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Racism Rife Against A Muslim Family Playing Chess For England

mswithacause | 08.08.2012 01:26 | Anti-racism | Culture | Education | World

The father of 3 children playing chess for England in Austria has made an appeal for support due to racism encountered by his family at the hands of England's chess delegation team. ‘I would be grateful if you could find the time to email the Director of Junior Chess & Education of the ECF, ( director.juniorchess@englishchess.org.uk) Phil Ehr and support my contention that the Watleys & Weavers should be sent home.'

From Right to left - Ibrahim, Yousuf & Ieysaa Bin-Suhayl pictured at their home
From Right to left - Ibrahim, Yousuf & Ieysaa Bin-Suhayl pictured at their home

The children with their mother and youngest brother at their home in Cambridge.
The children with their mother and youngest brother at their home in Cambridge.


Yousuf, Ibraheem and Ieysaa bin-Suhayl (aged 13, 10 and 7 years respectively) from Cambridgeshire are representing England in chess, at the European Union Youth Championships in Austria. The Championship commenced in Mureck on 31st July and ends on 8th August 2012. The brothers accompanied by their mother have travelled to Austria upon receiving an invitation by the English Chess Federation (ECF).

Last week, the children’s father Sohale, raised his concerns to Phil Ehr, Director of Junior Chess and Education of the ECF about the racist behaviour and treatment of his wife and son’s in Mureck, by other members of the England chess delegation. Today, due to an escalation of the situation and his concerns for the safety of his family, Sohale has made his appeal public and wrote: ‘Unfortunately, other members of the England team have taken a violent dislike to this Muslim contingent. The boys aged 13, 10 and 7 have not been provided halaal food and were expected to eat cold boiled eggs and bits of bread. They have had to ask their coach not to drink alcohol while teaching them chess and they have had to sit segregated from the rest of the England contingent because the delegation is unwilling to give up alcohol. Matters have been so stressed that my wife has been publically spat at, sworn at and physically abused by members of the English delegation called Watley and Weaver.‘

Sohale was unable to accompany his wife and children to the Championship due to child care needs of their younger two children at home. Sohale's wife Tomasina wears a headscarf and both herself and Yousuf are observing the month of Ramadan whilst in Mureck. The intimidation and harassment against this Muslim family appears to have started at the onset of this championship. Sohale confirmed he has been emailing Phil Ehr alerting him to his concerns about the circumstances, welfare and treatment of his family in Mureck. Phil has responded generally with disregard to his concerns, advising that he will wait until after the tournament is over to investigate them.

Sohale's concerns for the welfare of his wife and children in Mureck have fallen upon deaf ears. The failure by Phil Ehr to act has enabled the situation to escalate. This evening having spoken to his wife, Sohale confirmed, ‘the head of delegation, Dave Regis, advised the Muslim family not to return to their hotel because he was worried for their safety in light of physical threats being made against the Muslim family and in particular against 13 year-old Yousuf. The Muslim family had to be escorted back to their hotel by the Austrian police.’

Sohale explains, ‘I have repeatedly communicated with the English Chess Federation (ECF) to take action for the security of my family, but in vain. The ECF should ban the culprits from the delegation and send them home as they have brought shame to the nation at a time when England is hosting the whole world for the Olympic Games.’

Sohale has asked for your support, ‘I would be grateful if you could find the time to email ( director.juniorchess@englishchess.org.uk) the Director of Junior Chess and Education of the ECF, Phil Ehr, and support my contention that the Watleys and Weavers should be sent home in disgrace. Alternatively, if you do not agree you may give him your opinion of the correct course of action.’

Speaking to Sohale today about how these events are impacting upon his children trying to compete in the championships he replied, “Ieysaa is doing well and currently leading the tournament, he is a wonder child in Chess. The pressures are certainly impacting upon Yousuf (the eldest); he has had to stand up to defend his mother against abuse from members of the England Delegation”. Sohale confirmed that his family are the only ethnic minority team participating for the England team. Sohale said, “The ECF should be ashamed of themselves. Chess is a game where ethnic minorities in the UK are disproportionately over represented. The ECF has no diversity policy or training to provide the correct provisions for ethnic minorities. They are completely out of touch in contrast to other sporting organisations in the UK."

Assalamualaikum, peace be upon you

mswithacause
 http://mswithacause.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/racism-rife-against-muslim-family.html

mswithacause

Comments

Hide the following 16 comments

Racism

08.08.2012 09:33

Difficult to see the racism when they were invited to play, their trip was funded by the English Chess Society, their hotel rooms have been provided free of charge and all they are expected to purchase is food.

Clearly the mother and father are religious (it is impossible for the children to be as they are too young to make an informed decision concerning faith). Their religion requires them to follow certain rules however they seem determined to force others of different or no religion to follow those same rules and are upset because they can't get their own way.

Bobby Fisher


Racism

08.08.2012 10:04

The abuse and threats being metted out to these Muslim competitors show that racism is clearly going on here. However it seems the writer and the Muslim chess players are saying its racist not to give up alcohol when requested by Muslims. Why do the team as a whole need to not drink alcohol and why do the Muslim players feel they need to not sit with people who are drinking alcohol?
Surely those who want to drink it can whilst those who do not can just not without there bring segregation.

Dan Factor


Selective complaining

08.08.2012 23:06

It seems most of the comments so far have been made by people either trying to take a cheap shot at Muslims, or at people of religion.


"Matters have been so stressed that my wife has been publically spat at, sworn at and physically abused by members of the English delegation called Watley and Weaver"

If the above has happened as a result of anti-Muslim sentiment, or dare I say it, "Islamophobia", then it is a hate crime, no matter what. People so far have seemed to focus on the alcohol aspect, and not the fact that those who are representing their country are having family members spat at and physically abused. If this is acceptable, I wonder if some of the commentators above wouldn't mind others spitting at, swearing at, or physically abusing their wives, daughters or mothers.



“The ECF should be ashamed of themselves. Chess is a game where ethnic minorities in the UK are disproportionately over represented. The ECF has no diversity policy or training to provide the correct provisions for ethnic minorities. They are completely out of touch in contrast to other sporting organisations in the UK."

As a national sporting body, the ECF needs to bring itself in line with other UK sporting bodies to provide a tolerant and inclusive atmosphere for everyone to play in. Education is the key to this, and from most of the comments above, something clearly lacking in this conversation...

The One who reads the WHOLE article


Suspect

09.08.2012 09:53

Have these incidents been reported objectively or is it simply the complaint of one person written up as a news report, and since when was principled opposition to religion regarded as racism on Indymedia? Personally I don't trust this report and I very much doubt that there's a great deal of alcohol abuse going on in the England children's chess team.

Atheist


More suspect

09.08.2012 10:28

“They have had to ask their coach not to drink alcohol while teaching them chess”

I don’t find this statement credible, and even if it is true it in no way amounts to racism.

“they have had to sit segregated from the rest of the England contingent because the delegation is unwilling to give up alcohol.”

In other words, their mother has sat them apart from the rest of the supposedly hard-boozing England children’s chess team because she thinks she has the right to demand what they eat and drink.

“Matters have been so stressed that my wife has been publically spat at, sworn at and physically abused by members of the English delegation called Watley and Weaver.‘”

If this is accurately reported here, it’s appalling, but strange that there have been no arrests or that there are no reports of it ANYWHERE else.

“The intimidation and harassment against this Muslim family appears to have started at the onset of this championship.”

No details?

“This evening having spoken to his wife, Sohale confirmed, ‘the head of delegation, Dave Regis, advised the Muslim family not to return to their hotel because he was worried for their safety in light of physical threats being made against the Muslim family and in particular against 13 year-old Yousuf. The Muslim family had to be escorted back to their hotel by the Austrian police.”

And there is nothing about this ANYWHERE in the mainstream press? Nor any form of statement that I can find from the English Chess Federation?

Atheist


Oh me, oh my a troll, who'd have thought it.....

09.08.2012 13:41

"This family are completely unknown to us, none of them are playing in any tournament that we know off and they are not connected to the English Chess Federation in any way. "
Lawrence Cooper - Director of International Chess - The English Chess Federation

ECF Grading Database
Player: Bin-Suhayl, Ieysaa
 http://www.ecfgrading.org.uk/?ref=283325G&listid=1502107007

Playing for England and the English Chess Federation, from 31st July to 9th August in Mureck, Austria –
Under 8 – Ieysaa bin-Suhayl
Under 10 – Tess Weaver
Under 12 – Theo Slade & Ibraheem bin-Suhayl
Under 14 – Lauren Weaver & Yousuf bin-Suhayl
Coaches – Dave Regis & Tom Rendle
 http://englishchess.org.uk/Juniors/play/play-for-england/meet-englands-team-in-the-eu-youth-championships-2012-mureck/

International Round-Up – from Lawrence Cooper
EU Youth Championship Mureck, Austria 31st July -9th August 2012
[web 1 | 2 | 3]
Scores after four rounds:
Under 8 – Ieysaa bin-Suhayl 3, Under 10 – Tess Weaver 1, Under 12 – Theo Slade 2.5 & Ibraheem bin-Suhayl 0.5, Under 14 – Stephen Whatley 2.5, Lauren Weaver & Yousuf bin-Suhayl 1.5.
Coaches – Dave Regis & Tom Rendle.
 http://www.englishchess.org.uk/?p=20676

bishop takes porn


One of the violent people named is under ten!

09.08.2012 19:31

Bishop takes pawn does bring up an interesting point. The two people named as perpetrating the worst abuse, Weaver and Whatley, are aged under 10 and under 14.

Is Indymedia really a place where disputes between children, even if they are allegedly racist or violent, should be discussed?

Is it also right to put forward allegation against children without giving the children involved a right to reply?

Finally, is it right to name and shame the children involved?

This also put's into context the alleged racism and violence. This basically boils down to the fact that there is no Halal food, people drink and refuse to stop drinking and two children (one of whom is under ten) have been unpleasent and possibly violent towards other children.

To ask activists to get involved and start an internet campiagn alleging racism onthis basis is not only illogical but also extremely oppresive and abusive towards ALL the children involved.

Pawn


Further Developments - Child Chess Player Attacked at EU Championship

09.08.2012 23:46

There are further developments to this article - 9/08/12 - '13 year old Yousuf currently representing England at the European Union Youth Championships in Austria was attacked today during a chess tournament by an Adult female, Brigitte Weaver, a member of the England chess delegation.'  http://mswithacause.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/child-chess-player-for-england-is.html

mswithacause


'Muslims with a cause'

10.08.2012 07:15

Do you have a source for this report apart from your own site?

Sceptic


A chessplayer writes

10.08.2012 11:51

Where does the denial attributed to Lawrence Cooper come from? I can't find any reference to it other than the comment above.

As far as the alcohol allegation is concerned, unless I misunderstand it's been made against the coach, not the children. I'd also assume it's against Tom Rendle rather than Dave Regis.

ejh
mail e-mail: libraryjustin@yahoo.co.uk
- Homepage: http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.com


@ajh

10.08.2012 11:56

Where does the denial attributed to Lawrence Cooper come from? I can't find any reference to it other than the comment above.

 https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/08/498834.html?c=all#c285955

bishop takes porn


Thanks

10.08.2012 12:46

How strange. Assuming that that comment actually was from Lawrence, what was he thinking of? He knew the tournament was taking place - he reports it in a link here.

 http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=4585

Odd. (Though no more odd than hidden comments being viewable - what's that about? I'm not a regular here...)

ejh
mail e-mail: libraryjustin@yahoo.co.uk
- Homepage: http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.com


From the ECF...

10.08.2012 15:19

The English Chess Federation is taking this matter very seriously, and Phil Ehr, the Director of Junior Chess, is taking charge of the investigation. We have, as yet, no comment to make on this specific case, but would like to let it be known that we are committed to equal opportunities and against discrimination on religious grounds.

IM Jack Rudd
ECF non-Executive Director

Jack Rudd
mail e-mail: jackkelshallrudd@aol.com


The true story

11.08.2012 12:50

Whatever the truth about what happened please all take a moment to congatulate the youngest member of the family for his bronze medal.

Boys U8
Gold: Daniils Horobrijs (Latvia)
Silver: Flavius-Gabriel Stroe (Romania)
Bronze: Ieysaa Bin-Suhayl (England)

David


Updates on Story - Racism at the EU Youth Chess Championship

14.08.2012 20:51

mswithacause


Story has gone national

15.08.2012 03:14

 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/muslim-brothers-abused-by-rivals-parents-on-chess-trip-8046831.html

I noticed this story has now been picked up by the national press.

It is also on the telegraph website.

The independent article states that the uk police will be starting to take statements later today

Nasir Rizvi


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