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Reposted by Ben Ward

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 12h

The Women's Institute, the Church of England, the Scouts and the British Muslim Network are among those co-organising solidarity events tomorrow. The Together Coalition coordinating an effort involving faith networks, schools + charities,including British Future
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Communities urged to stand together against hate a week on from synagogue attack

Schools and community groups are preparing to hold silences on Thursday to mark a moment of solidarity.

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Ben Ward

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

Tomorrow, a week on from Thursday's attack on the Manchester synagogue, this will be marked as a day of solidarity and mourning by civic groups from across all faiths and none. You are also invited to join online sharing #britainstandstogether

More information
together.org.uk/articles/bri...

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Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 2d

I found this piece valuable as we try to make sense of the dreadful attack at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester and think about those impacted and how best to respond

Yair Wallach @yairwallach.bsky.social · 6d

Written ten years ago by @keithkahnharris.bsky.social, and is now sadly useful.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

If British Jews are attacked, respect our dignity – and keep your agendas to yourself | Keith Kahn-Harris

I dread the cacophony from right and left on how we should react to antisemitism. What’s important is supporting our survival as a community in the UK

www.theguardian.com

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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 5d

Listening to voices from Manchester on #r4today, it seems clear to me (as local resident Josh Aronson said on #R4today) that, going forward, more dialogue not more security is the solution to rising antisemitic incidents. Jewish communal spaces really couldn’t be more securitised.

Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 5d

The @bisa-bkk.bsky.social @runnymedetrust.bsky.social report on antisemitism quoted in the NYT.

@dmf101.bsky.social @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social @shabna.bsky.social

archive.is/tnICz

The Runnymede Trust, a British think tank that focuses on social justice issues, said in a recent report that the current approach to protecting Jews from hate crimes in Britain was not working, and might even have worsened the problem by creating a perception among other groups that they were not as zealously protected.
"The significant funding given by governments to protect Jewish people specifically makes Jewish communities feel safer in the short term but has given rise to perceptions that there is a hierarchy of racisms in the U.K.," wrote David Feldman, director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, which produced the report with the Runnymede Trust.
"These divisions have been made worse by the conflation of anti-Zionism and criticism of Israel with antisemitism when this is not justified," Mr. Feldman wrote in an introduction to the report. "At the same time, the left has too often failed to recognize antisemitism, let alone address it."

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Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 7d

The United States is "actively trying to dismantle" today's system of international justice.

@fborello.bsky.social and @agnescallamard.bsky.social discuss how US sanctions against Palestinian rights orgs and ICC and UN officials puts rights at risk globally:

Opinion | What Happened to Human Rights for Palestinians?

www.nytimes.com

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Almaz Teffera @almazteffera.bsky.social · 6d

The UN rights chief presented his office's report on #reparations for legacies of #colonialism and #enslavement in Geneva yesterday.

@hrw.org welcomes his call for a transformative, context-specific & rights-based approach to reparations led by affected communities.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

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Euronews @euronews.com · 6d

Four people were injured in a vehicle and stabbing attack at a Manchester synagogue on Thursday. Police shot the suspect and the immediate danger is over, according to authorities.

Four injured in car and knife attack at Manchester synagogue

Four people were injured in a vehicle and stabbing attack at a Manchester synagogue on Thursday. Police shot the suspect and the immediate danger is over, according to authorities.

l.euronews.com

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Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 7d

Thinking of my late mum on her birthday today. I miss you P

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/arti...

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Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 9d

cc @labour The Danish “model” of social democratic politics (hostile to migrants) does not lead to a large majority

Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 9d

Denmark, Voxmeter poll:

A-S&D: 20% (-2)
F-G/EFA: 12% (-1)
I-EPP: 12%
V-RE: 10% (-1)
Æ-ECR: 10% (+2)
O-PfE: 8%
Ø-LEFT: 7% (-1)
C-EPP: 7%
B-RE: 4%
M-RE: 3%
Å→G/EFA: 3% (+1)
H-*: 2%

+/- vs. 16-21 September 2025

Fieldwork: 22-28 September 2025
Sample size: 1006

➤ europeelects.eu/denmark

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Reposted by Ben Ward

Andrew Cutting @andrewcutting.coe.int · 9d

The European Court of #HumanRights has started publishing a weekly summary of requests for “interim measures”.

From 15 to 19 September, the @echr.coe.int granted 0 out of 58 such requests (0%).

Figures by country👇

Full press release 👉 go.coe.int/FG4Jc

#ECHR #Rule39

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Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 9d

Well worth a read including by folks attending the Labour Party Conference this week

Kristina Bakkær Simonsen @kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social · 13d

In light of Keir Starmer's turn on immigration & debates in the UK about Denmark as an example to follow, I was invited by @ukandeu.bsky.social to reflect on what the research tells us about lessons to draw from Danish migration policy. Here's my take on the pitfalls: ukandeu.ac.uk/denmarks-mig...

Denmark’s migration policy – an example to follow? - UK in a changing Europe

Kristina Bakkær Simonsen explains why countries feel they have something to learn from Denmark's strict migration policy, but argues that there are many key pitfalls.

ukandeu.ac.uk

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Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 9d

The current state of UK politics...

Dmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 9d

"I wouldn't necessarily support hunting immigrants through the streets with packs of ravenous hyenas, but clearly the voters want and expect them to be hunted by something and it's shameful that elites are sneering at hyena centric suggestions just because they come from real working Britons."

Reposted by Ben Ward

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · 12d

Wrote this five years ago about how centrist parties were making the wrong choices to take on the populist/radical/nativist right in Europe: www.hrw.org/news/2020/02...

Seems pretty relevant in the UK context again.

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Reposted by Ben Ward

Amr Magdi @amrmagdi.bsky.social · 16d

“President Sisi’s pardon of activist Alaa Abdel Fattah is long overdue good news. Though we celebrate his pardon ... Hopefully his release will act as a watershed moment & provide an opportunity for Sisi’s government to end the wrongful detention of 1000s of critics.” www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

Egypt: Presidential Pardon for Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah

Egyptian media reported on September 22, 2025, that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had issued a presidential pardon for the imprisoned Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah.

www.hrw.org

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British Future @britishfuture.bsky.social · 16d

“Threatening to revoke the settled status of millions who already have indefinite leave is morally wrong, beyond the legal chaos it would cause — it undermines the very idea of belonging in this country."
@sundersays.bsky.social on new Reform UK proposals
www.britishfuture.org/reform-attac...

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Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 19d

HRW's Europe & Central Asia division is looking for a Europe-based associate to support our work. This is a great opportunity to join our fantastic team.

Please share with anyone who might be a good candidate. The application deadline is 9 October 2025

job-boards.greenhouse.io/humanrightsw...

Associate, Europe and Central Asia

Multiple Locations Considered

job-boards.greenhouse.io

Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 19d

The human rights community has lost a giant and the world a kind soul

Donncha O’Connell @donnchalaw.bsky.social · 19d

Conor Gearty obituary - The Guardian

www.theguardian.com/law/2025/sep...

Conor Gearty obituary

A skilled and persuasive human rights lawyer who fought for civil liberties in the face of over-reaching anti-terror law

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Ben Ward

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · 19d

Germany’s government is set to make major social security cuts, and replace the only recently-created “Citizen’s Income” with a more punitive “New Income for Jobseekers”.

These plans will increase poverty.

Human rights can help guide the debate back to what matters.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

A single mother in low-wage work shows her monthly household budget to Human Rights Watch during an interview, Baden-Württemberg, February 2023.
© 2023 Kartik Raj/ Human Rights Watch

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Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 19d

Thread on the negative human rights consequences and likely human toll of the German government's proposed cuts and changes to social security

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · 19d

Germany’s chancellor: “No one in our country falls into poverty because they become unemployed.” („Niemand fällt in unserem Land in die Armut, weil er arbeitslos wird.”)

Lived experience of unemployment benefits strongly suggests otherwise.

Screengrabs via @sanktionsfrei.bsky.social

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Reposted by Ben Ward

Almaz Teffera @almazteffera.bsky.social · 20d

#UK's @phsombudsman.bsky.social finds:
1/ deep flaws in management of Home Office's #Windrush Compensation Scheme
2/ compensation offers should account for private pension losses. #WindrushScandal

@hrw.org will say it again: Windrush claimants need access to legal aid.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

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Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 20d

When politicians undermine the European Court of Human Rights, we all lose. With Europe facing some of the gravest threats since the end of WW2, European governments should be bolstering regional institutions, not undermining them.
Read my new analysis for @HRW
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

When Politicians Undermine Europe’s Rights Court, We All Lose

The European Court of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights are under attack again.

www.hrw.org

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Reposted by Ben Ward

Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 22d

A new Explainer out from @aoifemod.bsky.social and me detailing the UK's ECHR commitments under the 1998 Agreement in response to recent speculation. It is short, because there is very little to say - the UK's obligations are evident on the B/GFA's plain text:

caj.org.uk/wp-content/u...

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Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 22d

Greece’s burdensome rules for NGOs have been called out by international experts for violating freedom of association. Now the government wants the power to deregister groups who criticise its migration policy. The situation demands EU action, @evacosse.bsky.social says www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

Greece’s Latest Assault on Civil Society

Greece’s Migration Minister Thanos Plevris recently announced his intention to adopt new measures to silence criticism of the government’s migration policies.

www.hrw.org

Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 23d

When Europe's leaders attack the European Court of Human Rights, we all lose. My new piece in @euobserver.com

With Europe facing some of the gravest threats since the end of WW2, govts should be commending & strengthening regional institutions, not undermining them
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...

We all lose when politicians attack the European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights is under attack — again. But the main obstacle to its effective functioning remains the reluctance of some governments to fully implement its rulings and tackle the...

euobserver.com

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Runnymede Trust @runnymedetrust.bsky.social · 25d

Stephen Lawrence should be celebrating his 51st birthday today, but he was murdered in a racist attack at just 18.

As we look to the horrifying resurgence of racist violence, Stephen’s story serves as a poignant reminder of why racial justice matters.

Rest in power, Stephen. Your legacy lives on 🖤

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