Muslims hit back over terror raids

Mark Hesford

May 08, 2009

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PUBLIC meetings denouncing the 'criminalisation of Muslims' will be held in the wake of anti-terror raids in Manchester.

Two meetings have been arranged by community leaders in Cheetham Hill after last month's police swoop in which 12 men were arrested but never charged.

The meetings are being supported by the British Libyan Solidarity Campaign, The Respect Party, The Mule, Red Pepper and Manchester No Borders.

Organisers have branded the arrests, across the north west, as an example of 'shameful harassment' against the Muslim community. The allegations have been strongly refuted by Greater Manchester Police.

A leaflet publicising the meetings states: "In spite of no evidence of any terror plot being found, 11 of the 12 are still being held in custody, awaiting deportation. Instead of an apology, the police promised more such raids.

"We must unite to stop the deportation of Pakistani students and break the wall of fear that is being built around Muslim communities.

"The government must stop this shameful harassment and criminalisation of Muslim communities."

Legal representatives, campaigners and families of some of the men facing deportation are due to speak at the public meetings - tomorrow at the Pakistani Community Centre, Stockport Road, Longsight (2pm) and on Tuesday at the Saffron Restaurant, Cheetham Hill Road, Cheetham Hill (7.30pm). The meetings come as Greater Manchester Police continue their 18-month Counter Terrorism Consultation to let the public offer ideas on how to prevent terrorism.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson, in charge of the raids for GMP, said: "The operations the GMP and North West Counter Terrorism Unit carry out have one objective - to protect the public. They are not targeted at any particular groups or communities.

"We recognise that a number of people carrying out terrorist actions have purported to do this supporting Islam but we know Islam is a peaceful religion."

Last week, Greater Manchester Police Authority organised an event hosted by the Community Security Trust to allow people to share their views.

The CST is a charity that seeks to protect the Jewish community from threats of bigotry and terrorism.

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Voter (08/05/2009 at 07:35)

Something is missing in what these people say. I cannot find any denunciation of violence or any sympathy for the victims of violence. Do they realise that what they are doing will result in more people voting for the BNP? Who are the police supposed to question - the members of the Bolton old-age-pensioners ladies flower-arranging society or those who say that they are in favour of extremism?

The stinking kipper, pinned under the table (08/05/2009 at 08:26)

and the British Libyan Solidarity Campaign feels it has mass support and appeal in Manchester does it? What are it's aims?

Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (08/05/2009 at 08:26)

Greater Manchester Police, and any other police force or security service in the UK have a duty to protect the members of the British community whatever their race, creed or colour, living in the UK from the threat of terrorism whoever and wherever the terrorists are and come from. This continual criticism of police methods in the fight against terrorism by the so called leaders (who appoints them) of "muslim communities" is nothing short of paranoia. They need to be told that their communities are only a part of the wider British community and are thus subject to the same laws as all other members of the community.

dessie, manchester (08/05/2009 at 08:46)

if the muslims tried to interact with authorities to weed out the instigators of terror then there would be a lot more harmony in areas where there is tension.
It works both ways when it comes to having a peaceful community!!!!

Count Alucard, Whitby Bay (08/05/2009 at 08:55)

'Islam is a peaceful religion'

Name one religion that doesn't involve bloodshed.

Audenshaw Bob (08/05/2009 at 09:05)

It's got nothing to do with picking on Muslims. If the general profile of terrorists that are a current threat is Irish, Jewish or any other nationality or creed them they are more likely to be arrested than those who aren't - fact.

The police already pussyfoot around these communities when there is an arrest. Take the recent one's in Cheetham Hill, leaflets were put through all doors by the police to 'reassure the community' and talks were held with local leaders to also 'reassure the community'. If I was arrested this morning would the police go around apologising to my neighbours? No.

The police are over sensitive as it is to minorities so meetings like this will only make them even more so which may result in a terrorist plot being carried out because the police were too scared to go in. Is this what these groups want?

Everyone sould learn to get along rather than people feeling overtly persecuted or offended on behalf of other people.

Another problem here is that the police have a fine line of when to go in and prevent a terrorist attack and when to go in beforehand but there may not be much eveidence. The best way to be sure that there is evidence is to go in as the attack is about to take place or after the event when thre will be lots of evidence. Neither of these two are advisable really are they?

Elb Owdeep (08/05/2009 at 09:12)

If the muslims dont like it. get out of our country!

Laura Norder, Didsbury (08/05/2009 at 09:54)

"PUBLIC meetings denouncing the 'criminalisation of Muslims' will be held in the wake of anti-terror raids in Manchester." - MEN.

Perhaps, if the communities at the centre of these protests, had been as vocal and vociferous in their condemnation of radical Islamic terror plots perpetrated in this country - and abroad - they would enjoy more credibility from the indiginous population of the UK.

Or maybe it's easier for them to - collectively - stick their fingers in their ears while singing: 'la-la-la... nothing to do with me, guv'?

I hope that the police will ensure that those wishing to voice their protests are allowed to do so - isn't freedom of speech and free expression among the reasons so many immigrants want to settle here? - but come down hard on those who may want to display inflammatory placards, and indulge in aggressive behaviour towards those who don't see Islam as their salvation.

It's good of the MEN to publish the venues and times of these meetings; perhaps it will accord the same publicity to the general public when, in future, our armed forces personnel are due to return to the region having engaged with enemy combatants.

Redtooth, Manchester (08/05/2009 at 10:19)

I assume that they are in this country illegaly otherwise they wouldnt be awaiting deportation ? I also assume that if they could prove that their student Visa's were legit then they would be able to stay and complete their studying ??????

Elb Owdeep (08/05/2009 at 10:21)

I say we close our borders and implement marshall law

Count Alucard, Whitby Bay (08/05/2009 at 10:38)

I back the Police 100%.

No stone should be left unturned in the fight against terrorism.

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (08/05/2009 at 10:45)

Laura Norder, Didsbury
So well put,If these people integrated better instead of making these little groups within their communities,things would be better.INTEGRATION IS THE ANSWER.

Black Flag (08/05/2009 at 11:11)

Redtooth: "I assume that they are in this country illegaly otherwise they wouldnt be awaiting deportation? I also assume that if they could prove that their student Visa's were legit then they would be able to stay and complete their studying?"

You're assuming that you live in a country where the rule of law exists. Unfortunately it doesn't; New Labour replaced it with decision making by ministerial fiat.

CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside (08/05/2009 at 11:36)

I'd be interested in knowing why the police intelligence is so poor. That said, just because no evidence is found it doesn't mean there is no criminal intent, that applies to all crime generally. Maybe the authorities are hoping for riots so they can further implement their police state.

Count Alucard, Whitby Bay (08/05/2009 at 11:39)

'I say we close our borders and implement marshall law'

A good idea - Now the Army are coming back from IraqI, I would post them at all points of entry into this country.

Blip, Manchester (08/05/2009 at 11:41)

Laura Norder: Good post - I agree with your sentiments and give my total backing to the police and security forces on this matter. Without doubt, the greatest terrorist threat to this country comes from single male Muslims under the age of 40. Especially those with strong ties to Pakistan. It is therefore no surprise that individuals falling into this group should come under greater scrutiny from the people whose duty it is to protect ALL citizens of this country.

Ace: What's 'integration'? I thought New Labour had redefined this as 'community cohesion'.

Black Flag (08/05/2009 at 12:23)

Count Alucard: "A good idea - Now the Army are coming back from IraqI, I would post them at all points of entry into this country."

What I complete waste of money that would be. What possible value could be obtained from having soldiers at Manchester Airport?

Audenshaw Bob (08/05/2009 at 12:30)

cornerdalltheluck, you make a good point but at what point do the police step in? They have to wait until there is sufficient evidence but not when it is too late that 400 people have been killed in the Arndale. It's a trick one.

Let me explain. If somebody was thinking of stabbing somebody to death, but hadn't made a direct threat and the police knew about it, what can they do? If the person is at home and has kitchen knives in the kitchen drawer they can't prove anything. There is no evidence to convict. Similarly if it was a shooting he was thinking of but there was no gun to be found (which doesn't mean to say that they gun doesn't exist somewhere).

So, what to do?

The only sure fire way is to wait until the person is armed with said knife or gun and is on the way to commit the crime or to wait until the crime is being carried out or is complete and then step in. The best evidenve to convict is after the event i.e. blood on clothes etc but by them some poor soul is dead.

Think about this.

Then imgaine it wasn't a knife or gun but a backpack full of explosives. Even though the men weren#t convicted it doesn't mean that a plot wasn't stopped.

The stinking kipper, pinned under the table (08/05/2009 at 12:34)

Blip, Manchester: Wrong, apparently. At the present, the security forces consider the biggest threat to Britain comes from dissident republican irish people.

Count Alucard, Whitby Bay (08/05/2009 at 12:37)

Black Flag:

'What possible value could be obtained from having soldiers at Manchester Airport? '

Seeing that terrorist's have already attempted to kill inocent people at Glasgow Airport, I would think the sight of Soldiers at our airports would be welcomed by the public, and well worth the money.

Black Flag (08/05/2009 at 12:50)

Count Alucard, we already have armed police at airports. Introducing soldiers with a different chain of command and overlapping responsibilities would probably end up being counter-productive and dangerous.

We need solutions based on brain power, not testosterone.

Esso Blue, Manchester. (08/05/2009 at 12:57)

I don't see what the fuss is all about. My house was accidently raided by the police about 14 years ago, so I think it's about time I rally the Christian community.

David, North M/C (08/05/2009 at 13:30)

Two of my coments have been censored now, there is a clown who is a regular poster that says we have free speech.

Black Flag (08/05/2009 at 13:48)

David, North M/C, we do have a degree of freedom of speech, but we also have private property rights.

If you want to express your opinion, I don't think you should be legally prevented, but the MEN's server is their private property and if they don't want to host your comments on it, that's their choice. I occasionally get comments censored, but that's the risk you take when you express yourself on somebody else's website.

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (08/05/2009 at 13:57)

If these groups worked with the police more maybe it would cut down on the needs of these raids.The police are protecting,muslims,christians,jews,buddist and every other religious group you can think of that is in "OUR" Communities. integrate and stop fighting wars from britain and then maybe we would not need these raids.

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