Press Releases

Rising up against racism and discrimination - 03 July 2007

03 July 2007: Human rights group Embargoed! has organised back-to-back events as part of its ongoing campaign to end discrimination against Turkish Cypriots. On Sunday 15 July, the group will have a stand at Mayor Ken Livingstone’s annual RISE festival at Finsbury Park. The following day, Embargoed! will be hosting a public seminar called “Second Class in Cyprus, Second Class in Britain” to address the growing racism and discrimination British Turkish Cypriots face.

This is the seventh year that the Mayor of London has organised the RISE festival (www.risefestival.org) to oppose racism and celebrate the diversity of London. In 2006, nearly 100,000 people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds attended the festival, and Embargoed! is hoping its information stand in the Exhibition section will help raise awareness of the discrimination against Turkish Cypriots to a much wider audience.

The “Second Class in Cyprus, Second Class in Britain” will take place at the Turkish Cypriot Community Centre, 628-630 Green Lanes, on Monday 16 July from 7pm to 9pm. The seminar is timed to coincide with both the RISE festival and the 20 July 1974 commemorations, when 30 years on from Turkey’s intervention in Cyprus, Turks continue to be vilified. The speakers and topics are:

• Fevzi Hussein, Embargoed! Head of NGO Relations (also Policy Advisor of the Communication Workers Union). Introducing the seminar with evidence of the ‘second class’ status of British Turkish Cypriots, chairing the discussions and summing up

• Peray Ahmet: London Turkish Gazette columnist
Why are Turkish Cypriots so passive about the discrimination they face?

• Meryem Cast: Chair of the Metropolitan Turkish Police Officers Association
Knowing your rights – what do to if you are being racially abused?

• Leon Mann: Europe and Media Relations Officer, Kick it Out
Challenging racist beliefs through football

• Asad Rehman: Newham Monitoring Project
Getting active to combat racial discrimination / violence, institutional misconduct and civil rights issues.

Source - http://www.embargoed.org/press_releases.php?id=105