Collective Punishment Of An Innocent Family – British Justice
by Laura Stuart
Friday, February 24th, 2012
In September of last year, Manchester based Munir Farooqi, was given four life sentences for preparing “terror” acts, soliciting murder, and disseminating “terrorist literature”. He is presently appealing his case. Disturbingly his family are set to lose their home under terrorism laws.
Save the Farooqi Family Home
The evidence for Munir Farooqi’s conviction was gained by two policemen working undercover who pretended to be interested in and then converted to Islam at Munir Farooqis Dawwah stall (invite to Islam) in Longsight, Manchester.
The fact that two policemen went into the mosque and prayed, over the period of 12 months posing as Muslims is something that has had a hugely negative impact on Muslim communities and their relationship with the authorities. As for Munir Farooqi he was neither convicted of being a member of Al Queda nor for planning any terrorist act. He was convicted of trying to recruit men to go and fight against N.A.T.O. forces in Afghanistan even though there was no proof that he had ever managed to successfully recruit anyone.
As far as I know Muslims and many others in the U.K. regard N.A.T.O. forces in Afghanistan as invaders and occupiers. There is a long list of atrocities which have been committed by those forces whilst proclaiming to be winning hearts and minds. Not only killing but urinating on dead bodies, cutting fingers off dead bodies as souvenirs and now burning the Quran, the behaviour of the occupying troops has been so atrocious that N.A.T.O. appears finally to have united all factions in Afghanistan in hating them and wanting them killed or to leave.
Is has to be remembered that the reason for N.A.T.O. being in Afghanistan was because the leader of the Taliban Mohammed Omar refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden to America unless he was given evidence to support Bin Laden’s involvment in 9/11, a fair enough request. No evidence was given and until Osama Bin Ladens death he was not charged with any crime related to 9/11 nor was any evidence produced.
The fact that police now pose as Muslims and no doubt try to incite Muslims to say things which by some with little real understanding of the Quran, can easily be misinterpreted should be of concern to every Muslim and every person interested in justice in the U.K. Zionist and racist websites are full of claims against Muslim Sheiks for so called “hate speech” based on what they believe is the speaker’s opinion but is actually taken from the Quran and misinterpreted or snippets used selectively.
However, this story is really about Munir Farooqi’s family who are themselves innocent victims of the terrorism laws. Because the undercover police men went to Farooqis home and taped conversations there which were then used in evidence against him, the family home can be confiscated as an asset belonging to a convicted terrorist, even though the home is in the name of his wife and not his. This is nothing short of collective punishment on a family.
There are many campaign groups including non Muslim faith groups working hard to oppose this action which can only be seen as collective punishment on innocent family members. People who believe in Human Rights and justice should read about this case and do what ever they can to try and “Save the Family Home”. Follow the link to sign the petition http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-the-famiily-home/
10 Facts
1. Is this case about someone who is in Al-Qaida?
No, Munir Farooqi was never convicted of being an Al-Qaida terrorist.
2. But wasn’t he found guilty?
Munir Farooqi was convicted on the evidence of two undercover police officers. There was no forensic evidence against him.
3. But isn’t he serving four life sentences?
Munir Farooqi is appealing his conviction.
4. What is this campaign about?
The CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) are trying to confiscate the family home. This is owned by Zeenat Farooqi and her daughter Zulaikha Farooqi. It was never owned by Munir Farooqi.
5. Why is there a campaign against the confiscation of this family home?
Because it is wrong and must be stopped. The confiscation of the family home is an attempt to collectively punish a whole family because of the conviction of one individual member of that family. This action will involve making seven people homeless – including an eight year old child and twelve month old baby.
6. The Attorney General is the most senior lawyer in the land – surely he wouldn’t accept an unjust law?
The Attorney General, when he was a back bencher in the House of Commons, raised concerns about this law, stating that the power had ‘the potential of becoming a draconian side sanction that may be out of all proportion to the actual offences being committed’ (Counter-Terrorism Bill, Committee stage, 13 May 2008, col 396, see here).
7. But aren’t the courts just doing their job and following the law?
The law being used to confiscate the family home was only written five years ago and has never been used before now. This law could apply to any family with a member convicted under the 2000 Terrorism Act. The test of the law is being made on a Muslim family and is trying to exploit the more general atmosphere of misunderstanding about Muslim people that has developed over the last decade or so.
8. Why should I care about this case and support this family?
Because this is an issue that affects everyone in the UK, whatever your background. This is an attack on all our civil liberties. If the courts go ahead with this confiscation it will place every family at risk. This is not a Muslim issue.
9. But surely it won’t happen?
Yes it will, if we do nothing. The family have already been given a date to appear in court next March.
10. Can this campaign win?
It has to – and by standing together we can stop this injustice.
Bukhari and Muslim – Sahih
Posted by Laura Stuart
on February 24, 2012. Filed under Activism.
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4 Responses to Collective Punishment Of An Innocent Family – British Justice
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Leslie Bravery
February 24, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Mr Justice Richard Henriques told Farooqi: “You are in my judgement a very dangerous man, an extremist, a fundamentalist with a determination to fight abroad.” ‘Fighting abroad’ is what NATO and other Western forces do with the utmost determination, invading, occupying, destroying infrastructure and installing compliant regimes in countries selected for their vulnerability. If resistance to belligerent military occupation is ‘terrorism’ then how should the armed invasion of countries selected for their inability to defend themselves be described? If Farooqi (who was not accused of planning acts of terrorism against innocent civilians in the UK) is a “very dangerous man” how much more dangerous are the political leaders of NATO member countries who use their overwhelming military might to impose their vision of a world order?
The police admitted that they had failed to discover any “blueprint, attack plan or endgame for these men”. All that the police could report was that Farooqi had attempted to recruit men to “fight, kill and die in either Afghanistan or Pakistan.” That very same charge can be levelled against Western political leaders, politicians that enabled Israel to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East; leaders who unconditionally support that country’s immunity from prosecution for its war crimes and gross violations of human rights. Justice will only be served when these leaders are themselves brought before the courts to answer to the bereaved and dispossessed victims they have created. The prospects for a more peaceful and harmonious world depend upon – and we must insist upon it.
Laura Stuart
February 25, 2012 at 9:36 am
Exactly Leslie. I hope to see Bush/Blair et al face justice in my lifetime and even if I don’t I am sure they will have to face it in the next. Leslie you should be writing for the site, why don’t you?
Lorca
February 25, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Hi Laura,
I’m happy to do that and thanks for the invitation. I do write articles from time to time when the newsletter allows me the time to do do it. If you like I could send you some earlier ones and you can tell me what you think.
Laura Stuart
February 26, 2012 at 8:23 am
Hi
Please do Leslie and I can pass them on to the website management as it is their decision not mine.