anti-terrorist legislation

From the archive: nothing has changed

The Muslims in the jails

'At the very least, my son has a better character than David Blunkett,'' Ashfaq Ahmad told a large, appreciative audience in Whitechapel's Brady Centre today as he talked about the realities of British anti-terrorism laws from people who've experienced them.

Ashfaq Ahmad's son, Babar, has been arrested twice by anti-terrorist police since 2003. His father told the meeting that Babar Ahmad was beaten so badly the first time that he bled from his ears and his bladder.

The second arrest, in August this year, led to a spell in prison that has yet to end. Babar Ahmad's family is still trying to find out why he was arrested and what will happen next. He is being held as a political prisoner at Woodhill prison, and facing extradition proceedings to the USA, which says - on the strength of a couple of emails and a tourist brochure about the Empire State building - that he is a terrorist threat.

'I think the image of the nice, friendly policeman is a thing of the past,' Ashfaq Ahmad observed. He said that he thought Babar's reaction to his first arrest had drawn the attention of those who use anti-terrorism legislation as an excuse to make an example of members of the Muslim community.

'[Babar] publicised his case and made a formal complaint. People of my generation were afraid to come out and speak, and I would have been the same if my son had not been involved. Now I tell my wife when I go out, if I''m not back in ten or 12 hours, I've probably been arrested too.'