February 11, 2021

 — THIS WEEK IN DC —

ICE threatened to expose asylum-seekers to COVID-19 if they did not accept deportation; More than a dozen accused Capitol rioters say Trump incited them; House Democrats keep $75k income threshold for direct payments; Trump’s second impeachment trial begins with damning video of insurrection; Senate votes trial is constitutional after emotional first day; Democrats offer new footage showing 'extreme violence' in Capitol attack; House Democrats propose multi-billion dollar COVID-19 relief package; Biden terminates Trump emergency order used to construct border wall; Democratic leaders push to raise minimum wage amid Senate resistance; Biden formally ends Trump's border emergency, but troops will stay; McConnell not pressuring GOP to acquit Trump.  

 In This Issue 

• Reimagining A World Without FGM
• MPAC Welcomes Sri Lanka’s Reversal of Forced Cremation Policy and Urges Codification
• Stanford Law review elects its first Iranian-American, Muslim president
• Harvard Law Review elects Hassaan Shahawy ’22 as its 135th president
• China bans BBC World News from broadcasting Former Republican officials float possibility of forming 'center-right' party
• Saudi Arabia releases prominent women’s rights activist from prison after pressure from the Biden Administration over human rights violations
  

 Featured 

Reimagining A World Without FGM

By: Shaezmina Khan, MPAC Policy Intern

Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), calling for an end to the cruel practice. This day functions as opportunity to amplify the existing efforts on the elimination of FGM, recognize the many women and girls who have suffered as victims of this practice, and to call on the global community to reimagine a world where women have total autonomy over their own lives. In keeping with MPAC’s values, eliminating FGM also requires renewing our collective commitment to the health, wellbeing, and economic advancement of all women and girls around the world—both near and far.

Read the full article

Members of Muslim group Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamaath protest against the cremation of Muslim COVID victims near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo [Chamila Karunarathne/EPA]

MPAC Welcomes Sri Lanka’s Reversal of Forced Cremation Policy and Urges Codification

By: MPAC's D.C. Bureau

On Wednesday, February 10, following immense international condemnation, Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, while answering a question by Muslim lawmaker Rishard Bathiudeen, indicated that his government will grant permission for Muslims who have died of the COVID-19 virus to be buried. This marks a clear victory for international religious freedom, a key issue in MPAC’s advocacy. Through our engagement with the U.S. Legislature, Department of State, and civil society stakeholders, MPAC joined allies Imam Malik Mujahid (Justice For All) and CAIR National in advocating for international religious freedom, human rights, and fair treatment of Muslims in Sri Lanka.

Read the full article

 Good to Know 

• Stanford Law review elects its first Iranian-American, Muslim president
• Harvard Law Review elects Hassaan Shahawy '22 as its 135th president
• China bans BBC World News from broadcasting
• Former Republican officials float possibility of forming 'center-right' party
• Saudi Arabia releases prominent women's rights activist from prison after pressure from the Biden Administration over human rights violations

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