Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network
Encyclopedia
The Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network (AMCRAN) was established in April 2004 after the arrest and detention of medical student Izhar ul-Haque in Sydney
on terrorism related charges of attending a training camp in Pakistan. The organisation aims to prevent the erosion of the civil rights
of all Australia
ns, and to do this through providing a Muslim
perspective in the civil rights debate. It engages in political lobbying and legislative reform, grassroots community education, collaboration with both Muslim and non-Muslim organisations on civil rights, and communication to wider Australian society through the media.
Co-convenors of the organisation include Dr Waleed Kadous, a computer scientist of Egyptian background; and Amir Butler
, an author and engineer, as well as the executive director of the Australian Muslim Public Affairs Committee (AMPAC). AMCRAN joined the Civil Rights Network and other civil libertarian organisations in campaigning against the powers of the Australian anti-terrorism legislation, 2004
.
In July 2004 AMCRAN produced and distributed, in cooperation with the NSW Council for Civil Liberties
, Terrorism Laws: ASIO, the Police and You. The Pamphlet provides advice to Muslims and the wider community on the impact of new Terrorism laws. A second edition of the booklet is being produced by AMCRAN and the University of Technology, Sydney
Community Law Centre in 2007.
As part of its campaign against the Government's Terrorism laws, in September 2005 Agnes Chong of the Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network voiced concern about legislation, which included proposals for police powers to detain suspects without charge for a fortnight. "We know of at least 18 people who have been questioned and detained under ASIO warrants," she said, also cmplaining about the secrecy involved in each case. "Do you want the same thing that is happening elsewhere in the world happening in Australia? … We are not going to stand for this. We have to use every legitimate means to prevent unjust laws …" she told a reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald.
When the Federal Government announced proposals in September 2005 to introduce tough new laws prohibiting the "incitement of violence", many civil rights groups protested saying the proposed laws threatened free speech, including AMCRAN Co-convenor Waleed Kadous who said he was "deeply concerned about how this will impact on quite legitimate free speech".
Control order
s: In November 2005 a submission by the organisation to a Parliamentary committee said "Of particular concern to the Muslim community is that the low test for control orders potentially opens the door for racial or religious profiling … whether it be officially or unofficially," the submission says. This could happen at the level of grassroots policing or in the court room." it said. "In the courtroom, there is a real possibility that the fact that a person prays at a particular mosque, or that they are devout Muslims, could be used as evidence to support claims of involvement in terrorism", the submission said
In January 2006 the Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network criticised the new laws of the Australian Anti-Terrorism Act 2005
allowing the military to be called out in the case of a major terrorist attack. The organisation's submission to a Senate Committee highlighted the problems of police working alongside the military using Northern Ireland in the 1970s as an example, saying "Events such as these elucidate the dangers in deploying highly armed soldiers, trained and equipped to kill, into civilian areas,"
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on terrorism related charges of attending a training camp in Pakistan. The organisation aims to prevent the erosion of the civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
of all Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
ns, and to do this through providing a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
perspective in the civil rights debate. It engages in political lobbying and legislative reform, grassroots community education, collaboration with both Muslim and non-Muslim organisations on civil rights, and communication to wider Australian society through the media.
Co-convenors of the organisation include Dr Waleed Kadous, a computer scientist of Egyptian background; and Amir Butler
Amir Butler
Amir Butler is an author and engineer. Born in the United Kingdom, he currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.Amir Butler's views on Muslims in Australia were quoted in the past in the Australian media, sometimes critically...
, an author and engineer, as well as the executive director of the Australian Muslim Public Affairs Committee (AMPAC). AMCRAN joined the Civil Rights Network and other civil libertarian organisations in campaigning against the powers of the Australian anti-terrorism legislation, 2004
Australian anti-terrorism legislation, 2004
Three anti-terrorism bills were enacted in the Australian Parliament in 2004 by a Coalition government with the Labor opposition's support. These were the Anti-terrorism bill, 2004, the Anti-terrorism bill , 2004 and the Anti-terrorism bill , 2004.-Anti-terrorism bill, 2004:The Attorney-General,...
.
In July 2004 AMCRAN produced and distributed, in cooperation with the NSW Council for Civil Liberties
NSW Council for Civil Liberties
Founded in 1963, the charter of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties is to protect the equal rights of all citizens and oppose all or any abuse or excessive power by the State against its people.The Council for Civil Liberties has a committee elected by volunteers whose primary role is to influence...
, Terrorism Laws: ASIO, the Police and You. The Pamphlet provides advice to Muslims and the wider community on the impact of new Terrorism laws. A second edition of the booklet is being produced by AMCRAN and the University of Technology, Sydney
University of Technology, Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1981, although its origins trace back to the 1870s. UTS is notable for its central location as the only university with its main campuses within the Sydney CBD...
Community Law Centre in 2007.
As part of its campaign against the Government's Terrorism laws, in September 2005 Agnes Chong of the Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network voiced concern about legislation, which included proposals for police powers to detain suspects without charge for a fortnight. "We know of at least 18 people who have been questioned and detained under ASIO warrants," she said, also cmplaining about the secrecy involved in each case. "Do you want the same thing that is happening elsewhere in the world happening in Australia? … We are not going to stand for this. We have to use every legitimate means to prevent unjust laws …" she told a reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald.
When the Federal Government announced proposals in September 2005 to introduce tough new laws prohibiting the "incitement of violence", many civil rights groups protested saying the proposed laws threatened free speech, including AMCRAN Co-convenor Waleed Kadous who said he was "deeply concerned about how this will impact on quite legitimate free speech".
Control order
Control order
A control order is an order made by the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom to restrict an individual's liberty for the purpose of "protecting members of the public from a risk of terrorism". Its definition and power were provided by Parliament in the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005...
s: In November 2005 a submission by the organisation to a Parliamentary committee said "Of particular concern to the Muslim community is that the low test for control orders potentially opens the door for racial or religious profiling … whether it be officially or unofficially," the submission says. This could happen at the level of grassroots policing or in the court room." it said. "In the courtroom, there is a real possibility that the fact that a person prays at a particular mosque, or that they are devout Muslims, could be used as evidence to support claims of involvement in terrorism", the submission said
In January 2006 the Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network criticised the new laws of the Australian Anti-Terrorism Act 2005
Australian Anti-Terrorism Act 2005
The Anti-Terrorism Act 2005 is legislation intended to hamper the activities of any potential terrorists in Australia. It was passed by the Commonwealth Parliament on 6 December 2005.- Chronology :...
allowing the military to be called out in the case of a major terrorist attack. The organisation's submission to a Senate Committee highlighted the problems of police working alongside the military using Northern Ireland in the 1970s as an example, saying "Events such as these elucidate the dangers in deploying highly armed soldiers, trained and equipped to kill, into civilian areas,"