'Save Omar' campaign website launched

The campaign for justice for Omar Deghayes has been strengthened with a new website. Omar, who has been in Guantanamo bay since 2002, has suffered torture, resulting in blindness in one eye, and death threats from Libyan authorities, while in the custody of US authorities there.

The "evidence" against Omar appears to consist entirely of a video of a wanted suspect, who, experts have confirmed, does not resemble Omar. Omar has been described as "a gentle man" who is "opposed to violence".

BHMF are acitvely campaigning for justice for Omar, with a demonstration outside Brighton town hall last week, when the council almost unanimously voted in favour of a motion asking for government intervention in the matter. The website, designed and hosted by BHMF, is the latest development in the campaign which aims to raise awareness of Omar's plight, in order to put pressure on the British government to intervene on his behalf.

Blair's Wars - Anti-war conference

Speakers . Workshops . Cafe
Stalls . Kids’ Activities

Speakers and discussion focusing on Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo
and other issues raised by New Labour foreign policy

Saturday 23rd April
11am - 3.30pm
Brighthelm, North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD
Organised by ‘Hands Off’ an anti-war forum linked to Sussex Action for
Peace

Speakers include:

SAMI RAMADANI
Iraqi-born lecturer, writer and anti-occupation activist

DAVID CHANDLER, senior lecturer and writer on the
politics of humanitarian intervention

HAIFA ZANGANA, Iraqi-born novelist and antioccupation
activist, focusing on women’s rights

ANA LEKAJ, from former Yugoslavia

NICHOLAS GILBY, from the Campaign Against the Arms
Trade

HOWARD DAVIES, local photojournalist documenting
refugee crises

TIM GOPSILL, Editor of the NUJ magazine, The
Journalist

For more information contact
href="mailto:
info@watchingthewarmakers.org.uk">info@watchingthewarmakers.org.uk

Telephone 01273 706820 or

href="http://
www.watchingthewarmakers.org.uk">www.watchingthewarmakers.org.uk

Brighton council calls for justice for Omar

Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum organised a protest today against the
Brighton resident Omar Deghayes who is being held without trial in
Guantanamo bay. The protest was held outside Brighton town hall where
the local council was meeting to debate a motion calling for justice.
Around 40 - 50 people arrived to protest, including Palestinian
musicians who performed for the crowd, and children dressed up in
'tyranny rex' costumes.

The motion was last on the agenda, so was not debated until around 9
o'clock in the evening. After much campaigning by local residents, all
major parties supported the motion, and it passed with an overwhelming
majority, with only two members voting against the motion.

The motion stated, "Omar Deghayes, a 35 year old Libyan refugee brought
up in Saltdean, where his mother still lives, has been detained without
trial by the American military in Guantanamo Bay's Camp Delta since
2002... This Council believes that the due process of law is a basic
human right, and that detention without trial or charges being laid or
the opportunity to construct a defence is immoral, everyone is entitled
to a fair trial."

The motion requires the council to to instruct the Chief Executive to
contact the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, to ask the government to
intervene in Omar's case by calling on the American authorities to
either bring Mr Deghayes to trial in a court of law, or return him to
face trial in the UK, should the police deem it appropriate.

BHMF Policty Coordinator, Kadeer Arif, posed a question to Tony Blair,
appearing on Southern Counties Radio, asking him why the government has
not yet intervened. The prime minister evaded answering the question
directly.

Building Bridges Between Faiths

BHMF has been working with the local Reform synagogue in Hove, as well as local Christian groups on an interfaith art project.

The idea was to build bridges between the faiths with Muslim, Jewish and Christian children working on an art project together. The aim is to build a mosaic which will God willing be displayed in the local children's hospital.

View pictures of the last session:
interfaith1.jpg,
interfaith2.jpg,
interfaith3.jpg,
interfaith4.jpg,
interfaith5.jpg.

More details to follow soon, God willing!

BHMF Committee Members Give Tutorial on Islam

BHMF Chair Sabri ben Ameur and Activities Officer Tariq Jung gave a tutorial to prominent non-Muslims on the basics of Islam. The event was organised by the Interfaith Forum.

Participants included politicians and notables, many of whom travelled from London specially for the event. View their thank-you cards for Sabri and Tariq.

BHMF Launches Arabic Classes

BHMF is launching Arabic classes in central Brighton. The classes will run for ten weeks and are open to all. The classes will be for two hours each and will be held weekly, for a ten week course. To register, or for more details, please contact Sabri on 07867 773723.

Fundraising Crafts Fair in Brighton Marina

Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum will be holding a crafts fair to raise
money to help fund the Saturday school recently set up in Brighton.
There will be stalls and activities for children, including a bouncy
castle, insha'Allah it should be a fun day out for all the family.

Date: Not yet confirmed
Location: Brighton Marina, Village Square

Stalls are available to rent for £30, please contact brother Sabri
(07867 773723) for more details.