Category Archives: Government Oppression

Kashmir Times. Dated: 8/6/2021 1:30:55 AM

By Bharat DograThe Taliban are now widely regarded as one of the most violent and socially regressive forces in the world. This is largely correct, but an unintentional and unfortunate extension of this understanding is to regard the Pashtun people as a very violent people.

Today the world is talking about the Taliban as an extremely violent group known for very fierce fighting and extreme forms of violence. Many strategists are saying that the Taliban takeover of much of Afghanistan territory is a very serious threat for the spread of very violent forms of ideologies. Cruel revenge against all those who are perceived by it to have acted against its interests is widely feared in the areas which are taken over by this militant organization. In addition, violence against minorities and women is feared, in particular those women who are not perceived by it to be abiding by its approval of only a very restricted social role of women as well as prescribed dress codes.The Taliban emerged initially from the residential schools opened in Pakistan mainly for refugees from Afghanistan where highly restrictive fanatic thought was the base of education and many of the pupils had no exposure to any other worldview in their formative years. This was backed by military training and glorification of fighting and dying for a fanatic form of religion.They were then unleashed as a heavily armed militant force for narrow political objectives in Afghanistan without realizing the very serious adverse longer-term impacts of such an action. The Talibans comprised mainly Pashtun people who live on both sides of the Durand line in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In due course a similar group with equally violent actions on the Pakistan side also emerged, although it is much smaller as it never had official support.The Taliban are now widely regarded as one of the most violent and socially regressive forces in the world. This is largely correct, but an unintentional and unfortunate extension of this understanding is to regard the Pashtun people as a very violent people. This is wrong, and in particular it is important to recall at this juncture the time when the Pashtuns were organized for one of the most inspiring non-violent struggles which drew well-deserved extensive praise from none other than Mahatma Gandhi.The reference here of course is to the great movement under the inspiring leadership of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (also called Badshah Khan the King of Khans and Frontier Gandhi), a non-violent freedom movement that prospered in parts of the Pashtun dominated region during 1920-1947, peaking around 1930-1935 with the involvement of nearly a hundred thousand soldiers of peace. As is well known, these were years of freedom movement in undivided India against colonial British rule led by Mahatma Gandhi, who pioneered the biggest anti-colonial peaceful movement. In the main Pashtun area of undivided India centering around the city of Peshawar, this struggle was led by Badshah Khan, a friend and admirer of Mahatma Gandhi. Ultimately Mahatma Gandhi was to say that it is Badshah Khan and the freedom fighters trained by him who have become a big source of hope for him in carrying forward his peaceful struggles.During these days Badshah Khan had successfully raised an army of peaceful soldiers called Khudai Khidmatgars (or servants of God). Every khudai Khidmatgar had to take this oath I am a Khudai Khidmatgar; and as God needs no service, but serving his creation is serving him, I promise to serve humanity in the name of God.I promise to refrain from violence and from taking revenge. I promise to forgive those who oppress me or treat me with cruelty. I promise to refrain from taking part in feuds and quarrels and from creating enmity. I promise to treat every Pathan as my brother and friend. I promise to refrain from anti-social customs and practices. I promise to live a simple life, to practice virtue and to refrain from evil.I promise to practice good manners and good behaviour and not to lead a life of idleness. I promise to devote at least two hours a day to social work.Describing the importance of this oath for the people of this region, Badshah Khans biographer Eknath Easwaran writes, For a pathan (or pashtun), an oath is not a small matter. He does not enter into a vow easily because once given, a Pathans word cannot be broken. Even his enemy can count on him to keep his word at the risk of his own life. Nonviolence was the heart of the oath and of the organisation. It was directed not only against the violence of British rule but against the pervasive violence of Pathan life.During 1930-31 came the real test of endurance of their commitment to non-violence as the colonial police and army rapidly escalated their brutal repression to check the spread of the freedom movement.According to a report prepared by the Congress Inquiry Committee, a protest demonstration in Qissa Khawani Bazar was dispersing peacefully when all of a sudden two or three armoured cars came at great speed from behind without giving warning of their approach and drove into the crowd. Several people were run over, of whom some were injured and a few killed on the spot. The people were not armed [not even with] stones or bricks. The crowd behaved with great restraint, collecting the wounded and dead.More people collected. The troops were ordered to fire. Several people were killed and wounded, the report continues, and the crowd was pushed back some distance. At about half past eleven, endeavours were made by one or two outsiders to persuade the crowd to disperse and the authorities to remove the troops and the armoured cars. The crowds were willing to disperse if they were allowed to remove the dead and the injured and if the armoured cars and the troops were removed. The authorities, on the other hand, expressed their determination not to remove the armoured cars and troops. The result was that the people did not disperse and were prepared to receive the bullets and lay down their lives. The second firing then began and, off and on, lasted for more than three hours.In his study of nonviolent movements, Gene Sharp of Harvard includes a description of the firing in Qissa Khawani Bazaar: When those in front fell down wounded by the shots, those behind came forward with their breasts bared and exposed themselves to the fire, so much so that some people got as many as 21 bullet wounds in their bodies, and all the people stood their ground without getting into a panic. A young Sikh boy came and stood in front of a soldier and asked him to fire at him which the soldier unhesitatingly did, killing him. The crowd kept standing at the spot facing the soldiers and were fired at from time to time, untill there were heaps of wounded and dying lying about.A newspaper of Lahore, which represented the official view, itself wrote to the effect that the people came forward one after another to face the firing and when they fell wounded they were dragged back and others came forward to be shot at. This state of things continued from 11 till 5 in the evening.Such incidents were repeated. The brave Pathans continued to pass the test of endurance and their commitment to peace and non-violence. The result was that within a few months their support increased dramatically. The Khudai Khidmatgars had started with a strength of about one thousand only, but by the end of the September there were nearly eighty thousand volunteers.Another equally inspiring and dramatic development was that the Hindu soldiers of Garhwal Rifles refused to fire on peaceful Pashtun Muslim freedom-fighters, even when they knew that theyll get the most severe punishment. In fact, these brave soldiers led by Chandra Singh Garhwali told their officers that they can blow them from their guns if they want but they will not fire on such peaceful freedom fighters.The peaceful resistance spread widely despite the fact that Badshah Khan and other leaders were arrested. His two sons and elder brother were also arrested.Another inspiring aspect of the movement very relevant to the present days of the Taliban is that Pathan women were encouraged to participate actively in the freedom movement and many of them came forward to play an important role. Badshah Khan opposed the purdah system (veil) and emphasised the equality of women.The great inspirational impact this movement had even on very violent people and even criminals can be understood partly from the example of Murtaza, who had earlier been jailed for murder. His life changed dramatically after he came under the influence of this peaceful freedom movement. Although he could not sustain this non-violence throughout his life, at least for some years he observed it honestly and sincerely. When Badshah Khans son Ghani interviewed him about this period of his life, he replied, I was a little saint for those four years. I tried to live up to my dreams instead of my desires. It was great, it was a miracle. I refused fortunes for a hope and spared lovely girls because they trusted me and looked up to me. You cannot help loving those that love you, and you cannot hurt those that trust you. I tried to live up to what the people thought I was.Several important lessons can be learnt from recalling this glorious phase of non-violent struggle. Firstly, the entire Pashtun community should not be a given a bad name because of the spread of Taliban in the area. Both in Afghanistan and Pakistan, for several decades they voted for and elected secular political parties. When a people become most violent or most peaceful depends largely on circumstances. Many Pashtuns are known to have resisted the spread of Taliban and fanatic forces even at the cost of their life.Secondly, the inspiring phase of history involving the efforts of Badshah Khan and his Khudai Khidmatgars tells us how the undoubted courage of people who live violent lives full of honour and revenge killings can be harnessed for great contributions to very noble work and to peaceful struggles for justice.It is when such efforts are constantly suppressed (Badshah Khan and his followers faced jails and repression even at the hands of Pakistans government after the end of the British rule) that the chances for peoples feelings of oppression and injustice to be pushed towards the path of fanaticism and extremism increase. This is particularly true if the government itself encourages this as certainly happened in Pakistan for a long time.When the Taliban was being created and prepared for a very violent role, there were hardly any efforts at world level for checking this at the right time. Instead, big powers appear to have been supportive. Even at a later stage when the dangers of unleashing a very fanatic armed force capable of capturing state power were becoming clearer, there were not much efforts to check this.Another important question iswhat was the official response to the forces of peace? It is well-known that the colonial rulers were cruel in suppressing it. But after independence and partition, under the new Pakistani government also Badshah Khan had to spend most of his time in jail and/or under serious restrictions. So many cases were foisted on him and he faced so many difficulties and oppression that he just could not get the opportunities he needed to spread his message of peace among more people. The international community also neglected this important force of peace and its leader. On the other hand, those who worked in a framework of violence and fanaticism continued to get a lot of support and funds, and this increased greatly after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.The chances of building a peaceful resistance never got a chance. As this region became more and more an area of big-power rivalry, the entire effort by big powers was to get the support of one violent group or the other to sort out immediate issues, and in the process opium cultivation, its processing into heroin and smuggling were all boosted, with more and more people getting addicted and also dependent on this for economic support. Hence the region was pushed more and more towards becoming a region of guns and opium, a far cry from the world of peace, cooperation and philanthropy which Badshah had tried to create for his people.Can his vision be revived again today for this deeply troubled region? This is the question that needs to be asked by all peace-loving people.Bharat Dogra is a journalist and author who has written on peace, justice and ecology for nearly five decades. He is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save the Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril and Earth without Borders. Contact bharatdogra1956@gmail.com web-site-bharatdogra.in

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A Time to Recall A Great Non-Violent Struggle of Pashtuns Against Injustice and Oppression - Kashmir Times

The Herald

Dr Misheck Sibanda

This is a presentation made by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda at the launch of President Mnangagwas biography A Life of Sacrifice at State House on Thursday.

The book A Life of Sacrifice is undoubtedly a bold attempt by the authors to capture and chronicle the life and history of a pioneering and trailblazing freedom fighter and politician belonging to the unique nationalist breed of the 1960s.

It was indeed an ambitious enterprise to seek to condense in 130 pages the eventful life of an activist whose journey included: youth activism; military training; armed combat; incarceration; prison sentence; and escaping the hangmans noose; and 40 years of leadership, including in the highest office of the land.

The authors set themselves the task of capturing all these in a life characterised by trials and tribulations which were overcome through the steely, obdurate determination and seemingly quiet disposition of Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

From this perspective, the book is a welcome development, because it adds to the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of our history and the pedigree of leading figures that contributed to, and sometimes made that history through personal involvement and unique commitment.

It is a history of struggle, perseverance, valiance, gallantry and sacrifice.

Indeed, it is part of a proud history of brave freedom fighters who valiantly fought against British white settler colonialism, not once but several times, typified by the First Chimurenga in the 1890s and Second Chimurenga in the 1960s and 1970s.

In those wars, gallant sons and daughters of this land paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of the motherland.

They eloquently said No to foreign subjugation and to be turned into drawers of water, and hewers of wood in the land of their forefathers.

Indeed, they followed in the footsteps of the heroic forebears who resisted Portuguese occupation during the Mutapa Empire.

To be counted among that fine crop of the young men who thrust themselves forward was Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, at a time when white colonial power looked invincible.

After all, colonial authority had the technology of war, instruments of oppression and support from the entire imperialist world.

That notwithstanding, the young freedom fighters had the courage, determination and belief in their innate capacity and ability.

They loved their country and abhorred foreign rule. They were driven by a burning spirit of patriotism, and unshakable conviction that colonialism would be defeated.

After all, the imperial empire was crumbling everywhere then, in Asia and some parts of Africa.

This is the story that A Life of Sacrifice, seeks to weave by unravelling the part played by ED Mnangagwa, our President and Commander-in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

The authors tell this story of this enigmatic and complex revolutionary, in 130 pages of readable and jargon free narrative.

The book brings to the fore the story of the impact of settler colonial oppression and injustice; land deprivation; and limited educational and economic opportunities for the youths.

Reacting to the opposition to destocking his cattle, Emmersons father Mafidhi, and his family were banished from their homeland in the Runde Communal area in Zvishavane, and forcibly relocated to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in the early 1950s.

This led to Emmersons early participation in youth activism of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) of Northern Rhodesia.

Later on, he threw his lot with his fellow Zimbabweans and joined ZAPU at a time when there was a transition to the armed struggle.

He became one of those youngsters who voluntarily went for military training in Egypt. When there was a split within ZAPU, he joined the splinter Party ZANU and saw him heading to China for specialised military training.

Emmersons long and ardours journey of sacrifice had commenced.

This would see him attend the first Congress of ZANU in 1964 in Gwelo (now Gweru), followed by military escapades as part of the first ZANU military attack on a Rhodesian locomotive in Fort Victoria (now Masvingo) by a ZANU specialised military Unit code-named, the Crocodile Gang, led by young E.D. Mnangagwa.

Betrayal and arrest saw him on the death row, saved only by fate as well as adept and dogged efforts by Father Emmanuel Ribeiro and patriotic lawyers from hanging.

After serving his 10-year sentence, he was deported to Zambia. He completed his law studies at the University of Zambia after which he briefly worked with Enock Dumbutshena who became the first black Chief Justice of independent Zimbabwe.

When a call came for him to reunite with his comrades in the struggle, he did not hesitate to go to Mozambique. The rest is the history as narrated in the book.

At independence he was given the delicate and onerous responsibility to integrate the disparate armies, namely: ZANLA, ZIPRA and the Rhodesian Army, into one national army a task he accomplished with distinction.

This was followed by stints as Minister of State for National Security; Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; Rural Housing and Social Amenities; Speaker of Parliament; Minister of Defence; Vice President and other Government and Party assignments and deployments that prepared him for the eventual position of President of the Second Republic.

Very clearly, ED Mnangagwa approached each assignment with passion, commitment and dedication, and discharged his national obligations driven by loyalty and national service.

The motivation was not characterised by unbridled ambition or love for power, but a national duty to build, protect and defend the independent country he had heroically struggled to bring about.

This disciplined commitment to work and national service became the embodiment of his lifelong service to the nation as a whole. This was also evidenced by his sterling contribution as Speaker of Parliament at a challenging time.

Indeed, his adept and adroit management and steering of its business earned him accolades, enabling Parliament to weather the stormy waters brought about by the presence of a strong and sometimes hostile opposition.

He also introduced fundamental Parliamentary reforms during his tenure as Speaker including making Parliament more open and accessible.

Equally, as Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, he introduced fundamental reforms that included the Open Prison system and Victim Friendly Court Systems.

As Leader Government Business in Parliament, he steered Parliamentary reforms.

Similarly, when the economy was almost on its knees, he was part of the team that introduced the multi-currency system as a way of arresting inflation, stabilizing prices and the economy.

His Excellency the Presidents nationalist and reformist agenda has found full expression in the New Dispensation with the mantra Zimbabwe is Open for Business and his enunciation of a bold National Development Strategy to ensure that Zimbabwe becomes a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle Income Society by 2030.

In a nutshell, this sums up the review of the publication, A Life of Sacrifice A Biography of ED Mnangagwa.

The book makes a good reading for both the young and old who may want to have an appreciation of who their President is, particularly his historical antecedents, his political and educational background, his humanity, humility, his intrinsic core values to unite all the people of Zimbabwe to improve the material and social conditions of the marginalised people, and above all, his vision for the future democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe!

I thank the authors for their benevolent initiative in contributing to the development of our country through this publication.

The launch of the book is indeed very much appropriate, as the nation is gearing up towards commemorating the Heroes and Heroines Day, early next week.

I particularly want to thank the distinguished guests from the private sector for their overwhelming participation in the launch and the auctioning of the book.

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A glimpse into the Presidents eventful life in 130 pages - The Herald

Professor Fraser Sampson Surveillance Camera Commissioner 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF

16 July 2021

http://www.gov.uk/surveillance-camera-commissioner

Justin Hollis

Marketing Director, Hikvision UK & Ireland

Dear Justin,

Letter to Surveillance Partners: The UKs Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond.

May I begin by introducing myself. I am the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner and am broadly responsible for providing guidance on the regulation of public surveillance camera systems in England and Wales. You will be aware of the considerable public interest in the use of developing surveillance technology, not just in the UK, but globally, and a key part of my role is to promote the statutory Surveillance Camera Code which aims to achieve accountable, proportionate and transparent use of surveillance cameras in public space. I was therefore very interested to see a copy of your letter dated 12 July 2021 addressed to valued partners, one of whom shared it with my office.

Headed The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee published on 8th July its report entitled Never Again: The UKs Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond. your letter covers a number of important issues that fall within my remit. As you concluded by inviting recipients to get in touch if they have any questions, I hope you will welcome this prompt and inquisitive response. I was heartened to read that Hikvision has a commitment to openness and transparency and it is in that spirit of openness and transparency that I am writing to you.

I note that the Chair has said of his Committees report that it moves the conversation forward, away from the question of whether crimes are taking place and on to what the UK should do to end them. It is unclear from your letter to surveillance partners whether you accept that basic premise, namely that crimes are being committed against the Uyghurs and other ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and I would be grateful if you could clarify this at the outset.

For the avoidance of any doubt, I both welcome and support the Committees assertion (at para 54) that the role of advanced technologies in the use of oppression in Xinjiang cannot be ignored here and I would be keen to establish your view as it sets the critical context against which any more technical or nuanced matters of your companys surveillance offer can be meaningfully discussed.

Moving, if I may, to some of your letters more specific points, you cite one of the recommendations in the Committees report as calling for Hikvision to be banned in the UK, something which you say has been the product of a knee-jerk reaction. You go on to say that, in arriving at its recommendation, the Committee has made a staggering leap that is not based on any concrete evidence, leading to an unacceptable message to all those that support evidence-based policy making. I fully endorse your explicit recognition that the messages we send to supporters of evidence-based policy making are crucial in this area. By clarifying our respective positions, we will ensure that those messages are unequivocal. And while policy making is a matter for others, as one of those who supports an evidence-based approach to developing and influencing it, I would also like to understand your position a little better myself.

You describe the Committees finding that your cameras have been deployed throughout Xinjiang and provide the primary camera technology used in the Uyghur internment camps as unsubstantiated and not underpinned by evidence. Again, it was far from clear to me whether Hikvision are denying that their systems have been so deployed. The paragraph in the Committees report from which you quote in fact recommends the proscription of companies known to be associated with the Xinjiang atrocities, of which Hikvision is said to be one. I would be grateful if you could confirm whether your camera technology has in fact been used in the Uyghur internment camps and whether you accept that there is, at least to that extent, such an association.

You also highlight that the report draws on the views of two academics and their concerns about data collected from facial recognition cameras that could be used by the Chinese Government. Are you aware of the extent to which those concerns are shared by your customers and the public in the UK, both in the locations named in the report and at large? I would be very keen to see any evidence you have as the question of how far the public can put their trust in such surveillance technology is currently one of the most pertinent and prevalent in this area. My office regularly receives enquiries from local authorities, the police and the public asking for guidance on this very point, as demonstrated by the sharing of your letter with me.

In that letter you share your own experts views on the absence of any direct interference with human rights by your company. However, you will know that much legitimate public concern in the area of oppression-by-surveillance comes, less from deliberate intent or wilful disregard (the threshold for which is notoriously difficult to satisfy), and more from third parties looking the other way or failing to speak out when that is the only right thing to do - something which, it seems to me, is the elemental premise of the Committees report as regards an appropriate response from the UK. Is it your position that Hikvision had no knowledge of the use(s) of its surveillance camera systems in the internment facilities? This would seem to be incongruous with your welcome assurance that Hikvision hold our products to the industrys highest global cybersecurity standards and I think clarity is particularly important here. In any event, given that the Committee has found and condemned an association between the surveillance equipment and the perpetration of human rights abuses adverted to in its report, I would be very interested to hear how you will reassure people in the UK that you are both taking the Committees concerns seriously and addressing the degree to which operators and the public might place their trust in your end-to-end surveillance systems in the future.

In conclusion, I began by referring to the Surveillance Camera Code which provides a set of principles and standards by which regulation and accountability can be achieved in the operation of surveillance camera systems. That Code is about to be revised and will, once approved by ministers, be published for public consultation; I would encourage your engagement in that important democratic process.

In the meantime, I look forward to receiving your response and thank you again for inviting questions.

Yours sincerely

Fraser Sampson, Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner England & Wales

Email: scc@sccommissioner.gov.uk

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Letter from Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner to Hikvision, 16 July 2021 (accessible version) - GOV.UK

By Rep. Jerry Carl

For the past few weeks, the world has watched as thousands of Cuban citizens have taken to the streets to protest a Communist system that has oppressed its citizens for more than 60 years. These sudden demonstrations are not the result of new frustrations, but rather a critical turning point for a people that have had their basic rights and freedoms limited by the Cuban government for the past 6 decades. Now, more than ever, it is critical for Americans to stand with the Cuban people as they fight diligently for freedom.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Cuba with a handful of elected officials. Many folks do not realize Mobile, Alabama, and Havana, Cuba, are sister cities, and we actually ship large amounts of chickens to Cuba through the Port of Mobile. My trip to Cuba taught me so much about the Cuban government and the Cuban people. Its a beautiful country with wonderful people, but the oppressive regime has limited freedom, squashed innovation, and prohibited progress for more than 60 years.

While AOC and her squad are saying Cubans are simply protesting vaccine shortages, the Cuban people are protesting a lack of fundamental freedom. Its critically important that we recognize these efforts as a fight for freedom, rather than frustrations over vaccine shortages. This is why I was proud to join more than 100 of my GOP colleagues last week on a resolution supporting the Cuban people in their efforts against the oppressive government rule.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy has also created a 16-member Cuba advisory group which is exploring bipartisan options to work with President Biden to increase pressure on the Cuban government while ensuring the safety of Cuban citizens as they protest the brutal oppression from Cuban officials. This bicameral group will also work to keep America, and the rest of the world, informed about the ongoing atrocities being committed by the Communist regime in Havana.

President Biden needs to take firm action by keeping the embargo (which does not include food or medicine) in place and bringing internet access to Cuba information can freely flow in and out. As the protests in Cuba continue, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and the Biden Administration, to remain tough on the Cuban government and support the Cuban people in their fight for freedom against government oppression.

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Standing with Cuban people in fight for freedom - The Atmore Advance | The Atmore Advance - Atmore Advance

Walk into a classroom anywhere around the United States; you are not likely to see a teacher say, The United States is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist. If anything, you are likely to see the opposite. Conversations critical of the United States do not happen often within history classes. We learn of our glorious past and tend to glance over our less pristine moments. Recently, due to the Black Lives Matter Movement and the national reckoning that came with it, many people have had to come to terms with our past and its systemic impacts on communities of color. These conversations have found their way into every facet of our society, including our schools. Many conservative groups believed that these discussions took a radical turn and began to pinpoint Critical Race Theory as the culprit. However, the theory isnt even taught within our education system. In fact, just years ago, CRT was a niche legal framework utilized by academics in higher education. How and why, then, has it become a subject of such intense scrutiny by conservative media?

Critical race theory explains how racism is systemic, addressing how it is a significant part of the United Statess laws and institutions. Created by Derrick Bell, Kimberl Crenshaw, and other legal scholars, CRT stands on five tenets. First, race is a social construct, one that was created to oppress those of darker complexions. Second, individual racist actions are not unique events conducted by bad apples; they are the result of a system designed to oppress. Third, historical context is of the utmost importance: previous actions conducted by a racist government have led to racist institutions. The fourth tenet focuses on people of color and their experiences within this system, acknowledging that critical race theory is not only focused on race but also analyzes the world through interdisciplinary traditions such as feminism and Marxism. Finally, the fifth tenet encapsulates their goal that fighting racial oppression is only the first step towards ending oppression of all types.

Backlash against CRT began on Fox News when conservative activist Christopher Rufo stated that he would be declaring a one-man war against critical race theory in the federal government. He was energized by his personal vendetta against CRT, a legal theory he believed was rooted in Marxism. A couple of days after the segment was aired, former President Trump disallowed implicit bias and diversity training by government agencies. Since then, the issue has only been escalated by conservative media and Trump. The most dangerous aspect of this new culture war is that what was once a niche legal theory has become demonized and conflated with any measure of liberal reform that attempts to address systemic racism. This can be seen evidently through bills in state legislatures trying to outlaw critical race theory education in schools across the country.

After a summer of protests and confrontation with the results of centuries of oppression, many teachers sought to address the social realities unfolding across the country in their classrooms. However, the vast majority of these teachers did not expressly refer to nor completely follow the framework of critical race theory they were just trying to have an honest conversation about race. Even still, the dangerous rhetoric identifying any type of racial education as a version of CRT led to legislation attempting to outlaw it. Taken to an extreme, CRT has been equated with racism against white people. Fox News has mentioned CRT in a negative light over 1000 times since March, and a segment from Newsmax warned that teaching critical race theory leads to white students being attacked and treated like Jewish people in Nazi Germany. In many states where bills have been proposed, like Kansas and Missouri, critical race theory is not even taught in school classrooms, as the framework itself was created and utilized by those in higher education and legal fields.

CRT has become a catchall to outlaw the education of anything related to systemic racism, white privilege, and even basic concepts of equity. Some of the proposed state bills specifically mention critical race theory, while others do not. But they all have similar wording that works to be extremely vague. Could explaining basic American history with references to race fall under critical race theory education? Teachers afraid of backlash may refuse to even come close to any race-related conversation. In the state of Oklahoma an anti-CRT bill was signed into law earlier this year. Oklahoma City teacher Telannia Norfar stated that she feared intense backlash if she were to teach about George Floyds murder a chilling example of what is taking place around the country. Continuing to sign such bills into law could possbly even ensure widespread censorship of American struggles with racism, specifically conversations around slavery, Jim Crow, and other histories that include people of color and their oppression.

Conversations around the truth of our past are of the utmost importance. These do not seek to blame students and create division; rather, they intend to confront our national issues head on. Its impossible to better ourselves if we dont understand our previous mistakes and the impacts they have on our current national situation. As Fordham University professor Justin A. Coles has said, It is sort of this almost escapism its like, if we dont have to talk about race, then not only as individuals but as a country, we never have to atone for or reckon with this history.

All classroom conversations about race are not critical race theory, nor are they attempts to make students hate the United States they are usually honest, good-faith efforts to pave a better path for our future. CRT itself is not a tool of communist indoctrination and racism towards white people, nor is it an attempt to divide the students that are being taught it it is an important tool utilized in higher education to understand systemic racism. The conversation around critical race theory has been manufactured for the benefit of conservative activists and their ideals. It is a dangerous endeavor that will lead to censorship of true American history and further a narrative of American exceptionalism in classrooms and beyond. We must teach and educate students about our faults. These faults must be at the forefront of the conversation because we cannot ignore the entanglement between racism and American institutions if we are to fix its issues.

Image byNeONBRANDis licensed under theUnsplash License.

Originally posted here:

The Conversation Around Critical Race Theory is a Manufactured Danger - Harvard Political Review

Congressman Jerry Carl

For the past few weeks, the world has watched as thousands of Cuban citizens have taken to the streets to protest a Communist system that has oppressed its citizens for more than 60 years. These sudden demonstrations are not the result of new frustrations, but rather a critical turning point for a people that have had their basic rights and freedoms limited by the Cuban government for the past 6 decades. Now, more than ever, it is critical for Americans to stand with the Cuban people as they fight diligently for freedom.Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Cuba with a handful of elected officials. Many folks do not realize Mobile, Alabama, and Havana, Cuba, are sister cities, and we actually ship large amounts of chickens to Cuba through the Port of Mobile. My trip to Cuba taught me so much about the Cuban government and the Cuban people. Its a beautiful country with wonderful people, but the oppressive regime has limited freedom, squashed innovation, and prohibited progress for more than 60 years.While AOC and her squad are saying Cubans are simply protesting vaccine shortages, the Cuban people are protesting a lack of fundamental freedom. Its critically important that we recognize these efforts as a fight for freedom, rather than frustrations over vaccine shortages. This is why I was proud to join more than 100 of my GOP colleagues last week on a resolution supporting the Cuban people in their efforts against the oppressive government rule.House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy has also created a 16-member Cuba advisory group which is exploring bipartisan options to work with President Biden to increase pressure on the Cuban government while ensuring the safety of Cuban citizens as they protest the brutal oppression from Cuban officials. This bicameral group will also work to keep America, and the rest of the world, informed about the ongoing atrocities being committed by the Communist regime in Havana.President Biden needs to take firm action by keeping the embargo (which does not include food or medicine) in place and bringing internet access to Cuba [so] information can freely flow in and out. As the protests in Cuba continue, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and the Biden Administration, to remain tough on the Cuban government and support the Cuban people in their fight for freedom against government oppression.

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Standing with the Cuban people in their fight for freedom Atmore News - Atmore News

Washington The political, economic and social crisis inNicaragua"is reaching a flashpoint" and "is more than likely to lead to more violence and destabilization in the country," Rafael Estrada said at a recenthearingon Capitol Hill in Washington.

The Central American country's "constant persecution of political opponents and independent journalists is unprecedented," said Estrada, who is president of the Nicaraguans for Security and Prosperity Foundation.

He was one of several witnesses at a July 21hearingsponsored by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on President Daniel Ortega's government and its political prisoners, which the committee described as "the human cost of repression inNicaragua."

Witness Victoria Crdenas testified that because her husband, Juan Sebastin Chamorro, dared to speak out against Ortega's oppression, "the regime has also persecuted and harassed me and my family."

Chamorro is a candidate for president. The elections are scheduled for Nov. 7.

"They have brought a civil case against me, my sister and my mother, which would take away all my mothers assets," Crdenas said. "They have brought a criminal case against me, and there is an open warrant for my arrest."

"It is clear that Ortega is using every part ofNicaragua's institutions, including its judicial system," she said, "to not only persecute those who challenge the government, but also their family members."

Berta Valles spoke about what her husband, Flix Maradiaga, has faced as a presidential candidate.

"For years, Felix has been a target of attacks by the Ortega regime because he speaks truth to power. He has been beaten, confined tohousearrest and threatened," she said. "For months, he endured 24/7 surveillance by the police. They have tried again and again to silence him, but he never stands down."

The issues raised by witnesses echoed the grave concerns aboutNicaraguaexpressed six weeks earlier by the country's Catholic bishops about a wave of politically motivated arrests that have sidelined opposition figures, media members and government critics ahead of the fall elections.

"We must avoid the institutionalization in our homeland of arbitrary and illegal restrictions of citizens' freedoms and the persecution of the opposition and media outlets," the bishops said in a June 10 letter.

"We prefer and want a democratic system forNicaragua," in which there is a "division of powers of the state" because "it is the principle of the rule of law ... the principle in which legislation is sovereign and not the arbitrary will of men," the bishops said.

"It is necessary to build aNicaraguabased in peace, justice and respect for human rights, rejecting all that is contrary to these principles and working together, conscious of the pillars of peace, justice and forgiveness," they said.

After the bishops' letter was released, police arrested at least five high-profile critics of Ortega by using recently approved laws that criminalize information the government considers false and that outlaw receiving foreign funds to carry out political activities.

In April 2018, the Ortega regime cracked down on widespread protests by the people ofNicaragua, leading to the emergence of an opposition movement calling for a wide range of democratic reforms, including Ortega's resignation.

"Despite the protests, Ortega remains in office as hundreds of Nicaraguans have been killed, imprisoned or have fled the country," according to the Lantos commission.

Also speaking at the Lantos commissionhearingwas Bianca Jagger, a Nicaraguan social and human rights advocate and a former actress. Jagger currently serves as a Council of Europe goodwill ambassador and is chair of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation.

She noted Ortega's longtime disregard for human rights, saying: "Through his years in power, he has dismantled all legal and democratic institutions inNicaragua. His objective is to perpetuate his power at any cost by establishing a new tyrannical dynasty."

"The cruelty of the Ortega regime is a consistent cruelty political prisoners span the gamut of activists on the political Left, often dissident Sandinistas themselves, to those on the political right," said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who co-chairs the Lantos commission with Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Mass.

Smith praised the witnesses for their courage and their "commitment to democratic principles and a resistance to tyranny."

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Nicaragua's crisis 'is reaching flashpoint,' says witness at Hill hearing - National Catholic Reporter

Since 2017, multiple reports have been issued describing the brutal treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, China. As of summer 2018, the United Nations reported than at least one million Uighurs have been detained, with approximately two million having been forced into re-education camps.

Amnesty International described life in those camps as a dystopian hellscape. Uighur Muslims have been subjected to physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse in those government-controlled institutions. International organizations and various human rights groups deem the vicious treatment of the minority group as genocide as well as a crime against humanity. Yet the Chinese government refuses to acknowledge their wrongdoings. Chinese officials rebut claims of that nature by justifying their regime as necessary procedure in warding off extremism. However, several authentic sources prove that the regime is a deliberate strategy to oppress the Uighur Muslims and erase their culture.

For more context, the Uighurs are a minority group who resided mostly in Xinjiang, China, and represented approximately half the population of the region. The Uighurs argued that their religion, language, and cultural practices are different from the rest of China and the group struggled for years in claiming independence. In 1933, they declared themselves as an independent state known as East Turkestan, however the nationalist Chinese army defeated them. Again in 1944, the Uighurs declared the formation of the East Turkestan Republic, and yet again the Chinese annexed the region. Since 1949, thousands of Uighur Muslims have escaped to neighboring countries to avoid political and religious oppression, which led to a significant decline in their population.

In 2017, leaders of the Xinjiang Communist Party asserted they intend on using their powerful fist, promising that all separatist activities and all terrorists shall be smashed to pieces. Additionally, President Xi Jinping demanded all regions of China to follow the policy of sinicization, a process which demands that all Chinese communities comply with the norms of Han Chinese society. The policys main purpose is to spread Chinese culture and allow the Chinese government to ensure the complete dominance of the communist party. All of this went directly against the views of the Uighurs who simply wish to express their identity. Tensions continued to rise after 9/11 when Beijing officially declared its own campaign to fight extremism and used it as an excuse to target Uighurs. Uighur activists and Muslim scholars were called terrorists and put in jail or sentenced to death.

The Uighur Muslims placed in the concentration camps have been completely stripped of the freedom to practice their religion. Men are not allowed to grow their beards, and women are not permitted to wear hijabs. Despite pork being prohibited in Islam, the Uighurs are forced to eat it. Detainees have been banned from fasting during Ramadan, the holy month for those following Islam. A pervasive surveillance system prevents the prisoners from speaking to journalists who can report what life inside the concentration camps is truly like.

The Chinese government has consistently rejected and dismissed reports which tell the truth about the concentration camps. For example, to reduce the Uighur population, many women were forced into receiving sterilization surgery and IUDs. Between 2017 and 2019, the birth rate in Xinjiang dropped by 48.7%, yet the government claims that the drop in birth rate is due to wider access to family planning services and the regions existing birth quota.

In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Minister said that the so-called genocide in Xinjiang is pure nonsense. They have denied accusations of genocide and all other abuses by reaffirming that their regime is dedicated to nothing but tackling extremism. To prevent further talks regarding the subject, the government contends that the programme against extremism follows the principles and spirit of a series of international counter terrorism resolutions, including the UN global counter terrorism strategy. In fact, they believe they are doing good by providing minorities with the skills they need to become more employable and contribute to the economy. They consider the re-education and training a necessary step to address their issue of poverty. Political analyst Einar Tangen said that the government cannot afford to have people with no future. It is not about terrorism. They really are anti-poverty.

Given that there is no proper way to deliver aid to the Uighurs, the most people can do is to be well informed about the topic and raise awareness through various platforms. The power of social media is evident since it has fostered the growth of many social justice movements. Apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter should continue to circulate all the articles detailing the treatment of the Uighurs in those camps. Spreading resources such as petitions and calls to international committees to boycott China will raise more awareness. Individuals should also go out of their way to support advocacy groups run by Uighurs residing outside of China such as the Uighur Human Rights Project.

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Genocide In China: The Inhumane Treatment Of Uighur Muslims - The Organization for World Peace

For decades, African musicians have used their music as more than a tool for entertainment, writing songs and anthems that have social and political implications across the continent. In recent years, African entertainers have taken their activism a step further and are directly involved in reshaping the political scene in Africa, mobilizing and empowering citizens, and creating change through music. Many African entertainers resonate with the youth in Africa and abroad, capturing the hearts and minds of their fellow citizens. This makes entertainers a strong asset for domestic public diplomacy and soft power. The influence that African entertainers wield on the continent and the impact they have in effecting social change is an opportunity the United States should support to aid in improving the deteriorating US-Africa relationship.

In many African countries, citizens have used music as a political tool to rebel against corrupt and ineffective governments. When the first protests of what became known as the Arab Spring began in December 2010, artists in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya penned songs that depicted the deteriorating situation in the region and which brought international support for the people living there.Artists wrote songs about the oppression and corruption that led to the revolt, and sang about the violence from the government and the resolve of the people during the protests. Similarly, during the EndSars protests in Nigeria in 2020, popular Nigerian musician Davido sang FEM, which became a global anthem against police brutality played during protests in Nigeria and at solidarity protests around the world.

While artists use their influence and reach as public figures to drive social change in their communities, other entertainers have gone further, stepping into the political field in order to better advocate for and serve the people. Creatives such as Bobi Wine, Angelique Kidjo, Pilato, Banky W, and many others may be the key to reshaping the future of the continent. These entertainers have entered into politics, trying to promote positive change on a large scale by stirring up the youth, speaking out against corrupt governments, and supporting their local communities.

In Uganda, musician Bobi Wine is a testament to the power of music. Bobi Wine turned his musical career into a political one, running against Ugandan incumbent Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 presidential elections. Wine was nicknamed the ghetto president known for representing and speaking for the masses. While Bobi Wine lost after elections that were anything but free and fair, the impact of his candidacy was felt throughout the East African region and across the broader continent. Young Africans now believe they can speak up and create change even in non-democratic societies. In another example, popular Nigerian actor and musician Banky W ran for a seat in Nigerias House of Representatives in 2019 on the platform of the Modern Democratic Party. Similarly to Bobi Wine, Banky W lost to the ruling party but also inspired the youth to believe in the possibility of a different type of government.

Though the immediate impact of entertainers-turned-politicians may be difficult to see, the legacy of such artists is the influence they have on the next generation of African leaders.

Though the immediate impact of entertainers-turned-politicians may be difficult to see, the legacy of such artists is the influence they have on the next generation of African leaders. Future leaders who respect democratic principles can resolve the political issues African countries face, working for the people to create positive change and significantly altering the trajectory of the continent. This impact as seen in the Arab Spring is able to alter the political constructs of countries, ultimately bringing about decades worth of change.

With young, educated, and competent leaders overturning decades of bad governance and poor leadership, many problems such as failing infrastructure, healthcare, and education systems as well as underperforming economies and other societal problems can be effectively addressed, and African countries will be able to begin rebuilding. The United States can support the homegrown wave of change occurring on the continent through the entertainment industry, tapping into the next generation of leadership on the continent through programs such as The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which has trained around 4,000 aspiring African leaders across almost 50 countries. With the support of the West and the right leaders in place, Africa has the tools and resources needed to attain heights never before reached.

Through these efforts, the US government would have a renewed opportunity to rebuild relationships with African countries. The US would gain strong political and diplomatic allies on the world stage, access to resources and the labor force present on the continent, and economic and business relationships within the public and private sectors. Through these renewed relationships, the United States can offset Chinas influence in Africa. Beijing has been exploring the use of soft power on the continent, investing in schools that teach Mandarin and expose Africans to Chinese culture as well as offering scholarships for African youth to study in China. China also built and gifted the African Union its $200 million (USD) headquarters. China has made significant inroads in establishing its presence on the continent through these initiatives and others, and Africans see China as a positive influence in the region.

The Biden administration appears to be focused on renewing relationships between the United States, African nations, and the rest of the world. The youth should be prioritized in this plan, and an easy way to engage with Africas next generation is to introduce pop culture into the diplomatic scene. Music, culture, and art are ways to easily bridge the gaps between the United States and countries in Africa, allowing the United States to tap into Africas rising entertainment industry and its global influence in order to strengthen ties with Africas future leaders and help shape the trajectory of the continent.

Bukie Olokun is the 2021 YPFP Africa Fellow. She is an EMEA focused intelligence analyst with experience in the private sector. She received her Masters degree in International Affairs from the University of Kentuckys Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. She received her Bachelors from Indiana University. She serves as the Pracademic Liaison for the African Intelligence Studies Collective and co-host of the African Intel Affairs Podcast where experts share their perspectives on the intersection between academics and intelligence practice on the continent. Her regional interests include development, human rights, and terrorism and insurgency.

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The Musical Reshaping of the African Continent - Inkstick

With the Olympic Games underway, weve already seen inspirational stories of lifelong dreams coming to fruition through sport. But some athletes never get the chance to reach their potential or attend the Olympic Games. Consider Navid Afkari, the Iranian wrestling champion. Navid will never get to compete in the Olympics, despite being a world class athlete, because he was murdered by the Iranian regime for opposing the government. Yet despite this appalling crime committed by Iran, as well as many others, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other sporting bodies continue to allow Iran to compete. Why?

The tragic story of Navid occurred after the 2018 Iran protests, in which thousands of Iranians rose up against the governments oppressive rule. Afkari, who was a critic of the regime, was accused of killing a security guard during the protests and was promptly arrested. He was charged with murder and convicted after a torture-induced confession and with highly questionable evidence. Despite calls from the IOC, US president Donald Trump, and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White not to execute Afkari, the regime moved forward with the execution in September 2020.

Irans alarming abuse of athletes is not new. Its been occurring since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. For example, in 1981, wrestler Hooshang Montazeralzohoor was executed for his anti-government stance. In 1988, the regime executed volleyball player Fouzan Abdi and football player Mahshid Razaghi both political dissidents. In 1984, they executed football player Habib Khabiri for the same reasons. In 2012, they executed kickboxer Majid Jamali-Fashi, accusing him of being an Israeli spy. In 2021, after the execution of Afkari, they executed a second champion wrestler, Mehdi Ali Hosseini as well as a champion boxer and prominent sports coach, Ali Mutairi.

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He is not alone. Dozens of Iranian athletes have fled the oppression of the regime which destroys their hard work and dreams. One Iranian ex-athlete who fled to the United States confessed to CNN that Iranian intelligence watches the teams 24/7 and they are punished if they do anything wrong while abroad. I want to ask [the] IOC, are you aware of this? You talk about gender equality and race equality. Are you aware that one of your members is violating the charter all the time? You have been silent about this... This is sport, it has to be about peace and friendship, but they teach you to hate, he said.

The IOC has no excuse. It is well known and documented by both international human rights organizations as well as refugee athletes who have fled Iran for their lives that the state of Iran violates every principle the Olympic Games represent. Iran has no place in the Olympics and the IOC cannot continue to allow these egregious violations of human rights to occur right in front of their faces. The IOC must ban Iran from the Olympic Games.

The writer is the CEO of Social Lite Creative LLC and a research fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute.

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Iran must be banned from Olympics - opinion - The Jerusalem Post