|
Download an AMCRAN 2008 brochure.
The Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network (AMCRAN), formally established in 2004, is a network of volunteers dedicated to
preventing the erosion of civil rights of all Australians. By drawing
on the rich civil rights heritage of the Islamic faith, AMCRAN provides
a Muslim perspective on matters relating to civil rights. It actively
participates in law reform and policy work, including legislative
reform through submissions to government bodies, lobbying, grassroots
community education, and communication through media. It collaborates
with many Muslim organisations and non-Muslim organisations to achieve
its goals.
AMCRAN was established at a critical time when
complex anti-terrorism legislation was introduced, and the lack of
information about the new laws, together with the stigma that
surrounded the word “terrorism”, resulted in a reluctance in the minds
of many in the community to engage in this area.
Community Education and Consultation
One of AMCRAN’s major projects has been the publication of the series Anti-Terrorism Laws: ASIO, the Police and You,
in cooperation with the UTS Community Law Centre and the New South
Wales Council for Civil Liberties. The booklets explain people’s
rights and responsibilities under Australia’s anti-terrorism
legislation. The first edition was launched in June 2004. Four thousand
copies were produced and distributed at various events to organisations
and individuals all around Australia. Thanks to project funding from
the Law and Justice Foundation and the UTS Students Association and UTS
Law Faculty, the latest edition has been translated into three
community languages: Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia and Urdu. These booklets
can be downloaded from AMCRAN’s website.
In addition to the publications, AMCRAN conducts community legal
education sessions that have been attended by more than 350 people, and
has also provided legal information to religious leaders. It also
conducts courses on broader areas of law of interest of the Muslim
community, such as racial and religious vilification. It has also
conducted a survey of the Muslim community about the effects of the
anti-terror laws.
Political and Legal Advocacy
AMCRAN
makes representations to politicians, senior public servants and
community leaders frequently, both through meetings and discussions and
also formal means such as Parliamentary Inquiries. AMCRAN has
written more than 25 submissions to various inquiries since its
establishment and has appeared before a number of these inquiries to
give further evidence.
Media and public advocacy
AMCRAN works through the media to present an Islamic perspective on civil rights issues. Its representatives appear regularly in print, radio and television. AMCRAN has also published several opinion articles in high-circulation newspapers. Its representatives speak at public forums and meetings for both Muslim and non-Muslim groups on diverse topics such as “Integration or Isolation” and “Terror Laws and the Muslim community: where does terror end and where does security begin?” AMCRAN convenors have also been published in refereed legal journals on the topic of anti-terror laws.
|
