Terror threat is no excuse for mistakes
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the high-profile arrests of 12 overseas Muslim students of Pakistani origin, as part of massive anti-terror raids across the North West of England.
Scotland Yard's anti-terror tsar Bob Quick was forced to resign after being photographed with sensitive documents; the arrests dominated media coverage for days, with exclusives on who and what the targets were; football stadiums amongst them; the governments of Pakistan and Britain blamed each other; the police were, initially, given more time to question the alleged conspirators under the new extended detention laws – individuals can be held up to 28 days without charge.
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Muslim in Bristol column
All of those arrested have now been released without charge. The Government is now seeking to deport these individuals on the grounds of national security. There was not enough evidence to even hold them for any further questioning, let alone to charge them.
As I said then, Britain is facing a clear, terror threat. Mistakes are bound to happen. People will inevitably be arrested on dubious intelligence, only to be later released without charge. But, as I said then, and repeat now, each time it happens, we, the general public, will lose confidence in these kinds of operations, making the job of the security services that much harder.
Clearly, the Muslim communities specifically will be affected by these kinds of failures more than anyone else. But, we have to be calm, and we have to be patient.
Just as the members of the Muslim community sadly, have to get used to being stopped at airports more than anyone else – a process that is humiliating, degrading, embarrassing, just ask anyone who has had the misfortune to go through it, repeatedly, each time they travel.
But, we have to get used to it. We have to get used to getting suspicious looks on the buses, on the streets, in the shops. We have to get used to the far right leafleting door-to-door, stoking up hatred and suspicion of Muslims.
We have to get used to the "Muslims are the bad guys" plot lines of our favourite movies and of our own favourite TV shows.
It is the sad face of a new reality.
That does not mean to say we just sit idly by and let it all just happen. We must show our true nature, our true worth, as Muslims, as citizens of this country.
But, having spoken to many Muslims here in Bristol on this specific subject, there is also one more thing that both our Government and our security services need to be aware of. True, the security services can count on our total support. All we ask in return is honesty.
When a mistake is made, be open and honest. When a mistake is made, do not then congratulate each other on a job well done.
It is counterproductive. Do not then, to avoid embarrassment, target individuals that have not been charged with other unconnected charges.
As in this case, the students, released without charge will now be subject to deportation, even though they have done nothing wrong under the laws of this land. Doing such things is perceived as an abuse of power.
The security services are there to protect all of us. Muslims included.
14 Comments
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by sara, Bristol
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 1:09PM
“Ruddie ,
You really are ignorant beyond belief - so consumed with your hate ¿ I cant believe you have the audacity to put the kind of deluded ramblings you have to paper. I think either you need to go and get educated (and no The Sun is not an encyclopaedia) or you need to come off the opium you have obviously been buying in Afghanistan! The same opium that was virtually eradicated by the Taliban and that has been produced en masse since the USA decided to lend a helping hand!!
You obviously have severe difficulty differentiating between fact and fiction, you don¿t even know what deluded comments you are making, I quote:
¿The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 when they were ousted by the United States in response to 9/11, up to that point the US had no involvement in Afghanistan¿
Then you say:
¿the US helped the Mujahideen to fight the communists, these were the Russians¿
Uh ¿ which comment do you think is true Ruddie? Did the US really have no involvement in Afghanistan prior to 9/11 or Did the communists come after 9/11, in your parallel deluded universe? Or does it depend on which medication you are at that time??
Please go and get yourself some treatment, before you become even more twisted and consumed with hate ¿ you anti-Semitic!”
by Sara, Bristol
Tuesday, May 05 2009, 1:05PM
“Brendan, Pakistan did not create the Taliban - Please don¿t be so naïve - everything has a consequence and the Taliban were indirectly the creation of the USA, the consequence of a power vacuum and a lawless society that was created by the US use and abuse policies ¿ when they had finished their use they were abandoned. Everybody with half a brain knows and acknowledges that Taliban was the Monster created by the USA, Pakistan may have tried to control the monster but they didn¿t create it!”
by Ruddie, Doncaster
Monday, May 04 2009, 9:56PM
“Well Anon another comment from a poorly informed "reader", the US helped the Mujahideen to fight the communists, these were the Russians, in case you get a bit confused with all this information, along with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia they armed this Muslim country to rid them of the threat posed by the Soviets, after the withdrawal of the Soviets Afghanistan wasn't a major concern for the US as it had achieved what it set out to do, that was stop Russia from siezing control of Afghanistan, for Afghanistan to remain a free country they needed the help the US offered. The US had no involvement with creating the Taliban, the Taliban in their infinite stupidity decided to repay the US for their help by attacking them, that's logical thinking isn't it, without the weapons supplied by the US, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia they wouldn't have been able to mount any kind of defence against the Russians but as soon as the Russians left they attacked a country that helped them. When the US responded in like they are painted as the antagonists!!
But we've seen this kind of rationale before when Israel retaliated against the constant attacks by Palestine. You are a racist and anti-semetic to boot.”
by anon, Bris.
Saturday, May 02 2009, 3:29PM
“I don't want to sound like a supporter of the Taliban, because i'm not. But who put the Taliban in power? Oh yeh the American government and these barbarians were imposed upon the Afghani people by the USA you idiot. And the production of drugs increased by 700%
I am afraid it's people lke you and Proffessor Singh that have a problem with islam, not Islam that has the problem.
And Islam is NOT going to go away. I know this makes you sad.”
by Anon, Bristol
Saturday, May 02 2009, 1:55PM
“I am afraid professor Singh, it's not Islam that has a problem, it's you that has a problem with islam.”