Muslims joined by Sikhs in Forest Gate protest
-18/06/06
Hundreds of members of the loc
Muslims joined by Sikhs in Forest Gate protest
-18/06/06
Hundreds of members of the local community in Forest Gate, London, held a protest today (18 June 2006), calling on the police to cooperate better with local people and revise their anti-terror tactics.
The predominantly Muslim demonstration was joined by Sikhs, a few Christians and other concerned residents.
The police raid on a Forest Gate household earlier this month, based on what seems to have been a misleading tip-off about offensive chemical devices, has caused anger because of its force and alleged brutality.
One man was shot and he and his brother were arrested on suspicion of terrorist links, but later released without charge. Both men say they were beaten and abused. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating.
Metropolitan police assistant chief Andy Hayman subsequently apologised for ìany distress that may have been causedî by the raid.
But Muslims and civil rights campaigners are angry that he has been given an award by the Queen, planned beforehand, in her 80th Birthday Honours List.
Abul Koyair, one of the two brothers arrested in the raid, told a rally after todayís march: We donít want this to happen to any other people in this communityÖ Muslims and non-Muslims alikeî
A local councillor, himself a Muslim, said that people understood the need for the authorities to take action against terror suspects, but said that they needed to be more sensitive in the way they operated and to develop better cooperation in the community.
The press conference held by Abul Koyair and his brother Abdul Kahar last week took place at Emmanuel Church, near where they live.
Canon Ann Easter, Anglican Area Dean of Newham, commented: ìWe have been thoroughly engaged with this sad incident from the very beginning, and felt that we have an understanding of the situation from all possible viewpoints.î
According to the Church Times she said that the Church felt ìacutelyî for the brothers, in the emotional and physical injuries they had suffered, and the prolonged suspicion they had been under.
But, having spoken to the police, she explained that the Church was also aware of the reality of their job and ìtheir sense of duty, as they do all that they can to protect the communityî.
Canon Easter described Forest Gate as ìa very strong community with good Christian-Muslim relations and an active faith forumî.
She said that one of the brothers remembered attending a youth project at Emmanuel Church Hall.
[Also on Ekklesia: Muslims seek better relations after police apology; Muslims are concerned at UK anti-terror tactics; Church hosts media conference for Muslim terror raid brothers 13/06/06; Call made for Muslim community not to cooperate with police 07/06/06; Muslim Council of Britain chooses new head 05/06/06; Muslims are concerned at UK anti-terror tactics 03/06/06; Beyond the politics of fear An Ekklesia response to the London bombings; Concerns grow over Stockwell killing; Church report backs shoot-to-kill policy; Religious leaders call for action after shooting of innocent man; Muslim tells Christians ‘War on Terror’ seems like ‘War on Islam’; Ex-spy wages peace on terror in the Middle East; Global faith gathering tackles religious roots of terror; Six point alternative to war]
Muslims joined by Sikhs in Forest Gate protest
-18/06/06
Hundreds of members of the local community in Forest Gate, London, held a protest today (18 June 2006), calling on the police to cooperate better with local people and revise their anti-terror tactics.
The predominantly Muslim demonstration was joined by Sikhs, a few Christians and other concerned residents.
The police raid on a Forest Gate household earlier this month, based on what seems to have been a misleading tip-off about offensive chemical devices, has caused anger because of its force and alleged brutality.
One man was shot and he and his brother were arrested on suspicion of terrorist links, but later released without charge. Both men say they were beaten and abused. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating.
Metropolitan police assistant chief Andy Hayman subsequently apologised for ìany distress that may have been causedî by the raid.
But Muslims and civil rights campaigners are angry that he has been given an award by the Queen, planned beforehand, in her 80th Birthday Honours List.
Abul Koyair, one of the two brothers arrested in the raid, told a rally after todayís march: We donít want this to happen to any other people in this communityÖ Muslims and non-Muslims alikeî
A local councillor, himself a Muslim, said that people understood the need for the authorities to take action against terror suspects, but said that they needed to be more sensitive in the way they operated and to develop better cooperation in the community.
The press conference held by Abul Koyair and his brother Abdul Kahar last week took place at Emmanuel Church, near where they live.
Canon Ann Easter, Anglican Area Dean of Newham, commented: ìWe have been thoroughly engaged with this sad incident from the very beginning, and felt that we have an understanding of the situation from all possible viewpoints.î
According to the Church Times she said that the Church felt ìacutelyî for the brothers, in the emotional and physical injuries they had suffered, and the prolonged suspicion they had been under.
But, having spoken to the police, she explained that the Church was also aware of the reality of their job and ìtheir sense of duty, as they do all that they can to protect the communityî.
Canon Easter described Forest Gate as ìa very strong community with good Christian-Muslim relations and an active faith forumî.
She said that one of the brothers remembered attending a youth project at Emmanuel Church Hall.
[Also on Ekklesia: Muslims seek better relations after police apology; Muslims are concerned at UK anti-terror tactics; Church hosts media conference for Muslim terror raid brothers 13/06/06; Call made for Muslim community not to cooperate with police 07/06/06; Muslim Council of Britain chooses new head 05/06/06; Muslims are concerned at UK anti-terror tactics 03/06/06; Beyond the politics of fear An Ekklesia response to the London bombings; Concerns grow over Stockwell killing; Church report backs shoot-to-kill policy; Religious leaders call for action after shooting of innocent man; Muslim tells Christians ‘War on Terror’ seems like ‘War on Islam’; Ex-spy wages peace on terror in the Middle East; Global faith gathering tackles religious roots of terror; Six point alternative to war]