VIDEO: War and Law: Challenging the Violent State

I stood in at the last minute for Syed Mohammed Marandi at the IHRC & SACC 2021 Islamophobia Conference.  Watch my presentation here.  I was honoured to speak after Lee Jasper.  The panel was entitled, ‘War and Law: Challenging the Violent State from Policing, Apartheid and Segregation to the Forever Wars’

Islamophobia Conference 2021 Session 3: War and Law: Challenging the Violent State from Policing, Apartheid and Segregation to the Forever Wars

Chair: Professor Saeed Khan Keynote speakers: Lee Jasper & Arzu Merali Panel Discussion: Rederwan Crayenstein, Dr. Rob Faure Walker, Fahad Ansari ABOUT: On 11 and 12 December 2021, IHRC’s annual Islamophobia conference addressed the question “Working with the Western(ised) Establishment: Yes, No, Maybe?” Is it possible to tackle racism, Islamophobia and other injustices by working in the system, or must there be complete or near total refusal to work with governmental and other institutions of the state? What are the dilemmas Muslims face and what lessons can be learned from contemporary movements from various communities.

For Muslims, the theological, academic, communal and strategic considerations are complex and often convoluted, intertwined, and currently creating fissures within the Islamicate that are either exploited by external forces or at the least, making any sense of Muslim pluralism, let alone unity, highly elusive. A conversation that assesses all of these factors, their parameters and offering strategies moving forward is an essential intervention for Muslim communities whose agency and viability in the societies where they reside is in constant question by the establishment of and in the ‘West.’

Co-organised by Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), Scotland Against Criminalising Communities (SACC) and the Decolonial International Network Foundation (DIN).

Supporting organisations included:

*5Pillars

*AIM (AhlulBayt Islamic Mission)

*Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran CASMII

*Committee for Justice & Liberties

*Football Against Apartheid

*Friends of Al Aqsa

*Initiative for Muslim Community Development (IMCD)

*Inminds Human Rights Group

*Jewish Network for Palestine (JNP)

*Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPAC UK)

*Prevent Digest

*Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign