Anti-Terror Arrests: Something Muslims Will Have to Get Used To?

Since the attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001, there have been 622 ‘terror’ related arrests in Britain, mainly held on suspicion of "being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism". With 15 convictions so far albeit several trials pending, naturally Muslims are anxious. Perhaps more alarming is the rate of ‘stop and search’ by the authorities, currently being over 3000 Muslims under the pretext of terrorism with the most high-profile being Lord Nazir of Rotherham (No less than 3 times at that!)

This has led many Muslims to analyse that anti-terrorism measures in Britain are a double-edged sword, where they act to violate civil liberties while engaging in psychological bullying of Muslims. Indeed, relatives of those that have succumbed to these measures articulate rather more candidly. Ashfaq Ahmed (a civil servant for 22 years and father of Babar Ahmed-alleged victim to over 50 death-defying injuries meted out by police in December) in an address to a Home Office Demonstration stated, “ These people need an enemy to distort the truth – they are the witch hunters and Muslims are the modern day witches. All our sons are in danger…….because our belief makes us a target.”

With civil liberty groups describing Belmarsh as "Britain's Guantanamo" and prisoners discussing "a new dark age of injustice", it comes as no surprise that Muslims on the ‘outside’ are echoing suspicions that the police are misusing anti-terror laws. When you remember examples of the December and the Manchester raids, where all detainees were released without charge, or the arrests of Algerians in Scotland, indeed the extradition proceedings against Lofti Raissi which were thrown out of a British court for “lack of evidence”, many are now asking the question….Is every Muslim a possible terror suspect?

If media reports and commentaries are to be sifted through, then one would suggest that to be a fair concern. When intelligence (information supplied by external sources being the main factor) and surveillance providing a supporting role, then inevitably the net is going to be cast wide, which results in some people being picked up for ‘terrorism-related’ offences leaving most to be released without charge. Paul Beaver, a terrorism commentator and quoted by the Daily Telegraph said as much: "Our first line of defence is intelligence and the ability to stop people who are suspected. If they do not have anything to do with it, then we have the machinery of law to ensure they will be released."

With the number of innocent Muslims in many parts of the Muslim World being detained and tortured and paraded to the world media as terrorists increasing, it becomes worrying that it is these very sources that at times act as the intelligence feed to the West. Result: Arrests here, which may lead to innocent Muslims being frog-marched to Belmarsh.

With the 8 men charged this week being thought to have been under surveillance for a while, it is speculated in the media that police may have acted more quickly than originally planned following the arrest of a computer engineer in Pakistan (who apparently spent some time here in the UK). Meanwhile, British Muslims wait with bated breath on their destiny.