THE Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has urged members of the House of Lords to vote down a Tory bill which "threatens the very fabric of our communities".
Glasgow's Zara Mohammed, who trained in human rights law, says the Nationality and Borders Bill is an "affront to human rights and civil liberties" which puts minority communities at risk.
Proposed by Home Secretary Priti Patel, the controversial bill — dubbed the "Anti-Refugee Bill" by critics — is now at its second reading at the House of Lords.
It contains provisions that would allow Patel to remove citizenship from individuals without notice and creates a two-tier system for asylum-seekers, criminalising those who do so through irregular channels.
The government says the legislation, which passed through the Commons last month, will act as a deterrent to anyone seeking to cross the English Channel without legal permission and that the citizenship provision will be used when they can't get in touch with a person to tell them. For example, this could include persons in war zones or whose whereabouts are unknown.
Peers return tomorrow to discuss the draft legislation, with Labour ex-home secretary David Blunkett amongst those set to speak.
READ MORE: Priti Patel's 'anti-refugee' bill could erode devolution, legal expert warns
As members prepare to convene, the MCB, which is the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body, says peers must "speak out and vote against" it.
It's expressed "grave concern" over the "unprecedented power" that would be given to the Home Secretary and potential controvensions of international laws around refugees.
Mohammed said: "The National and Borders Bill is an affront to human rights. This Bill appears to be yet another attempt to further marginalise minority groups, whilst eroding our civil liberties.
"Communities across the UK are deeply concerned by this bill, particularly in the wake of the tragic deaths of refugees in the channel and the devastation we have seen during the Windrush scandal. Nationality and citizenship are not a privilege but a human right.
"We urge peers to speak out and vote against this bill."
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