UK faith groups concerned at ID card scheme
-08/08/05
Some sections of Britainís faith communities are concerned about the possible impact of the introduction of a UK government identity card (ID) scheme, particularly its relation to ëethnic profilingí ñ which has become a controversial issue in the current debate on effective measures to combat terrorism.
A report in yesterdayís Observer newspaper drew attention to a previously overlooked document, part of the governmentís consultation process, produced by the Faith Community Consultation Consortium (FCCC), whose members include the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Hindu Forum of Britain, Jain Samaj Europe, the Network of Sikh Organisations, the World Zoroastrian Organisation and the Muslim Council of Britain.
The Consortium also talks of the involvement of Christian bodies, but this does not seem to entail representation from the main ecumenical organisations.
The FCCC report goes back to an initial meeting on 1 December 2004, Ekklesia can reveal. This was followed by consultations in London on 18 January 2005, Birmingham on 20 January, Leicester on 31 January and Manchester on 1 February.
The Home Office says that identity cards would not lead to ethnic profiling ñ the singling out of particular racial or religious groups for specific attention. It denies that religious data will be recorded as part of a state database which human rights groups fear would severely damage civil liberties.
The FCCC is concerned that women who wear Arabic head coverings will be forced to take them off, and that other traditional forms of dress (such as turbans and beards for Sikhs) may need to be removed for identification purposes.
Referring to the first workshop held in London, Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum, said at the time: ìOver 50 people from a number of faith groups attended to express their concerns. Some interesting results came from the discussion and similarly the three other workshops highlighted equally insightful issues.î
Illustrating the fact that not all religious groups are negative towards ID proposals, he added: ìWe look forward to presenting our findings and contributing to the development of the identity cards programme.î
As a part of its own contribution to the FCCC report, the Muslim Council of Britain declared: ìThe reality is that the laws which empower intrusion into private life are being used disproportionately against members of the Muslim community.î
However, in the wake of the 7 and 21 July bomb attacks in London, many Muslim leaders (though by no means all of the communities on the ground) now accept that greater surveillance is inevitable, provided it is carried out with sensitivity and does not heighten peopleís fear.
Government minister Hazel Blears, in a recent whistle-stop visit to British Muslim communities, was quickly forced to back down on her previous support for ethnic profiling ñ which some security experts say is inappropriate anyway, because it may lead violent groups to use operatives who do not fit the authoritiesí preconceived notions.
After the 7 July bombs, Home Secretary Charles Clarke admitted that ID cards would not have helped prevent the atrocities. But he also maintains that they are necessary as part of a range of measures to combat terrorism. This is a claim disputed by civil liberties organisations.
The British government is trying hard to build positive relations with religious communities at the moment. But there is major disquiet about recent measures (including banning and deportation orders) which Prime Minister Blair announced shortly before going on holiday.
It is now thought that parliament will need to be recalled from its summer recess in order to discuss the issues involved.
UK faith groups concerned at ID card scheme
-08/08/05
Some sections of Britain’s faith communities are concerned about the possible impact of the introduction of a UK government identity card (ID) scheme, particularly its relation to ëethnic profiling’ – which has become a controversial issue in the current debate on effective measures to combat terrorism.
A report in yesterday’s Observer newspaper drew attention to a previously overlooked document, part of the government’s consultation process, produced by the Faith Community Consultation Consortium (FCCC), whose members include the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Hindu Forum of Britain, Jain Samaj Europe, the Network of Sikh Organisations, the World Zoroastrian Organisation and the Muslim Council of Britain.
The Consortium also talks of the involvement of Christian bodies, but this does not seem to entail representation from the main ecumenical organisations.
The FCCC report goes back to an initial meeting on 1 December 2004, Ekklesia can reveal. This was followed by consultations in London on 18 January 2005, Birmingham on 20 January, Leicester on 31 January and Manchester on 1 February.
The Home Office says that identity cards would not lead to ethnic profiling – the singling out of particular racial or religious groups for specific attention. It denies that religious data will be recorded as part of a state database which human rights groups fear would severely damage civil liberties.
The FCCC is concerned that women who wear Arabic head coverings will be forced to take them off, and that other traditional forms of dress (such as turbans and beards for Sikhs) may need to be removed for identification purposes.
Referring to the first workshop held in London, Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum, said at the time: ‘Over 50 people from a number of faith groups attended to express their concerns. Some interesting results came from the discussion and similarly the three other workshops highlighted equally insightful issues.’
Illustrating the fact that not all religious groups are negative towards ID proposals, he added: ‘We look forward to presenting our findings and contributing to the development of the identity cards programme.’
As a part of its own contribution to the FCCC report, the Muslim Council of Britain declared: ‘The reality is that the laws which empower intrusion into private life are being used disproportionately against members of the Muslim community.’
However, in the wake of the 7 and 21 July bomb attacks in London, many Muslim leaders (though by no means all of the communities on the ground) now accept that greater surveillance is inevitable, provided it is carried out with sensitivity and does not heighten people’s fear.
Government minister Hazel Blears, in a recent whistle-stop visit to British Muslim communities, was quickly forced to back down on her previous support for ethnic profiling – which some security experts say is inappropriate anyway, because it may lead violent groups to use operatives who do not fit the authorities’ preconceived notions.
After the 7 July bombs, Home Secretary Charles Clarke admitted that ID cards would not have helped prevent the atrocities. But he also maintains that they are necessary as part of a range of measures to combat terrorism. This is a claim disputed by civil liberties organisations.
The British government is trying hard to build positive relations with religious communities at the moment. But there is major disquiet about recent measures (including banning and deportation orders) which Prime Minister Blair announced shortly before going on holiday.
It is now thought that parliament will need to be recalled from its summer recess in order to discuss the issues involved.