News from 2015

A Scottish charity may be secretly receiving funds from the Government's controversial 'Prevent' anti-terrorism programme, despite having pledged not to do so.

The SACC/IHRC Islamophobia 2015 Conference was held at the City of Edinburgh Methodist Church on Saturday 12 December

The EU decision to pay 3 billion euros to turkey to hold back refugees will not stop refugees coming into Europe, it will only make them use more dangerous routes and pay higher sums to people smugglers.

Last week it emerged that two school visits to Edinburgh Central Mosque had been cancelled, apparently because of concerns arising from the Paris terrorist attack. Prompt action by the Muslim Women's Association of Edinbirgh (MWAE) has secured a re-affirmation by the City Council that school visits to Edinburgh Central Mosque are "valued highly."

SACC is increasingly alarmed at the international, domestic and public response to the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November.

The resolution passed by the UN Security Council last night, calling for the eradication of ISIL safe havens in Syria and Iraq, is a cynical attempt by member governments to bypass domestic opposition to further escalation of the wars in the Middle East. It is also a betrayal of the UN Charter.

We remember the dead in Paris, Baghdad and Beirut; in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and around the world. We campaign for an end to policies that have torn the Middle East apart

Eric Kempson, who lives in Lesvos, claims that the UNHCR and Red Cross have failed to provide humanitarian aid to assist refugees making the dangerous sea crossings there.

Keith Vaz says there's no room for refugees - but the government is turning offers of housing from people and organisations who are desperate to assist

Sheku Bayoh's sisters have written to the First Minister to say they found the recent comments by Kenny MacAskill MSP "brutal and barbaric".

Press Release by Aamer Anwar on behalf of Sheku Bayo's family in response to recent comments by Kenny MacAskill's and Police Ferderation lawyer Peter Watson

A UNISON Scotland Delegation recently visited the Kurdish region in Turkey. Kurds in Turkey told them "Help us. We want democracy and peace".

Deidre Brock MP says: "The case for bombing in Syria has simply not been made."

SACC calls on MPs to reject any move by the UK Government to gain parliamentary approval for further military intervention in Syria

A new documentary about the Bosnia War of the 1990s will receive its Scottish premiere at Strathclyde University on Saturday, presented jointly by IHRC and SACC. The film 'Forgotten Genocide' uses expert testimony to argue that the entirety of the Bosnia War constitutes genocide.

Nicola Sturgeon says that the Scottish Government would oppose any attempt to scrap the Act or withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.

At a meeting with Chief Constable Stephen House, Sheku Bayoh's family raised serious allegations of criminality with regard to certain police officers.

The Bayoh family advised the Commissioner Kate Frame that their confidence in PIRC has been shattered.

The investigation by the PIRC (Police Investigations and Review Commissioner) into the death of Sheku Bayoh demonstrates that the organisation is not fit for purpose and must be reformed. It's time for the Scottish Government to acknowledge the problem

Sheku Bayoh's family yesterday had a "robust and honest" meeting with the Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland. They say they have lost confidence in the PIRC investigation into Sheku's death.

SACC urges great caution over claims that an unidentified Glasgow woman is planning to carry out a terrorist attack in the UK.

The Scottish Government's response to our Open Letter on Prevent is disappointing. The Scottish Parliament must now debate Prevent, and people in Scotland must take a stand against it.

Roger Mullin, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeat, has today announced that he will be writing to Stephen House, Chief Constable of Police Scotland, over the death of Sheku Bayoh.

Babar Ahmad has returned home from jail in the US. He says: "11 years of solitary confinement and isolation in ten different prisons has been an experience too profound to sum up in a few words here and now.

Prevent Duty Guidance documents for higher education and further education were placed before the Westminster Parliament on 16 July.

Tommy Sheridan's Solidarity party makes anti-racism and opposition to Prevent one of the keystones of its election campaign.

The Prevent Duty Guidance came into force today, both in Scotland and in England and Wales.

Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned Kurdish leader, will be granted honorary life membership of the USSA [University of Strathclyde Students’ Association ] at a ceremony on Saturday 20 June at the University of Strathclyde Students Association in Vertigo at 5pm

A week ago, SACC wrote to Nicola Sturgeon asking for the Scottish Government's response to our Open letter about the Prevent Programme. We are awaiting a response.

The PIRC investigation into the death of Sheku Bayoh has become a fiasco. PIRC evidently lacks either the resources or the will to do its job, which is to investigate the most serious incidents involving the police. There must now be a re-think of the way that these incidents are dealt with in Scotland (SACC statement).

The University and College Union (UCU) has condemned the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and agreed to boycott the Government's Prevent agenda in colleges and universities.

Statement issued at the Press Conference in Edinburgh on Thursday 14 May by Aamer Anwar, solicitor for the family of Sheku Bayoh.

The death of Sheku Ahmed Tejan Bayoh while in police custody in Kirkcaldy on 3 May appears to have disturbing similarities to the deaths of black people at the hands of police in England and the USA. What happens next will be a litmus test for Scotland's legal and political institutions and for Scottish civil society.

The NUS Annual Conference has agreed a motion opposing the Government's Prevent strategy and instructing NUS officers not to engage with it.

The STUC Annual Congress for 2015 will be held on 20-22 April. Here's our view on some motions being debated at the Congress that are particularly important for our campaign.

Following new legislation that gives statutory force to the Government's Prevent programme, SACC re-affirms its longstanding view that people should not cooperate with Prevent, and that organisations and individuals should not accept funding linked to Prevent.

The NUT (National Union of Teachers) at its 2015 conference agreed a motion opposing the Government's Prevent strategy.

SACC is dismayed by the continued failure of the Scottish Government to create a clear statutory framework for Stop and Search in Scotland.

The statutory Prevent guidance, including the guidance for Scotland, laid before Parliament on 12 March was approved by the House of Commons on Tuesday 24 March

Aberdeen University Students Association passed a motion at its AGM authorising representatives to lobby against Prevent.

Candidates in the UK Election must commit to standing against racism and Islamophobia, including the institutional Islamophobia of Britain's anti-terrorism laws. And they must commit to standing up for civil liberties.

SACC is extremely concerned over the news that terrorism charges have been brought against an 18 year-old Kurdish woman, Silan Ozcelik. We fear a new wave of persecution against Kurdish people who attempt to act in solidarity with Kurdish communities in Syria and Turkey.

Guidance for public bodies on their duties under Prevent have been laid before Parliament. Once approved, this will give Prevent legal force for the first time. The effect may be noticed most strongly in Scotland.

The Kurdish community and supporters of the Kurdish struggle are incensed at the arrest and imprisonment of 18 year old Shilan (Silhan) Ozcelik, who is accused of wanting to join the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS).

The Association of Palestinian Communities in Scotland condemns inflammatory teaching materials given to young children in a North Lanarkshire school which seeks to demonise Palestinians.

SACC Chair Richard Haley says "I stand with Cage."

Police Scotland are refusing to disclose the basic parameters of their probe into the use of Scottish airports by CIA torture flights. Their response follows a decade of official stone-walling. It is therefore impossible to place any confidence in their investigation.

The Counter Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill received royal assent on 12 February. Its implications for Scotland are still very unclear.

Scottish Lib Dems say they will bring forward amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill to outlaw extra-legal stop and search in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has once again ducked its responsibility to deal with the uncontrolled use of stop and search by Police Scotland.

Dundee welfare activist Tony Cox has been threatened with arrest if he attends the scheduled SUWN (Scottish Unemployed Workers Network) protest in Arbroath on Thursday. We demand that welfare activists are not prevented from conducting their work and nothing be put in the way of benefit claimants’ fundamental right to advice and representation.

On 28 January Glasgow showed its solidarity with Ferguson with its own "Black Lives Matter candlelit" vigil in Buchanan Street in support of the victims of US and UK injustices in Ferguson, New York and London.

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) condemns the Paris shootings and warns of the danger that far-right and fascist groups will try to exploit the tragedy.

SACC condemns the recent murderous attack at the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo magazine. However, we do not support the publication of material that depicts Islam and Muslims in the derisive way favoured by Charlie Hebdo.