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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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06 July 2009

PRESS RELEASE: Germany – IHRC blames climate of Islamophobia for death of Marwa Al Sherbini

The Islamic Human Rights Commission expresses sorrow at the death of Marwa Al Sherbini. Mrs Al Sheribini who was pregnant at the time, died after being stabbed 18 times in front of her three year old son. Her husband, in an attempt to protect her, suffered stab wounds and appears to have been shot by the police. Mrs Al Sherbini was suing a man, identified as Alexander W, for religious abuse and was then attacked by him in the courtroom during proceedings.

IHRC is deeply concerned that the alienation and marginalisation of the Muslim community has led to such an environment where hate crimes are prevalent. IHRC urges the German authorities to make sure that history does not repeat itself and that prejudice, anti-religious and anti-racial realities must be addressed in the strongest terms.

IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh stated:

”The media and the current political climate foments an Islamophobia that pervades society and until this is addressed in a serious manner we fear that these dreadful incidents will increase”

For more information please contact the Press Office on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or (+44 7958 522 196) email: info@ihrc.org.[ENDS]

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The Islamic Human Rights Commission is an NGO in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org