Your letters and tweets
Ramadan fasting challenge Four years ago [in Liverpool], I started the Ramadan Challenge to break down misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. It began by observing how supportive my son’s primary school was about him fasting over Ramadan while other schools did not have such a positive practice.
As a convert to Islam for 24 years, I’ve always felt we could do more to improve people’s understanding of our faith and important parts of our calendar, which is when the Ramadan Challenge was born. I invited non- Muslims to fast for a day and raise money for a cause. I would support them then cook them a meal. In the first year we had over 50 people fasting. Then I invited staff from my son’s primary school. The impact was transformative. The Muslim kids discovered a new-found confidence in celebrating and sharing their faith, the non-Muslim kids were keen to take part, and the staff learned, experientially.
I had raised a daughter post 9/11 and seen the hostile environment kids had to navigate in schools with the likes of Prevent. Prevent [makes] Muslims feel they [are on] the radar, that being a visible practising Muslim was almost enough to get you referred for deradicalisation. I wanted our children to be proud of their beautiful tradition.
Last year, the challenge went international when my friend in Canada replicated it. In Liverpool we raised £15,000 to help Syrian families move out of tents into homes. This year, we raised over £12,000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians and many schools had iftars for the first time.
This project has been amazing for building community cohesion. I will be happy if this is my legacy so that we continue to be agents of goodness in our communities and help to shed the
38 AMNESTY WINTER 2024
suspicion and harm of Prevent. Amirah Scarisbrick
A realistic vision?
Interesting to read your article (Autumn 2024 issue) on social and economic rights in the UK, and as an Amnesty member I fully endorse your conclusions. However, your government recommendations read like something out of the Communist Manifesto, notably including a huge
increase in spending on public welfare services.
Isn’t this naive and rather fanciful given the current state of the UK economy? Human rights shouldn’t be an expensive luxury that only rich nations can afford. Perhaps your excellent researchers could devote some time to formulating credible economic solutions to the problems outlined in your article? Martin Tooke
TOP TWEETS
The courtyard outside the office of @acikradyo is packed for the press conference they have called as the radio ended its terrestrial broadcast today following the state broadcast authority’s baseless decision to revoke its licence. A truly shameful moment.
@MilenaBuyum. The Istanbul independent radio station was forced to stop broadcasting in October in another assault on freedom of expression in Türkiye
I don’t know how to even begin to describe the pride myself and Mr Holliday felt this morning seeing these incredible young people perform at the @AmnestyUK @CheltLitFest showcase.
@MissKirkEnglish on Severn Vale school students taking part in our Words that Burn poetry project
Exactly one
year ago I stood in a long line in Warsaw to vote in Poland’s parliamentary election. Like so many other women and young people, hopeful that wrongs like the abortion ban will be righted. Why haven’t they been @ donaldtusk? @AnnaMBlus,
Amnesty’s gender justice researcher, questions Doland Tusk’s ‘100 day’ promise of access to safe and legal abortion
© Grzegorz Żukowski
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