Most Terrorist Convictions are Non-Muslim
Source: MuslimNews
By Hamed Chapman
Despite the sweeping Police raids against Muslims, the majority of convictions in the UK under its anti-terrorist laws since 9/11 have been white loyalists and racists.
According to Home Office figures, 609 arrests of so-called terrorist suspects have been made over the past three years, but up until 30 June 2004, they have led to only 15 convictions. The majority were quietly released without charge in contrast to the high-profile raids.
It has now been found by a study of eleven of the convictions by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) that only three were Muslims and of these two have been given leave to appeal against their convictions.
The other eight included six convicted of wearing or carrying symbols of outlawed pro-British loyalist groups in Northern Ireland. The two others were separate cases of sending letters containing “substances claiming to be noxious” and included one sent to Muslim MP, Mohammed Sarwar, containing white powder.
The IRR also found that out of attempted charges against Muslims, at least 21 cases were brought to court but were either subsequently dropped or could not be proven. The Institute said that it was continuing to monitor arrests under anti-terror laws in relations to how they affect minority ethnic communities and would be publishing a full report shortly.
The Muslim community is not surprised with the figures. “This confirms our suspicion the disparity between convictions and arrests is even greater than we were made to believe. A 0.5% conviction rate beggars belief. What message does this send to the Muslim community?”, Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, Sadiq Khan, told The Muslim News.
* Eight British men arrested with five others in high-profile anti-terror raids two weeks ago appeared in court on August 18 were charged under the 1977 Criminal Law Act.
All eight, who are Muslims, were named as Dhiren Barot, Mohammed Naveed Bhatti, Abdul Aziz Jalil, Omar Abdul Rehman, Junade Feroze, Zia Ul Haq, Qaisar Shaffi and Nadeem Tarmohammed. All are charged collectively with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to commit a public nuisance by using radioactive material, toxic gas, chemicals or explosives.
Only three, Barot, Shaffi and Tarmohammed, face charges under the Terrorism 2000 Act, including possession of a Terrorists Handbook and having a reconnaissance plans for buildings in the US.
The eight were remanded in custody to appear at London’s Old Bailey central criminal court on August 25.
A ninth man, a non Muslim, described as Matthew Monks, was charged at the same court with possession of a prohibited weapon, but was released on bail.
Two of the 13 arrested in nationwide raids on August 3 were earlier freed without charge. Two others were also released but were rearrested on suspicion of other offences.
Source: MuslimNews
By Hamed Chapman
Despite the sweeping Police raids against Muslims, the majority of convictions in the UK under its anti-terrorist laws since 9/11 have been white loyalists and racists.
According to Home Office figures, 609 arrests of so-called terrorist suspects have been made over the past three years, but up until 30 June 2004, they have led to only 15 convictions. The majority were quietly released without charge in contrast to the high-profile raids.
It has now been found by a study of eleven of the convictions by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) that only three were Muslims and of these two have been given leave to appeal against their convictions.
The other eight included six convicted of wearing or carrying symbols of outlawed pro-British loyalist groups in Northern Ireland. The two others were separate cases of sending letters containing “substances claiming to be noxious” and included one sent to Muslim MP, Mohammed Sarwar, containing white powder.
The IRR also found that out of attempted charges against Muslims, at least 21 cases were brought to court but were either subsequently dropped or could not be proven. The Institute said that it was continuing to monitor arrests under anti-terror laws in relations to how they affect minority ethnic communities and would be publishing a full report shortly.
The Muslim community is not surprised with the figures. “This confirms our suspicion the disparity between convictions and arrests is even greater than we were made to believe. A 0.5% conviction rate beggars belief. What message does this send to the Muslim community?”, Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, Sadiq Khan, told The Muslim News.
* Eight British men arrested with five others in high-profile anti-terror raids two weeks ago appeared in court on August 18 were charged under the 1977 Criminal Law Act.
All eight, who are Muslims, were named as Dhiren Barot, Mohammed Naveed Bhatti, Abdul Aziz Jalil, Omar Abdul Rehman, Junade Feroze, Zia Ul Haq, Qaisar Shaffi and Nadeem Tarmohammed. All are charged collectively with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to commit a public nuisance by using radioactive material, toxic gas, chemicals or explosives.
Only three, Barot, Shaffi and Tarmohammed, face charges under the Terrorism 2000 Act, including possession of a Terrorists Handbook and having a reconnaissance plans for buildings in the US.
The eight were remanded in custody to appear at London’s Old Bailey central criminal court on August 25.
A ninth man, a non Muslim, described as Matthew Monks, was charged at the same court with possession of a prohibited weapon, but was released on bail.
Two of the 13 arrested in nationwide raids on August 3 were earlier freed without charge. Two others were also released but were rearrested on suspicion of other offences.
posted by Traveller @ 1:28 PM
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