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International Human Rights Day Protest in Birmingham High Street |
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 Human Rights campaigners in Birmingham came together on Sunday the 10th of December to mark the International Human Rights Day and protest against human rights violations both in Britain and internationally. Thousands of leaflets were distributed highlighting human rights violations internationally to shoppers who took time off their busy shopping schedule to discuss issues of human rights with the protesters.
The Birmingham Guantanamo Campaign highlighted human rights violations at Guantanamo, where over 450 prisoners are held without trial or access to any legal process. Atleast 8 of these detainees are British residents for whom the British government refuses to act to obtain their release. Birmingham Guantanamo Campaign pointed out that they delivered a petition to the Birmingham Council before their December meeting demanding that they ask the British Government to act on behalf of the British residents and secure their release to the safety of Britain where all have their families waiting for them. Statements were read out from family members of British residents still held at Guantanamo.
The statement from Guantanamo Campaign also pointed out that a large number of muslims are detained in this country under the various Anti-Terror measures and laws including control orders introduced by the Labour administration. Quite a few of them are released subsequently without any charge but their and their families lives are disturbed for ever.
Anti Racist Campaign, as part of the protest, highlighted the abuses Asylum seekers face in this country. Some of the asylum seekers are detained and threatened of being repatriated to countries that violate human rights and practice torture. As a result of these threats and being detained indefinately some have taken their lives while in custody. A contingent of peoples from Congo under threat of being deported to the so-called 'peaceful democracy' the Democratic Republic of the Congo protested against the British government's policy of sending them back to Congo where their might still face persecution and threats to their safety and security.
The event was supported by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, who are fighting against the daily violation of human rights the Palestinians face at the hands of the Israeli Defence Force that occupies Palestine. Several hundred Palestinian women and children are held in Israeli prisons Other groups supporting the protest included Iranian Refugee Association.
 The various trade unions and political organisations, including Birmingham Trades Union Council, United against Fascism, Stop the War, Socialist Resistance, South Asian Alliance, Birmingham Campaign Against Arms Trade and many others in the city supported the protest against violations of human rights internationally and in Britain.
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Birmingham Campaign