Contents

1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action Required
4. Sample letter

1. Summary
Disgraceful treatment of a British Muslim family witnessed at an Austrian chess tournament for youth. The English Chess Federation have yet to take a stance and put an end to such shameful hate crimes occurring at the hands of the family’s fellow competitors. Write to the Federation’s Director of Junior Chess and Education demanding to know what actions are being taken to help the Rahman family.

2. Background

A Muslim family representing England in the EU Youth Championships taking place in Austria allege to have been the victim of Islamophobia, racism and even physical hate crime. 13-year-old Yusuf Bin-Suhayl was attacked and left bleeding by the mother of a fellow English competitor.

The family have had a police escort to their hotel and tournament.  Father Sohale Rahman has made numerous complaints to the English Chess Federation who is overseeing the competition but to no avail.  Throughout the competition the Rahman family who have three children representing England have been subjected to bullying and hate crime.  Mother, Tomasina Contu, was spat on when she asked the father of one English competitor not to bully her son!  It is of no coincidence that Tomasina wears a hijab.

The problems seem to have started from when the family asked for halal meals for themselves. Father Suhayl Rahman said, “I cannot believe my family has been subjected to so much racism and Islamophobia  and the English Chess Federation has just stood by and done nothing.”

3. Action Required

Write to the following authority demanding to know what actions are being taken to help the Rahman family:

a) Phil Her, Director of Junior Chess and Education, English Chess Federation

4. Sample letter

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A sample letter is given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. It is preferable that letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or email.
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a. Phil Her, Director of Junior Chess and Education of the English Chess Federation (Email director.juniorchess@englishchess.org.uk)

[Your name]
[Your address]

[Date]

Dear Mr. Her,

Re:  Muslim chess players victims of racism

I am deeply concerned over the recent racism and Islamophobia faced by English Chess team members participating in a youth tournament in Austria. The Rahman family has been subjected to the most horrendous of treatment by fellow competitors and this has gone unabated by the authorities of the Federation. 13-year-old Yusuf Bin-Suhayl was attacked and left bleeding by the mother of a fellow English competitor. Mother, Tomasina Contu, was spat on when she asked the father of one English competitor not to bully her son!

This has resulted in the family having a police escort to their hotel and tournament! This is quite ironic as such a tournament for children should be a safe and secure space that promotes future talent.

These acts are an absolute disgrace on the part of your Federation. You claim to enshrine non-discrimination and the positive promotion of equal opportunities in your constitutional documents but this has failed to materialise. It is absolutely shameful that such acts of racism have not led you and your counterparts to act immediately.  

I therefore would like to know what actions you and the Federation are taking to urgently end such crimes towards the Rahman family. How are you going to ensure this doesn’t happen again?

I look forward to hearing back from you regarding this urgent matter.

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your name]

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