CAMPACC statements, press releases...
Our overall response to the consultation: We oppose the government’s Prevent programme, its new statutory basis under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill Part 5, and the pseudo-consultation relating to both, for reasons explained here. - 30 January 2015
Statement by Peace in Kurdistan Campaign, Roj Women, MAF-DAD & Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC), 6 February 2014: Kurdish families bound for Paris protest on anniversary of killings were stopped and searched under Schedule 7 of Terrorism Act 2000
We wanted to remind you of this ongoing joint appeal from CAMPACC and Peace in Kurdistan campaign to finally remove the PKK from the terrorism list as a means of giving peace negotiations between Turkey and the Kurdish movement the best possible chance.
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign and CAMPACC Statement - The Danish District Supreme Court took a shock decision on 3rd July to shut down and impose a hefty fine on Kurdish Roj TV and its parent company Mesopotamia Broadcasting accusing them of being guilty of inciting terrorism.
Press Release 21 January 2013 - On 18 January a public meeting opposed MI5’s widespread practice of blackmail. MI5 has been pressurising people under various threats so that they become informers on political views of Muslim and migrant communities. The meeting focused especially on the case of the former Camden resident Mahdi Hashi, whose UK citizenship was revoked last year as punishment for refusing to become an informer.
26th January 2013 - The Day of the Endangered Lawyers on 24 January 2013 was marked by simultaneous actions by lawyers taking place in major cities across Europe. The day of action was organized this year by three European European lawyers’ associations: the European Democratic Lawyers (AED-EDL, www.aed-edl.net), the European Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH, www.eldh.eu) and the European Bar Human Rights Institute (IDHAE, www.idhae.org). Together they represent lawyers all over Europe.
Statement in defence of Roj TV 28, October 2012 - In January this year, the City Court of Copenhagen ruled that Kurdish satellite station Roj TV was promoting terrorism through its coverage. An appeal has been made against the decision and this will be heard on 29 October. Furthermore, eight people have been arrested during police investigations into Roj TV for allegedly providing financial assistance to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Meanwhile, the Danish Radio and Television Board cancelled Roj TV’s broadcasting licence in September for two months, claiming that documents and videos requested from Roj TV for the board's own investigation were not provided.
Activists from Kurdistan, Colombia, Ireland and the island of Sri Lanka, talking about the role geopolitics played in determining peace-processes and conflict in various cases, informed a mixed audience of activists, academics and journalists of the nuances of their respective cases connecting it with larger trends at an event organized at Trinity College, Dublin on Thursday, 24 May 2012.
“The Sri Lankan conflict is now a transnational war against the Tamil diaspora that enables the continued political repression of political aspirations both in Sri Lanka and abroad,” writes Dr. Vicki Sentas in a chapter published in a recently released book “Counter-Terrorism and state political violence: The ‘war on terror’ as terror”.
10 citizens and over 390 prisoners start hunger strikes and protests in solidarity with Iosu Uribetxeberria. 11 members of Herrira (asociation for rights of political prisoners) and over 390 prisoners in Spanish and French different jails have started hunger strikes and protests in solidarity with Iosu Uribetxeberria.
The London Olympics are the most Right-wing major event in Britain’s modern history. Billions of pounds are taken from poor and middle-income taxpayers and service users to build temples to a corporate and sporting elite. Democratic, grassroots sport is stripped of money to fund the most rarefied sport imaginable.
Olympic Goodwill Image Belied by Arrests, Censorship and Corporate Ties Behind London GamesTuesday, July 31, 2012 While NBC has been airing wall-to-wall coverage of Olympic Games in London, little attention has been paid to what has taken place behind the scenes and just outside Olympic Park.
The Government’s Draft Communications Data Bill was published in June marking the first step on a slippery slope towards blanket surveillance of the entire population. The Bill proposes to increase the collection and storage of “communications data” – records of email, text and phone calls – for the entire population.
A detailed report launched on 24 July by the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) highlights how promises made by the police to ‘adapt to protest’ after 2009′s G20 demonstrations in London have been forgotten in a remarkably short space of time and a far more intolerant ‘total policing’ style response to protesters has developed in the UK.
The cases of Turkey & Kurds; Pakistan & Baloch; Spain & Basques; Sri Lanka & Tamils
SUNDAY 18 MARCH 2012, 1-6pm, ROOM 3B, 3RD FLOOR, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNION (ULU), MALET STREET, WC1
Jeremy Corbyn MP joins UK lawyers protest at the Turkish Embassy, Tuesday 24 January 2012, 12-1pm 43 Belgrave Square, SW 1
This submission addresses six main areas of proceedings in which secret evidence either is used by the state or may be withheld from the defendent, appellant or claimant; actions to secure compensation for wrongdoing by state agents; trials abroad where an individual seeks disclosure of sensitive material from the UK authorities to assist his or her defence; SIAC; TPIMs; asset freezing orders and appeals against proscription of organisations.
Les Levidow on challenging the travel restrictions in Palestine.
When Prime Minister David Cameron attacked ‘state multiculturalism’ as a failure, he embraced the right-wing populist Islamophobia rising across Europe. At the same time, he was speaking at a European Security Conference. In that context, Cameron extended a long-term strategy casting Muslims as a suspect community, i.e. suspected of involvement in terrorism. What does this mean in practice? And how can we oppose this strategy?
A Conference hosted by the Network for Police Monitoring.
Sunday 17th April. 10.30am – 5pm.
Venue : Rich Mix 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA
In December 2010, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) published a detailed critique of the terrorist blacklisting regimes operated by the United Nations and the European Union.
Monday, 21 February 2011 at 6:30pm
Garden Court Chambers, 57-60 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ
Organised by: EUROPEAN CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS, CAMPAIGN AGAINST CRIMINALISING COMMUNITIES, BAR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF ENGLAND AND WALES, HALDANE SOCIETY OF SOCIALIST LAWYERS AND STATEWATCH
CAMPACC has produced 4 new briefings, available to download (pdf format):
Baluchistan under state terror: The UK ban on the Baluchistan Liberation Army
Euskal Herria: The struggle for independence in the Basque Country and the impact of ‘terrorist’bans
The UK ban on the PKK: Persecuting the Kurds
The Tamils of Sri Lanka - oppressed at home and persecuted in the UK
Monday 20 December 2010, 6.30-8.30pm
Garden Court Chambers, 57-60 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3LJ
Join us for a discussion and informal social gathering to celebrate the launch of four new briefing papers that highlight the impact of UK government anti-terrorism legislation on migrant communities here. In particular, bans on organisations make the UK government complicit with oppressive regimes overseas; this neither enhances human rights nor protects our security.
CAMPACC argues for an end to the control of every aspect of the finances of those subject to freezing orders. Based on nothing other than Treasury's 'suspicion' that they may be involved in Terrorism, CAMPACC outlines the draconian effects of this administrative punishment. Read the submission
CAMPACC in Association with Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Tuesday, 13 July, 7-9pmCommittee Room 4, House of Lords, Westminster, SW1
Hosted by Lord Rea. All welcome.
With speakers:
Imran Khan Solicitor, Imran Khan & Partners, Vice-President of Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Isabella Sankey Policy Director, Liberty
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Hicham Yezza, Writer and Activist, Editor of Ceasefire Magazine. Unjustly detained under terror laws for 6 days. He has recently won his case against the Home Office's attempts to deport him.
Anne Gray, Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC)
Will candidates say no to unjust ‘anti-terrorism’ powers?
Use the lobbying contacts to question your local candidates with our sample questions.
The House of Commons will debate whether the controversial control order system will be renewed on Monday 1st March 2010. There are serious concerns about the renewal of control orders from all sections of our civil society. CAMPACC organised an open letter to the Home Secretary from over 120 individuals drawn from a range of professions and organisations urging him to not to pursue their renewal.
Please write to your MP - see specimen letter
Campaign Against Criminalising Communities 2010 general election campaign leaflet
The general election offers an opportunity to highlight the injustice of ‘anti-terror’ powers. They attack the right to a fair trial, to habeas corpus, to freedom of expression and political organisation. They are increasingly used to harass innocent people and peaceful protestors.
CAMPACC's response to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill 2009 containing the repeal of the restrictions on protest around Parliament under s132-138 SOCPA. The submission to the Joint Committee on Human Rights gives details of concerns about alternative measures to be put in place.
6.30pm Wednesday 28 October 2009, Committee Room 12, House of Commons, Westminster, SW1 (St Stephens entrance)
Hosted by Siobhain McDonagh MP & Joan Ryan MP
Speakers include: Matt Foot, solicitor; Gareth Peirce, human rights lawyer, Jan Jananayagam, spokesperson for “Tamils Against Genocide”; Les Levidow, CAMPACC; Hyrbyair Marri, Baloch leader; Kazim Aqpak, Kurdish Federation UK
7pm Weds 30 September 2009, London
Speakers include:
Shar Habeel Lone, Director, Kentish Town Community Organisation (KTCO)
Mohamed Nur, community worker
Saghir Hussain, CagePrisoners
Savas Kurt, Kurdish Federation UK
Frances Webber, lawyer
Alex Goodman, Camden Councillor, Green Party
Les Levidow, CAMPACC
The first of two seminars on The Basque Country and Northern Ireland: Self-Determination, Proscription and Human Rights in the EU.
The first of two seminars on The Basque Country and Northern Ireland: Self-Determination, Proscription and Human Rights in the EU.
The 'War on Terror' has seen intelligence agencies become major political players. 'Rendition', untrammelled surveillance, torture and detention without trial are now the norm. "Spies, Lies and the War on Terror" traces the transformation of intelligence from a law enforcement tool to a means of avoiding both national and international law.
Human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce likened the present situation where a person can be held without trial on the basis of secret evidence as 'a national emergency.'
A Parliamentary meeting hosted by Diane Abbott MP
Read CAMPACC's statement and Mark Steel's article.
After 60 years...why human rights?" - Public meeting on 10 December 2008
Read the report from Hevallo (pdf file)
Counter Terrorism Bill at a Critical Stage in Lords
'April Fool's Day' in the Commons: One more step to grave injustices
Read the appeal for "Friends of Kongra-Gel" (pdf file).
A meeting in Parliament called to win support for a ceasefire, dialogue and a political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey. Also read the statement issued by Peace in Kurdistan and CAMPACC and the report of the meeting (pdf file).
CAMPACC statement 9th June 2006