‘We are determined to make change:’ President Pezeshkian delivers message on New Year’s Day

Speaking on national television at noon on Thursday, the president extended his congratulations on the arrival of Nowruz to all Iranian people, both inside and outside of the country, as well as all other nations that celebrate the ancient event.

President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks on national television, Tehran, March 20, 2025.

Tehran, IRNA – President Masoud Pezeshkian has congratulated the Iranian people on the occasion of the Persian New Year.

Speaking on national television at noon on Thursday, the president extended his congratulations on the arrival of Nowruz to all Iranian people, both inside and outside of the country, as well as all other nations that celebrate the ancient event, wishing them all happiness, friendship, and peace.

He said that Nowruz and Laylat al-Qadrs [Nights of Power], which fall on the same days this year, are two manifestations of the same truth that calls for change in destiny. Nowruz opens a new season, while during Laylat al-Qadr, Muslims pray to ask God for a better destiny.

“We stay awake in these nights to purify our souls and spirits, to change into a new human being and reach our destiny in a new day as fate allows. However, our worth and the worth of our homeland are not [limited to] the ones currently we have. Our worth and destiny are greater than the current situation of us,” President Pezeshkian said.

He commemorated the first Shia imam, Imam Ali (PBUH), whose martyrdom anniversary falls on March 22 this year, praising him for his efforts to uphold justice during his entire lifetime.

Pezeshkian also commemorated his predecessor, the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed along with members of his entourage in the early months of the last Iranian year.

He also honored key regional resistance leaders as well as all the Lebanese and Palestinian people who lost their lives in attacks by the Israeli regime.

The last Iranian year ended as people endured all those hardships, President Pezeshkian said, adding that as the time turns, “we will determine our worth to be greater, higher, and more dignified than we have had before.”

He said that his administration was determined and “will spare no effort” to remove “ugliness and injustices” from Iran through “solidarity and unity” and with the help of “the will and resolve” of the Iranian people.

Pezeshkian pledged that he will definitely find a way to tackle inflation, saying that livelihood, housing, health, and education remain the top priorities of his administration for the new Iranian year.

“We are determined to make change,” he said, but he also emphasized that any change required distancing oneself from previous methods.

“If we want this situation to stop, we must make reforms on all imbalances with the help of experts, specialists, academics, elites, economists, cultural and media figures, and with the participation of each and every one of our dear people,” he said.

Message to Nowruz-celebrating nations

The president separately extended his heartfelt congratulations on the arrival of the Persian New Year to officials and people of the countries that celebrate the ancient festival.

In a message on Thursday, President Pezeshkian highlighted the significance of Nowruz as a time of renewal in nature and a symbol of hope for a bright future.

“Spring represents a balance in nature and is a source of kindness, empathy, and rejuvenation. I hope that in this New Year, we will witness a profound transformation in the friendly relations between our countries and improvements in the lives of our nations,” Pezeshkian said.

Ayatollah Khamenei delivers message on the occasion of Nowruz

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has delivered a message on the occasion of Nowruz, the start of the Iranian New Year, March 20, 2025.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei delivers a message on the occasion of Nowruz, the start of the Iranian New Year, March 20, 2025.

Tehran IRNA – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has delivered a message on the occasion of Nowruz, the start of the Iranian New Year, March 20, 2025.

The following is the full text of the message:

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

O Transformer of hearts and sights,

O Director of nights and days,

O Transformer of situations and circumstances, 

Transform our circumstances to the best of circumstances!

The beginning of the New Year [this year] coincides with the nights of Qadr and the martyrdom anniversary of the Commander of the Faithful [Imam Ali] (pbuh). We are hopeful that the blessings of these nights and the attention of the Master of the Pious [Imam Ali] (pbuh), will encompass our dear people, our nation, our country, and all those whose New Year begins with Nowruz.

The year 1403 AHS [March 20, 2024 – March 20, 2025] was a year filled with numerous events. The events that unfolded one after another during this past year resembled those of 1981, and there were hardships and difficulties for our dear people. Early in the year, we mourned the martyrdom of the Iranian nation’s beloved President, the late Mr. [Ebrahim] Raisi (ra). This was preceded by the martyrdom of several of our advisors in Damascus. After that, various events took place in Tehran and later in Lebanon, resulting in the loss of valuable figures for both the Iranian nation and the Islamic Ummah. These were indeed bitter tragedies. Furthermore, economic problems brought pressure on the people throughout the year, particularly in the latter half, and the difficulties involved in making a living created challenges for the population. These hardships existed throughout the past year.

On the other hand, a tremendous, extraordinary phenomenon took place, and that was the fact that the willpower of the Iranian people and their spiritual resilience, unity, and high level of preparedness were manifested. First, in the face of an event like the loss of the President, the massive turnout of the people [for his funeral procession], the slogans they chanted, and the high morale they exhibited showed that although this was a serious tragedy, it wasn’t able to make the Iranian people feel weakened. Furthermore, they were able to promptly hold elections within the legally designated time frame, elect a new President, form a government, and fill the gap in the country’s administration.

These matters are very significant and indicative of the high morale, capabilities, and spiritual strength of the Iranian nation. We must thank God for this. Moreover, during the recent events of the past months, when many of our brothers in Lebanon – our brothers in religion and our Lebanese brothers – faced difficulties, the Iranian nation gave its support with open hearts. This event that took place in this regard – that is, the overwhelming flood of aid from the people for their Lebanese and Palestinian brothers – stands as one of the enduring, unforgettable events in our country’s history.

The gold that the Iranian women and ladies, generously parted with and contributed to this cause, and the assistance given by our people and our men, are matters of great significance. They reflect the strength of the nation’s will and its unwavering resolve. This spirit, this involvement, this readiness, and this spiritual strength are assets for the future of the country and for the enduring life of our dear Iran. These assets, God willing, will be used to the fullest by the country, and may Almighty God continue to bestow His blessings upon the nation.

Last year, we introduced the slogan, "Surge in production through people’s participation," which was essential for the country, and in a sense, it was vital. [However,] the various events that unfolded in the year 1403 AHS prevented this slogan from being fully realized. Of course, significant efforts were made by both the government and the people, as well as by the private sector, investors, and entrepreneurs. They were able to accomplish good things. However, the work that was done fell short of expectations. So, this year too our main issue remains the economy. Thus, my expectation from our esteemed government, respected officials, and our dear people once again centers around economic issues. This year’s slogan will once again focus on economic matters, specifically investment in the economy.

One of the important issues in the country's economy is investments in production. Production experiences a surge when investments are made. Of course, investments should primarily be made by the people. The government must find various methods for this to be done. But in cases where people either lack the motivation or the means to invest, the government can step in – not in competition with the people, but as a substitute. In instances where the people don’t get involved, the government can enter the field and invest. In any case, investment in production is essential for both the country's economy and also for solving people's problems in livelihood. Improving people's livelihood needs planning and cannot happen without these sorts of preliminary measures.

It’s essential that both the government and the people seriously pursue and follow through with investments for production with firm resolve and motivation. The government’s role is to create the necessary environment and remove obstacles to production. The people’s role is to invest – both small and large investments – for the purpose of production. If capital is directed toward production, it will no longer be diverted into harmful activities such as buying gold, purchasing foreign currency, or other such endeavors. Harmful activities will stop. The Central Bank can play a role in this regard, and the government can also implement many effective measures. With this in mind, this year’s slogan is "Investments for Production," which will help to improve people's livelihoods, God willing. The government's planning in collaboration with the participation of the people will together, God willing, solve the problem.

I would like to briefly refer to recent events that have taken place during the past few days. The renewed attacks by the usurping Zionist regime on Gaza is a truly large, atrocious crime. The Islamic Ummah must stand united against this. They should set aside their differences on various issues. This matter concerns the entire Islamic Ummah. In addition to this, I urge all freedom-seekers around the world – within the United States itself, in Western and European countries, and in other countries – to strongly oppose this treacherous, horrendous act. Once again children are being killed, homes are being destroyed, and civilians are being displaced. The people must stop this tragedy.

Of course, the United States is also complicit in this tragedy. Experts in political issues worldwide concur that this action is being executed under the direction of the United States, or at the very least, with the approval and a green light from the US. Therefore, the US is also complicit in this crime. The same is true about the events in Yemen. The attacks on the people of Yemen and on Yemeni civilians is also a crime that must definitely be stopped.

We hope that Almighty God has ordained goodness, prosperity, and victory for the Islamic Ummah this new year. We hope that the Iranian nation can start this new year, which has just begun, with happiness, contentment, complete unity, and success, God willing, and maintain this spirit throughout the year. I hope the sacred heart of the Imam of the Time [Imam Mahdi] (may our souls be sacrificed for his sake), the pure spirit of the magnanimous Imam [Khomeini] (ra), and the blessed spirits of the martyrs are pleased and satisfied with us.

May God’s greetings, mercy, and blessings be upon you.

Sayyid Ali Khamenei

March 20, 2025

Authentic people’s history and the Palestinian experience: Beyond colonial narratives

by Dr Ramzy Baroud

A graffiti on a wall in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis depicting Palestinian children deprived of education by Israel is viewed, on 14 June 2024 [Hani Alshaer/Anadolu Agency]

My journey into the realm of people’s history began during my teenage years when I first read Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States. This initial exposure sparked my curiosity about how history is constructed, and it led me to delve deeper into historiography, in particular the evolution of people’s history as an intellectual movement. Over the years, I encountered a wide range of historians, from Michel Foucault and Marc Bloch to Lucien Febvre and Chris Harman, each offering unique perspectives on the study of ordinary people in history.

However, it wasn’t until I immersed myself in the work of Antonio Gramsci that I discovered a more universal, less provincial and less Western-centric approach to history. Although Gramsci did not position himself explicitly as a historian of the people, his ideas on organic intellectuals and cultural hegemony have provided invaluable tools for understanding how ordinary people can shape history. Gramsci’s theories have brought a more relatable and applicable understanding of Marxism, particularly by liberating it from the confines of rigid economic theories.

The contribution of Linda Tuhiwai Smith

A significant turning point in my intellectual journey came with Linda Tuhiwai Smith’s Decolonising Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples. Her work further deepened my understanding of how to approach history from a decolonial perspective. Smith’s methodology allowed me to, once again, revisit and reconsider Palestinian history, challenging the orientalist and elitist perspectives that have long distorted the narrative. It also opened my eyes to a lingering issue within indigenous history: many of us, as indigenous historians, unknowingly replicate the very methodologies used by Western historians to portray us as the ‘other.’

Smith’s work fundamentally challenges the traditional view that history is written by the victor.

“It is the story of the powerful and how they became powerful, and then how they use their power to keep them in positions in which they can continue to dominate others,” she wrote.

Instead, history can be written to empower the oppressed, enabling them to challenge their victimhood. However, for this alternative history to be effective, it must be acknowledged not just by historians, but also by those affected by the misreading of history.

Malcolm X’s empowerment and global resonance

One of the most profound aspects of Malcolm X’s message, aside from his courage and intellectual rigour, was his focus on empowering Black communities to challenge their own inferiority and reclaim their power. He did not prioritise confronting white racism; rather, he sought to inspire Black people to assert their identity and strength. This message still resonates globally, especially in the Global South. For a deeper understanding of Malcolm X’s impact, I recommend The Dead Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne.

In the Palestinian context, there is a similarly pressing need for a reclamation of the narrative; a reclaiming of both identity and history. While a people’s history of Palestine is beginning to emerge, there are still misunderstandings about what this form of research truly entails.

The role of Refaat Alareer in Palestinian history

Refaat Alareer was a Gaza-based Palestinian historian. He will be remembered for his significant contributions to articulating the Palestinian struggle for freedom. In the years leading up to his assassination by Israel during the Gaza genocide on 6 December, 2023, he emphasised consistently the centrality of resistance in Palestinian discourse, gaining recognition for his courage, poetry and intellectual work.

It is also essential to highlight Alareer’s unwavering belief that Palestinians must control what I refer to as “the means of content production”. This control is vital to prevent the Palestinian narrative from being hijacked or manipulated by external forces.

“Gaza writes back because the power of imagination is a creative way to construct a new reality,” wrote Alareer. “Gaza writes back because writing is a nationalist obligation, a duty to humanity, and a moral responsibility.”

Misunderstandings in people’s history research

There are several common misunderstandings about people’s history that need to be addressed. These often stem from the way that this form of research is applied, especially in newer contexts.

People’s history is not just oral history

While oral history and storytelling are essential components in laying the foundation for people’s history, they should not be confused with people’s history itself. Oral history can provide raw material for research.

True people’s history, though, requires a broader, more comprehensive approach that avoids selectivity or bias.

The collective messages of ordinary people should shape the intellectual outcomes, allowing for a more accurate understanding of complex phenomena.

Concepts like sumud (steadfastness), karamah (dignity) and muqawama (resistance) must be seen not just as sentimental values, but also as political units of analysis that traditional history often overlooks.

People’s history cannot be used to validate pre-existing ideas

It is crucial to differentiate people’s history from opportunistic attempts to validate pre-existing ideas. Edward Said’s concept of the “Native Informant” highlights how seemingly indigenous voices have been used to legitimise colonial interventions. Similarly, political groups or activists might present voices selectively from within oppressed communities to validate their own pre-existing views or agendas.

In the Palestinian context, this often manifests in the portrayal of “moderate” Palestinians as the acceptable face of the Palestinian discourse, while “radical” Palestinians are labelled as extremists, militants and terrorists. This selective representation not only misrepresents the Palestinian people, but also allows Western powers to manipulate the Palestinian narrative without appearing to do so.

People’s history is not the annunciation of pre-existing agendas

In traditional academic research, the study typically follows a hypothesis, methodology and a process of proving or disproving ideas. While people’s history can follow rational research methods, it does not adhere to the traditional structure of validating right or wrong.

It is not about proving a hypothesis, but about uncovering collective sentiments, thoughts and societal trends. The responsibility of the historian is to reveal the voices of the people without subjecting them to pre-established notions or biases.

People’s history is not the study of people

Linda Tuhiwai Smith emphasises the importance of liberating indigenous knowledge from the colonial tools of research. In traditional Western research, the colonised people are often reduced to mere subjects to be studied.

People’s history, on the other hand, recognises these individuals as political agents whose histories, cultures and stories are forms of knowledge in themselves.

When knowledge is harnessed for the benefit of the people it belongs to, the entire research process changes.

For example, Israelis “study” Palestinian culture as a means to subdue Palestinian resistance. They attempt to manipulate societal fault lines to weaken the resolve of Palestinians.

This is a crude but effective manifestation of colonial research methods. While these methods may not always be violent, their ultimate goal remains the same: to weaken popular movements, exploit resources and suppress resistance.

Conclusion

People’s history is an urgent necessity, especially in contexts like Palestine, where it is vital to communicate the empowered voices of the people to the rest of the world.

This form of research must be conducted with a deeper understanding of its methodologies to avoid further marginalisation and exploitation. By prioritising the narrative of ordinary people, we can shift the historical discourse towards greater authenticity, justice and empowerment.

Analysis of Egypt’s Plan for Reconstruction of Gaza

Strategic Council Online – Opinion: Egypt’s comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, which was “unveiled” at the recent Arab League summit in Cairo, is the most important plan of the Arab countries in rebuilding Gaza that was approved at this meeting. To implement the proposed plan by Egypt, $53 billion in financial resources have been allocated, almost equal to the cost of rebuilding Gaza.

Barsam Mohammadi – Regional Affairs Expert

This plan will be implemented in three stages and over 5 years as follows:

First Stage: IDPs will be settled in seven points in Gaza, including Rafah, Khan Yunis, Deir el-Bahr, and other points, and then more than 50 million tons of debris, waste, and unexploded bombs will be collected and neutralized, especially from the Salah al-Din Highway. The Salah al-Din Highway will serve as the main reconstruction corridor. A time frame of 6 months and a cost of about $3 billion have been allocated for this stage.

Second and intermediate stage: The reconstruction of damaged buildings will begin. In addition, 400,000 permanent housing units will be built, and basic infrastructure, including water, electricity, and telecommunications networks, a port, an international airport, a public transport network, and 20,000 hectares of agricultural land will be restored. This phase’s estimated cost is $20 billion and will be completed in 2 years.

The final phase: housing projects will be completed, and the construction of commercial and industrial facilities will begin on 600 hectares. It will be completed in 2.5 years by 2030. $30 billion will be allocated for this phase.

UN agencies, international financial institutions, donor countries, investment funds, development agencies, development banks, foreign direct investment from multinational companies, and civil society organizations are the main sources of financing for the reconstruction of Gaza in the Egyptian proposed plan.

According to the plan approved by the Arab League, a government of independent Palestinian technocrats will be formed, and a guidance and management council will oversee the interim government in Gaza. In the meantime, Egypt and Jordan will help train the Palestinian police to maintain security.

The Cairo plan has outstanding strengths compared to the Trump administration’s plan because first, it covers almost all the costs of rebuilding Gaza; second, it does not involve population transfers outside Gaza and allows the Palestinians living in Gaza, who number more than 2 million, to remain in their land. Germany, Britain, France, and Italy, as four major European countries, supported the Cairo plan.

The plan, which Hamas has welcomed, does not take a clear position on the administration of Gaza without Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are introduced as the main institutions for managing the region.

The Cairo Plan is a multifaceted initiative that could achieve the following visions:

One: Provide decent living conditions for Gaza residents by reconstructing critical infrastructure.

Two: Facilitate economic growth in Gaza by creating job opportunities, supporting small businesses, and promoting investment.

Three: Facilitate and accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Four: Focus on establishing strong and transparent governance mechanisms in Gaza by supporting the development of a unified Palestinian state, promoting the rule of law, and empowering civil society.

Five: Reduce tension in the Gaza Strip.

Six: Attract support from regional countries and international organizations to reconstruct Gaza.

Seven: Empower Palestinians living in Gaza to lead the reconstruction process and determine their own destiny through community participation, capacity building, and promoting local ownership.

The US government and the Israeli regime have opposed the plan. The reason why the US and the Zionist regime oppose this plan lies precisely in the strengths of the scheme, especially the fact that Gaza residents are not displaced outside of the land; it is in contrast to the Trump plan, which does not consider any role for the US and the Israeli regime in the reconstruction and political future of Gaza.

The US and the Zionist regime are pursuing a specific and common goal in Gaza, which is to impose a new political, security, and geographical framework on Gaza in which there is no mention of Hamas and the resistance discourse in Gaza, and this region, by purifying its population, is entirely and fundamentally removed from the circle of military, field and security threats against the Israeli regime.

Although the implementation of the Gaza reconstruction plan is complicated by specific political and security circumstances and faces significant political and security challenges (lack of international agreement, opposition from the US and the Israeli regime, and the possibility of continued tensions), financial (providing financial resources, especially when many countries are facing domestic economic problems and economic sanctions and restrictions imposed on Gaza), and operational (tight schedule and large volume of damaged infrastructure), it is a comprehensive, complete, and largely realistic plan to address the challenges facing the Gaza Strip. Its goal is to create a more prosperous, stable, and resilient Gaza that can contribute to regional peace and security.

However, if military conflicts and tensions continue, Gaza reconstruction will face serious problems. Any new conflict could destroy the achievements of reconstruction.

Is Starmer waiting for a Christchurch-style atrocity in Britain before taking Islamophobia seriously?

by Yvonne Ridley

People gather to protest against discrimination, racism and Islamophobia as they march from Russel Square to Whitehall Street, in London, United Kingdom on July 27, 2024 [Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images]

I am a Muslim. People say I don’t look like one, but then again what does a Muslim look like? We are not all olive or brown skinned, and unless men wear a specific hat, and women cover their head with a hijab, and both wear traditional (in the Muslim world) clothes it’s almost impossible to identify a Muslim with any degree of certainty.

But that doesn’t stop racists and bigots who react negatively to seeing people who are visibly different going about their peaceful daily lives. We got a flavour of their vile reactionary behaviour in Britain last summer when rioters attacked a mosque in a northern English seaside town following the brutal killing of children in a knife attack while they were at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

Misinformation on social media about the killer’s religious background, fuelled by hate speech led to hundreds of far right protesters hurling bricks and bottles at Southport Mosque. As they gathered in the streets, the thugs chanted “F*** Muslims” and assaulted police who tried to control the situation. Many of the violent scenes were unprecedented, prompting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to pledge that the “full force of the law” would be used against the rioters. Nevertheless, similar scenes were imitated across the UK, and the subsequent rise in Islamophobia shows no sign of abating nearly one year on. The killer, by the way, was not a Muslim.

Curiously, though, Starmer’s government has cut all funding to a non-governmental organisation which records and reports incidents of anti-Muslim hate. Tell Mama, which has detailed a record number of anti-Muslim hate incidents in Britain in the past couple of years, is now said to be weeks away from closure. The organisation works closely with local police forces to combat religious hate crimes, so its closure is going to be felt beyond the Muslim community.

The fact that 15 March is the UN’s International Day to Combat Islamophobia, but this means nothing to Starmer.

However, if anyone needs to deliver justice and accountability for the rise in hatred and intolerance towards Muslims in Britain, it is him.

Since its launch in 2012, Tell Mama has been funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to run its reporting service, which noted more than 9,000 verified Islamophobic attacks in 2023-4. Now the ministry has told Tell Mama that no more grants will be provided from the end of this month. In other words, Starmer has left the NGO high and dry.

Official police figures show a record number of religious hate crimes in England and Wales in the year to March 2024, believed to be boosted by Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Out of all faith groups, Muslims were the most targeted (38 per cent of police-recorded, religious hate crimes), followed by Jews (33 per cent).

Several recent far-right terror plots have targeted Muslims and, last week, a Sheffield court was told how a neo-Nazi terror cell had been planning attacks on mosques and synagogues in north-west England. The story was covered by the BBC and some Jewish media but was largely ignored by the mainstream media. This suggests that anti-Muslim rhetoric has become normalised in Britain — it has passed the “dinner table test” which Baroness Sayeeda Warsi warned about as long ago as 2011 when she was co-chair of the Conservative Party — because had the defendants in that Sheffield court been Muslims, the trial would have been headline news on all TV and newspaper outlets.

Fiyaz Mughal, the founder of Tell Mama, criticised the funding withdrawal at a time when “the far right and populists across Europe are growing significantly,” adding: “There are going to be more individuals targeted, we know that in the current environment, and where are they going to go [for help]?”

The work of Tell Mama was modelled largely on the Community Security Trust (CST) run for the protection of Jewish communities. The CST has an anti-Semitism reporting hotline, offers support and security advice and conducts research. Its funding comes from the Home Office, rather than the MHCLG, and is not at risk of being stopped.

With more than half of Starmer’s cabinet benefitting from funding from pro-Israel lobby groups affiliated to the CST, it is easy to see why the UK government would not dare to risk upsetting such benefactors by cutting or stopping funds to the trust. The decision to cut Tell Mama adrift has fuelled, if not confirmed, speculation that Starmer is head of the most Islamophobic UK government in recent decades.

According to the Observer, which broke the story, “Police sources raised alarm over the probable impact of the cut, saying information provided by Tell Mama under a data sharing agreement signed in 2015 has been ‘invaluable’ for monitoring indicators of rising tensions and responding to potential threats.”

Mughal told the newspaper: “Labour talks a lot about countering Islamophobia but they are cutting the only project doing anything on a national scale – supporting victims, working with numerous police forces and supporting prosecutions… I’m not aware of any other organisation that can do this work and even if a new agency tried, it would take them 10 to 15 years to reach where Tell Mama is.”

Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said recently that the rise in anti-Muslim hate crime is “unacceptable and has no place in our society. That’s why we’ve committed to defining anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia, as crucial steps forward in tackling it and creating a society where everyone feels safe and welcome.”

Hmm. Actions speak louder than words, so what are we to make of what Rayner said given the withdrawal of funds for Tell Mama?

Speaking as a British Muslim, I feel less safe now than ever before. I used to love wearing my hijab because it told the world who I am as a Muslim woman, but now it makes me a target in Starmer’s Britain. Islamophobia is off the scale, not only among far-right groups, but also, it seems, in parliament and the media.

I don’t mind admitting that I turned to Tell Mama once when I was targeted viciously by a drunken misogynist because of my hijab and my then new-found faith. I didn’t want to make it a police issue, but it was reassuring to know that someone was there, on my side and offering support.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said that the Macpherson Report which arose out of the inquiry into the murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence more than 30 years ago, showed that many victims of hate crime do not report it to the police.

“To address this under-reporting and to ensure that all victims receive the necessary support, we have established partnerships with trusted charities who can offer ‘third-party reporting’ options and serve as conduits to affected communities,” said a spokesperson for NPCC. “In the wake of critical incidents in the UK and globally, including events of 7 October 2023, we have witnessed marked increases in hate crime and tensions. Tell Mama and similar organisations that support other communities have provided invaluable insights and reporting data. These contributions have allowed for the effective analysis of community tensions and informed actions to reduce such tensions.”

Starmer’s decision to undermine and seal the fate of Tell Mama could be interpreted as an Islamophobic act in itself. March 15 is the anniversary of the day in 2019 when an Australian-born white supremacist killed 51 innocent Muslims, including children, as they gathered for Friday prayers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. More than 50 others in the congregations, aged from three to 77 years, were wounded.

Is the prime minister waiting for a similar atrocity in Britain before he takes Islamophobia seriously?

Starmer and his government should hang its head in shame. Britain used to be a beacon of hope and hospitality to those seeking refuge and justice, but what we have today is a country mired in overt racism. Our fellow citizens are becoming increasingly influenced by far-right extremism and intolerance that is being normalised in government, parliament and the media. If we can’t Tell Mama, who can we tell?

Unenforced ICC arrest warrants are just part of the wider Zionist impunity framework

by Ramona Wadi

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (L) visit the site of the shooting where a settler was killed and another seriously injured in Hebron, West Bank on August 21, 2023 [Photo by Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO) / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be following up on his Hungarian counterpart Victor Orban’s invitation to visit his country, Israeli media have reported. This, despite the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu, which signatories to the Rome Statute are obliged to enforce. As is usually the case when it comes to Israel, however, possibilities take precedence over absolutes.

The visit is scheduled to take place before Easter. “Once the date of the visit is confirmed, we will, of course, announce it, taking into account the extremely important security considerations in this case,” said Orban’s Chief of Staff Gergely Gulays.

In February, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced Hungary’s decision to reassess “its future participation” in the ICC, allegedly because the international arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant make the court’s actions “seriously politicised”.

Orban’s invitation to Netanyahu is not the only one from a European country.

Soon after his electoral victory, Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited him to Germany. “I have also promised him that we will find ways and means for him to visit Germany and also to be able to leave again without being arrested in Germany,” Merz told journalists in Berlin. “I think it is a completely absurd idea that an Israeli prime minister cannot visit the Federal Republic of Germany.”

Earlier this year, Italy also announced that it would not enforce the ICC arrest warrants, while France cast doubt over them, claiming that Netanyahu has immunity since Israel is not a member of the court.

The truth is that despite the arrest warrants, few EU countries have stated explicitly that they will obey the ICC and enforce its warrants when it comes to Netanyahu (and Gallant, presumably). Which means that the ICC’s lack of authority over each individual country’s decision whether or not to enforce the warrants enables Netanyahu to avoid prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. And enables him to continue committing them.

Genocide has already been normalised.

And while Israel continues to target Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu’s forthcoming visit to Hungary will reinforce that normalisation. Hungary’s stance, as well as that of Germany, may be the most explicit in tone. However, the politics of both countries expose what the EU attempts to do through diplomatic channels; they ensure Israel’s protection at all costs, even if that means that tens of thousands of Palestinians have to be massacred in the process.

In November last year, Orban said that the arrest warrants are “complete defamation” and that his invitation to Netanyahu signals that he had no other choice but to go against the court’s decision. It is bizarre to say that a prime minister facing international arrest warrants over a genocide that was not only live-streamed, but also lauded and supported in various ways by Israelis and the international community, is now being “defamed” by a system that is replete with bureaucracy and loopholes. But that’s far-right populism for you: bizarre.

However, Orban is voicing what many world leaders are no doubt trying to work out, albeit less blatantly. The ceasefire negotiations, for example, rested more on what Netanyahu wants rather than justice and international law. And the fact that the Israeli narrative is so entrenched in global discourse gives more cover to Netanyahu and decisions such as those taken by Hungary, Germany and Italy.

If other countries emulate Hungary’s example, we must question the significance and future of the ICC in the face of opposition from states that are parties to the Rome Statute. They have opened the door to international anarchy.

Opinion The UN has opened up Libya to foreign meddling and foreign fighters

by Dr Mustafa Fetouri

Two Libyan flags at Martyrs square in Tripoli, Libya [Getty]

Between February 2011 and January 2025, the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted 44 Libya-related resolutions. The first resolution was number 1970, passed on 26 February 2011, reaffirming the UNSC’s “strong” commitment to Libya’s “sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity.” In another paragraph, the resolution refers the situation in the country to the International Criminal Court (ICC), while annex II lists the entire Libyan government, including the late Muammar Gaddafi himself, for the ICC. That was just two weeks after the troubles started that would lead to the toppling of the Gaddafi government and his eventual murder months later.

All 44 resolutions were passed under Chapter VII of the UN Charter meaning that all UN member states are obliged to enforce them.

When studied carefully, there are three most common denominators in all 44 resolutions: “respect for Libya’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity”, thus effectively prohibiting any foreign meddling in Libya’s internal affairs; all urge other UN member states to maintain the embargo placed on Libya; and all resolutions call for a Libya owned and driven political solution to the crisis that is as inclusive and broad as possible.

On the ground, though, all of these UNSC resolutions implicitly and explicitly encourage all kinds of interventions in Libya, only to discover that such interventions are harming Libya’s progress towards peace and stability. In reality, the UNSC really did open the door wide for all sorts of interference in Libya from the very beginning.

As the years went by and Libya spiralled out of control with factions fighting for wealth and power, the UNSC kept adopting more resolutions despite all sorts of problems piling up that ultimately rendered them all ineffective. As early as 2014, the UNSC, its experts and Libya pundits identified three major hurdles as foreign interference in the country‘s domestic and foreign policies; the presence of foreign forces on Libyan soil; and the lack of accountability for states that breach any of the aforementioned 44 UNSC resolutions.

Basically, all of the resolutions were and are toothless because they do not provide for any kind of accountability for those who violate them.

The violators are well known, and they include almost all of the UNSC veto holders. They break the very rules that they have voted for — repugnantly in some cases — and get away with it. Yet the Security Council fails to even name them, let alone reproach or take any measures against them as examples to deter others.

Nevertheless, the UNSC resolutions kept coming while no members of the Council itself ever believed that they would be implemented in any meaningful manner. Furthermore, over the past 14 years, the UNSC has made the creation of more “mechanisms” and “entities” to help Libya an end in itself. Almost all such entities and structures have one thing in common: Libya is not represented in any of them, and if it does get a place at any table it is usually heard but not listened to. Astonishingly, two countries with a history of violating UNSC resolutions usually get places at any Libya-related table be it finance, government set up, unification of the security and armed forces or sharing of national wealth. Libyans are upset with the level of foreign meddling in their internal affairs, yet the UNSC does not appear to hear their concerns.

The Berlin II process of 2020, for example, produced at least three working groups with the stated aim of “helping to stabilise” Libya. The Security Working Group and the Economic Working Group. are sometimes referred to as “tracks”. Turkiye and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) lead the security track. At the same time Turkiye is a violator of the UNSC resolutions and a major meddler in Libyan affairs.

Many experts designate Ankara as a “party” to the conflict because it maintains armed forces in different parts of Western Libya.

Egypt, another member of the same security track, is also a UNSC violator as it supports the other party to the current stalemate, General Khalifa Haftar’s army in the Eastern and Southern regions of Libya.

The other current UNSC member states include the African Union (AU), the US, Italy, France, the UK and Algeria. While almost all states do not, honestly and objectively, implement the various UNSC resolutions they almost all, with the exception of the AU, keep violating them one way or the other.

The Economic Working Group, or economic track, is co-chaired by the UNSMIL and the US and usually meets in Tunisia but only rarely inside Libya. Members of the group include Egypt, the US, the EU and UNSMIL. It is supposed to help Libya get its economy and finances strengthened but, in reality, the group members individually keep dictating to the Libyans what should be done through their country’s already weakened institutions such as the Central Bank. They even have a say in the country’s annual budgets and how the oil revenues handled by Libya National Oil Corporation, the major sources of Libya’s income, should be shared among Libyans.

The third group is the 5+5 Joint Military Commission, and is the only one of the three chaired by local generals. It is responsible for two major sets of security policy: maintaining and fully implementing the ceasefire agreed in 2021, and getting all foreign forces and fighters out of Libya. So far, the guns are silent but nothing else has been achieved. Foreign forces are still to be found all over Libya and the Commission has, repeatedly, failed to reach a framework or a plan to get them out. Lately, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has been taking increasing interest in the Commission.

To complicate the military situation further, all foreign forces known to have been in Libya — primarily Turkish regular forces along with Syrian mercenaries and former Wagner mercenaries — are still in the country. What is unknown, militarily speaking, is which African mercenary groups are still in Libya and how many there are. Former UN envoy Abdoulaye Bathily once made it a condition that the departure of African fighters from Libya should not happen if it means destabilising neighbouring countries like Chad and Sudan. Practically speaking this is impossible to achieve in the foreseeable future given the situation in Sudan, for example.

Every time the UNSC discusses Libya it fails to account for what it has achieved so far, and fails to pinpoint the reasons for the lack of any progress. Instead, it focuses on UNSMIL support and adding another resolution to the list if deemed necessary.

This vicious circle must be broken if any tangible progress is to be made in Libya otherwise more UNSC resolutions will come to no avail. They will make no difference to the Libyan people who are the real and number one stakeholders in their own country.