A forthcoming documentary that explores the lives of Muslim women who wear the hijab is a must-see film, full of surprises. One of the most pernicious side-effects of the current wave of Islamophobia sweeping through Europe is the way that it denies the individuality of Muslim women and girls who wear the veil. The idea
The final straw
Why is the former home secretary embroiling himself in a racialised crime issue? Jack Straw is at it again – saying the unsayable. He seems to think his working-class roots and pragmatic reputation gives him the right to say the racially unsayable or, rather, to racialise the sayable. Straw has joined the fray about gangs
The cap that never was
Anne Singh reports on recent changes to policy affecting migrant care workers. You would be forgiven for missing it, but in mid December 2010, amidst the sustained stream of government announcements about restricting the numbers of spouses, students, migrant workers – pretty much anyone – coming to the UK from outside the EEA, there was
Segregation myths exposed
A crucial book questioning dominant ideas about race, ethnicity and segregation deserves to be widely read. Claims about the growing impact of segregation have permeated policy-making to such an extent within the UK that they have visibly impacted upon a wide range of criminal justice, social policy, education, and anti-terrorism strategies. They are central to
Jayaben Desai 1933-2010
On 23 December 2010, 77-year-old Jayaben Desai, the militant leader of the Grunwick strike (1976-1978) passed away. ‘There was another powerful political lady with a handbag other than Thatcher in the 1970s’, wrote Jenny Bourne when reviewing a DVD on the struggle at the factory, ‘A tiny woman, usually swathed in a bulky cardigan, almost
Prisons for rent
Below we reproduce an article by Shiar Youssef of Corporate Watch that examines recent developments in the world of privatised prisons and policing. As the coalition government announced its plans to ‘reform’ the prison and rehabilitation services, private companies were greasing their palms for fat contracts in the new market. Meanwhile, private security giant G4S
Sledgehammer approach to forced marriage rejected
The Court of Appeal has told the Home Office to disapply marriage rules for the majority of couples applying for a visa. In November 2008, the Home Office amended the immigration rules to require that only couples over 21 could benefit from family reunion. Applications by under-21s to join spouses here, or applications by older
A cashless society: the other side of the coin …
As the seasonal festivities get into full swing, campaign and support groups are stepping up their lobbying against the Azure card – a cashless payment system for asylum seekers – which leaves thousands in extreme poverty. ‘Section 4 support’, as set out in Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, provides for limited
Sudden about turn in Habib Ullah case
Last week the inquest into the death of Habib Ullah was suddenly halted as the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) made an application to the coroner to stop proceedings so it could reopen its investigation into the five police officers involved. Habib ‘Paps’ Ullah, (39) died on 3 July 2008 after a stop and search
Irish justice ministry’s intimidatory tactics force transfer
The decision to transfer asylum seekers from one accommodation centre to another was marked by official insensitivity, intransigence and intimidation, according to an Irish Refugee Council report. In June 2010, the Irish Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) wrote to 109 of the 800 or so asylum seekers resident at its accommodation centre at Mosney, County