 June 2002
American Friends Service Committee Peacework Magazine Patrica Watson, Editor Sara Burke, Assistant Editor Pat Farren, Founding Editor 2161 Massachusetts Ave. Telephone number: Fax number:
pwork@igc.org Peacework has been published monthly since 1972, intended to serve as a source of dependable information to those who strive for peace and justice and are committed to furthering the nonviolent social change necessary to achieve them. Rooted in Quaker values and informed by AFSC experience and initiatives, Peacework offers a forum for organizers, fostering coalition-building and teaching the methods and strategies that work in the global and local community. Peacework seeks to serve as an incubator for social transformation, introducing a younger generation to a deeper analysis of problems and issues, reminding and re-inspiring long-term activists, encouraging the generations to listen to each other, and creating space for the voices of the disenfranchised. Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC. |
Amnesty International on Racism, Islamaphobia, and Anti-Semitism This statement by Amnesty International UK, bearing diverse, international signatures, appeared in the Jewish Chronicle and Al-Quds newspaper the week of May 27. For information: Asad Rehman, Ethnic Minority & Religious Affairs Office, Amnesty International UK, 99 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4RE, Asad.Rehman@amnesty.org.uk As members of all communities including Jews and Muslims we are gravely concerned at the sharp increase in racism and anti-semitism across Europe. We note with concern the recent electoral success of far-right and Fascist parties in France, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Holland, Denmark and Norway, as well as the British National Party in the UK. Mainstream parties across Europe are also increasingly adopting the agenda of the far-right by demonising refugee and asylum communities so legitimising racism and xenophobia. Since September 11th Muslim communities in particular have become the focus for vilification with a huge increase in racist violence and attacks. Mosques and other Muslim property as well as members of the Muslim and Arab communities have increasingly become the targets of hostility, hatred and attacks. In Brussels recently, a Moroccan immigrant couple were shot dead and two of their children wounded in a racist attack. Mosques and Islamic schools have been firebombed in the UK, Poland, Denmark, Ireland and Holland. Whilst in the UK a young Muslim woman was attacked for wearing a Muslim head scarf. In Europe there are now attempts to use the current conflict in the Middle East to legitimize anti-semitism. Synagogues, Jewish cemeteries and other Jewish property as well as members of the Jewish community have become the target for hostility, hatred, and attacks. In France the Synagogue in Marseilles was burned to the ground, as were ones in Brussels and Antwerp in Belgium. In the UK an attack on a synagogue saw a swastika scrawled on the lectern, whilst in other attacks members of orthodox or Hasidic Jewish communities have been hospitalized. In Germany a young Jewish woman was attacked for simply wearing a Star of David pendant. We call on all governments not to let the far-right set the agenda and to redouble their efforts to combat racism in all its forms and to bring to justice the perpetrators of hate crimes.
We also reiterate our determination to stand united as one community
in the struggle to combat racism and anti-semitism wherever it
occurs. 
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