find out more about how to join the 100 Club here.
2. Find out more about our most recent activities here:
* November art exhibition.
* December conference on Apostasy and Sharia Law
* Recent media coverage including a debate at BBC Radio 3’s Freethinking Festival.
* Updated Resources
* Letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the decriminalisation of domestic violence and marital rape
4. Our next event is an evening seminar on 26 January entitled Enemies not Allies. The seminar will expose far-right and racist organisations hijacking the issue of Sharia law to promote their racist and anti-immigrant policies and the European left’s appeasement of Islamism at the expense of people’s rights and lives. Confirmed speakers at the event are: John Adams (Emeritus Professor at the University of Hertfordshire), Adam Barnett (One Law for All), Rahila Gupta (Women’s Rights Campaigner), Marieme Helie Lucas (Secularism is a Women’s Issue), Douglas Murray (Centre for Social Cohesion), Maryam Namazie (One Law for All), Shiraz Maher (International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation) and Talal Rajib (Quilliam Foundation). A report on the issue will also be published on the day. For more information and to register, click here.
5. 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. To join the campaign, sign our petition here.
6. For further information contact:
Maryam Namazie
Spokesperson
One Law for All
BM Box 2387
London WC1N 3XX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 7719166731
onelawforall@gmail.com
www.onelawforall.org.uk