a) Privacy

Question 1: Do you agree with this approach? If not, what changes to the code of practice do you propose?

The Interim Code, while protecting the anonymity of an individual selected for screening through various measures introduced to maintain an observable distance between reviewer and screener is still substandard and does not address fundamental concerns over the creation of body images and the problems these pose for the individual’s right to privacy under Article 8 of the European Convention.

The Interim Code and the introduction of airport scanners giving individuals no alternative but to pass through the screening process or be denied entry into secure
zones permitting air travel wholly ignores the considerations of Muslim passengers on the creation of body images and religious views on these.

The Sunday Telegraph published a letter yesterday signed by over 450 British Muslim scholars and leaders expressing ‘serious misgivings’ over the Coalition’s Marriage Bill legalizing same sex marriage. The Marriage Bill returns to the Report Stage in Parliament today.

In the letter, signed by a plethora of imams and Muslim leaders, they assert their “responsibility to fulfil our sacred trust to God and present our view on these proposals on behalf of the Muslim communities we serve.”

The letter reinforces interventions by other religious leaders and states:

“We support the numerous calls from other faith leaders and communities who have stood firmly against gay marriage and instead support marriage as it should be, between a man and a woman.”

You can read the letter and the full list of signatories here.

BBC News reports on three men who have appeared in court after being arrested at the anti-mosque rally in Dumfries at the weekend.

The men, John Banks, 55, David Kyle, 29, and Josh Wood, 29, appeared in court in Dumfries on public order offences.

Banks and Kyle both pleaded not guilty to charges of “behaving in a threatening or abusive manner”. They will stand trial in December.

Wood, who “admitted to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by wearing a badge displaying religious hatred”, had sentencing deferred for a month.

This briefing document lays forth the destructive impact of the blockade on Gaza, the many recommendations of international aid agencies and the House’s select committee on Foreign Affairs on a reassessment of the UK’s Middle East policy as well as the policies of the Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia), and in line with the EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy and the Union of the Mediterranean and the EU-Israel Association Agreement which forms the basis of developing bilateral relations between the EU and Israel.