Migrants' Rights Network

"We are here because you were there". - Ambalavaner Sivanandan. #Colonialism, #capitalism and #imperialism have caused conditions of political, economic and ecological instability in the Global South. This has caused so many people to become displaced from their homes, and to seek refuge in the Global North. #Migration from the Global South to the Global North cannot be understood without recognising the legacies of colonialism and how they continue to operate to this day. #DecolonisingMigration #Displacement #ForcedMigration #BorderViolence

A reminder this #IslamophobiaAwarenessMonth: #Islamophobia is anti-Muslim #racism. Being serious about #MigrantJustice also means being serious about Islamophobia. At its core, Islamophobia is based in a specific form of racism called #Orientalism: the colonial idea that people from the “Orient” (South Asia, West Asia and North Africa) are “savage”, “backwards”, “oppressive”, “dangerous” and in need of “civilisation”. Orientalist ideas of people from these areas of the world was (and still is) used as the justification for colonising them. Understanding Orientalism as the foundation of Islamophobia is important because we can see how it seeps into modern-day narratives about Muslims (and people who are perceived to be Muslim), especially in the aftermath of the “War on Terror”. In the West, Islam has been racialised. This means that “Muslimness” is given a racial character, and ascribed with the quality of non-Whiteness. Understanding how Islamophobia also targets non-Muslims allows us to further understand how Islamophobia functions as racism. Islamophobia turns Muslims, but also those perceived to be Muslim, into “racialised Others”. In the aftermath of August’s fascist riots, where many marginalised groups, including Muslims and migrants, were targeted, we need to understand the relevance of Islamophobia in shaping anti-migrant discourse and policies. Those who work towards migrant justice also need to understand how Islamophobia and anti-migrant discourse both operate on tactics of scapegoating and distraction. We call the sector to recognise Islamophobia as a form of racism, and commit to defying Islamophobic rhetoric, policies and narratives. Read more: https://buff.ly/4eacRsm

Happy #Diwali, from all of us at MRN 🪔

We are taking a short break- don't miss us too much! Our social media team will be taking a short break in early November. Whilst we recognise that the work for migrant liberation never stops, we also need to take a moment to rest and unwind, so that we can ensure our work remains sustainable and energised. We will have a few posts scheduled for this period, but the feed will be a lot less active than usual as we take time to recuperate and be with loved ones. We are so appreciative of each and every single one of our followers. As a really small team, the engagement means the world to us. We will continue on our mission to create content that has the goal of migrant liberation at its heart. Thank you again, and we hope we can continue to create content that resonates with so many of you!

Deadline extension until 3rd November at 11pm 🚨 Our upcoming workshops looking at the use of AI in the asylum system are in demand, so we've decided to extend the deadline until Sunday! We are inviting English, Arabic, Pashto, Dari and Farsi speakers, who have had their screening/substantive asylum interview in the past 12 months, to participate in our workshops if: - They have noticed any errors in their interview transcripts - They have felt like decisions have been made quickly or in ways that didn't feel right Flyers inviting workshop participation, as well as the application forms for workshop participation, are available in English, Arabic, Pashto and Farsi:

“The liberation of Black people in this country, and across the globe, is linked to the liberation of migrant people who are facing violence at the hands of the British State.” #Migration cannot be understood without an understanding of the impact of #colonialism and #racism, including anti-Blackness. In Episode 5 of our podcast Because You Were There, Anastasia Gavalas is joined by Kojo from Black Lives Matter UK to discuss the Black liberation struggle, and the intersections between migrant justice and racial justice. Black Lives Matter UK is an anti-racist, anti-capitalist campaigning organisation working towards liberation for Black working class and other oppressed people across the world. They continue the Black radical tradition in their approach to collective liberation, and mobilise in solidarity with all oppressed groups around the world. They recognise and fight to put an end to the neo-colonial and imperialist structures that keep oppressed people subjugated worldwide. Listen on Spotify: https://buff.ly/40fYhwm Or Apple Podcasts: https://buff.ly/40kz9Ey #BlackLivesMatter #BHM24

"The agency has shown that it cannot be reformed. It is time to end it". Alongside 84 other civil society organisations, we signed an open letter calling for the abolition of #Frontex and its murderous border regimes. We call for transformative change, and migration policies rooted in care and compassion for all people. Read the open letter here: https://buff.ly/3BX9urH #AbolishFrontex #Migration

Just two more days to sign up to our workshops on the use of AI in the asylum system. In November, we will be running workshops in London and Kent (other locations in South of England may be considered based on applications). We are inviting English, Arabic, Pashto, Dari and Farsi speakers, who have had their screening/substantive asylum interview in the past 12 months, to participate in our workshops if: -They have noticed any errors in their interview transcripts -They have felt like decisions have been made quickly or in ways that didn't feel right Participants will be given a £50 voucher for any workshop they take part in. Sign-up here: https://buff.ly/3BUoDd4

Shaping the future of EU-UK relations is at the heart of the upcoming #EUCitizensGathering.   To explore how both EU and UK citizens can make a positive impact, we’re delighted to host a special panel, titled Horizon scanning & challenges. The panel will feature:   🔵 Veronica Bortolato, Head of stakeholder engagement at Settled 🔵 Lydia Martin, Deputy Head of Projects at New Europeans UK 🔵 Fizza Qureshi, CEO of Migrants' Rights Network, member of EUROMEC (European Minority Ethnic Citizens Monitoring Network) 🔵 Ilana Jackman, Innovation and fundraising coach and consultant   Do you have a question you would like us to ask the panellists? Write it in the comments!   #EUCitizensGathering #EmpowerEUawards

In November, MRN will be running workshops on the use of AI in the asylum system. We are inviting English, Arabic, Pashto and Farsi speakers, who have had their screening/substantive asylum interview in the past 12 months, to participate in our workshops if: -They have noticed any errors in their interview transcripts -They have felt like decisions have been made quickly or in ways that didn't feel right The deadline to express interest in taking part in a workshop, is this Sunday (27 October) at 11pm. Flyers inviting workshop participation, as well as the application forms for workshop participation, are available in English, Arabic, Pashto and Farsi here: https://buff.ly/3BUoDd4 #AI #Asylum