Archive for Prisoner Incidents

Action Alert : Stop Baltasar Garzons Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize

{ April 18, 2008 @ 4:23 pm } · { Prisoner Incidents }
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Background

 Judge Baltasar Garzon has recently been feted as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, and rumours are circulating that he has received several nominations from human rights groups. This is allegedly for his services to reconciliation of the Argentinian ‘disappeared’, as well as condemning Guantamo bay.

 However, this proposed nomination is a hypocritical one. He has condemned the lack of due process at Guantanamo Bay, but sees no problem in attempting to try former inmates of the Naval Gulag such as Omar Degayhes and Jamil al-Banna. It was only after immense public pressure that he agreed to drop the extradition request, however this was because of ‘ill health’ rather than acknowledgement from Garzon that there were no real charges to face.

He has also in the past attempted to extradite General Pinochet for human rights abuses committed in Chile. However, he has had no qualms with extraditing people in order that Spain may commit human rights abuses, such as the case of Farid Hilali.

Farid himself said in a letter to his UK Solicitors ( received a month after his detention and illegal extradition ) the following :-

 “I have so many problems here. They took my English money and other property as well. They have taken my legal documents; they say I can not be allowed to have these in the segregation unit. They also try to put me in this segregation unit as a punishment and to limit my access to the solicitor and my family and the outside world. No one explained anything to me and I am not treated well here…”

 “.. I spend 22 hours in the cell, I go for a walk in the yard alone always, there is no one to talk to, I am completely shut off from the outside world. How can I prepare my case and give instructions to my solicitor if I am not even allowed to have my legal documents. This is against my human rights i.e. the right to effectively prepare a defence and to have a fair trial.”

Garzon also aggressively pursued the prosecution and trial of Argentinians responsible for the ‘disappeared’ under the Military Junta of 1981, for crimes against humanity. He frequently spoke out against the crimes committed by the dictatorship during that period.

However, he also committed similar infringements of freedom and rights to association by banning Basque separatist paries including Batasuna, He referred to members of this political party as “human garbage”, presumably for daring to have a dissenting voice against the Spanish Government. During this same period of 2002 onwards, he also banned the right of political parties to campaign against Spains constitution or political structure.

There are so many reasons for Garzon to not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, however one of the strongest arguments much surely be for his utter contempt for basic freedoms and rights such as a fair trial. In Farid Hilali’s case, he instructed his deputy, Pedro Rubira, to pursue a case against him even though there was no case to answer. Rubira even submitted an allegedly perjurious witness statement to the British Court. Farid Hilali, an innocent Moroccan asylum seeker seeking protection from torture, was extradited illegally based on the quest for fame and fortune on the part of Garzon and Rubira. Since his extradition, he was denied access to his legal papers, denied access to funds, denied access to his lawyers, and many other measures all designed to frustrate his defence.

 

Judge Garzon is not someone worthy to stand with Nelson Mandela, Lech Walesa or Martin Luther King on the Laureates roll of honour. Instead, Garzon should be castigated for his assault on ethnic and religious minorities. He is a man for whom fame must come at any price, even when that price is the erosion of basic rights and liberties. We intend to oppose the nomination of Judge Garzon, and would urge all others to do the same.

How to Help

Please write to the Nobel Peace Prize committee, to ensure that Judge Garzon is not given this award. Please also visit the freefarid.com website to stay up to date with Farid Hilali’s campaign and the assault on his human rights by Pedro Rubira and Judge Baltasar Garzon.

Key Contacts

Geir Lundestad,DirectorThe Norwegian Nobel Institute

Henrik Ibsens Gate 51

NO-0255 OSLO

Norway

T: +47 22 12 93 00 

F: +47 22 12 93 10

 

 Ole Danbolt Mjos, Committee MemberThe Norwegian Nobel Institute

Henrik Ibsens Gate 51

NO-0255 OSLO

Norway

T: +47 22 12 93 00 

F: +47 22 12 93 10

 
Berge Ragnar Furre, Committee MemberThe Norwegian Nobel Institute

Henrik Ibsens Gate 51

NO-0255 OSLO

Norway

T: +47 22 12 93 00 

F: +47 22 12 93 10

 

 Sissel Marie Ronbeck, Committee MemberThe Norwegian Nobel Institute

Henrik Ibsens Gate 51

NO-0255 OSLO

Norway

T: +47 22 12 93 00 

F: +47 22 12 93 10

 
Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, Committee MemberThe Norwegian Nobel Institute

Henrik Ibsens Gate 51

NO-0255 OSLO

Norway

T: +47 22 12 93 00 

F: +47 22 12 93 10

 

 Kaci Kullman Five, Committee MemberThe Norwegian Nobel Institute

Henrik Ibsens Gate 51

NO-0255 OSLO

Norway

T: +47 22 12 93 00 

F: +47 22 12 93 10

 

Sample letter

Dear <NAME>,

 It is with dismay that I have read the Judge Baltasar Garzon may be under consideration for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. I, as someone deeply concerned about human rights and someone who supports the rights of ethnic and religious minorities to live in peace, object to this nomination as an affront to the spirit of the Nobel Prize.

·         He has condemned the lack of due process at Guantanamo Bay, but saw no problem in attempting to try former inmates of the Naval Gulag such as Omar Degayhes and Jamil al-Banna. It was only after immense public pressure that he agreed to drop the extradition request, however this was because of ‘ill health’ rather than acknowledgement from Garzon that there were no real charges to face.

  • From 2002 onwards, he has banned the right of political parties to campaign against Spain’s constitution or political structure.
  • In Farid Hilali’s case, he instructed his deputy, Pedro Rubira, to pursue a case against him even though there was no case to answer

 There are so many reasons for Garzon to not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, however one of the strongest arguments much surely be for his utter contempt for basic freedoms and rights such as a fair trial. Farid Hilali was extradited despite no evidence being heard against him to this date. He has since arriving in Spain been kept in extremely harsh conditions, with his legal defence frequently being deliberately frustrated.

I could list far more examples of why Garzon is not a suitable candidate, however I have omitted these for the sake of brevity. I would urge you as committee members to refuse this nomination in order to defend the honour and tradition of not only the Nobel Prize, but that of fairness, honesty and justice. 

Regards,

<NAME>

Source : The FreeFarid.com Campaign

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Further Racist Attacks In Frankland Prison

{ March 20, 2008 @ 3:24 pm } · { Prisoner Incidents }
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Background

News has reached us that HMP Frankland, run by Governor Bob Mullen, is still continuing to be a dangerous, hostile and racist environment for Muslim Prisoners. What is most disturbing is that despite continuous pressure being applied, he has done little to address the concerns of the inmate population, even when their lives are in danger.

In January, one inmate who does not wish to be named was attacked twice in a 48 hour period. The first attack was unprovoked by a person who delivered apunch so violently that it slammed him onto bars, splitting his head and making him lose conciousness. He required stitches, however they simply used glue to stop a very serious wound, an action which flies in the face of standard medical procedures for such an injury. He also overhead the nurses say that it was the first time they had ever used glue to treat an injury.

Incredibly, he was released back to his cell on the same wing the next day. He was then attacked again, this time within 2 days of the first attack. In the second attack, two prisoners bit off part of his ear, leaving it virtually hanging loose by a thread. The inmate states that two officers where in the vicinity within 20 meters with a clear line of vision, and they waited until the attack had ended before intervening. He was then assaulted by the Prison Officers, being handcuffed and held to the floor whilst putting pressure on his back. They also pushed his head to one side, forcing his injured ear to the floor, causing excruciating pain. He also suffered sight loss in both eyes.

He was then taken to segregation, and despite continually asking for assistance with his ear nearly dislodged from his head, he was not even responded to for over 1 hour. After one hour, an officer responded by taken his shoes away from him. He has still not had them returned.

He was eventually seen 5 hours later from the attack by a doctor, who informed him that he would require plastic surgery. This term was not explained to the inmate, and as a result he was unsure what this actually meant. It was clear that he required major surgery, however the nurses informed him he would not be able to do this as he was a ‘high risk’ prisoner.

As a result, his ear injury was treated with paracetomol and anti-biotics. This of course did nothing to alleviate the pain. This left him unable to pray as the bleeding did not cease, and made it next to impossible for him to sleep. After 5 days of non-treatment, and suffering stress and trauma as a result, he requested to leave the hospital wing. The prison tried to make him return to the same wing on which he was based, which of course he refused. For this, he was sent to solitary confinement for refusing a direct order.

Whilst in Solitary, there have been race riots in which the ethnic minority prisoners were attacked by the white prisoners. The ethnic prisoners were then punished for being attacked by being placed in segregation and then moved to another establishment.

It is clear that there are serious issues that have failed to be addressed, and the prison may well be operating a fiefdom which it believes it does not have to obey its legal obligations.

• There is still racist grafitti left in cells and public areas which has not been removed, despite this being raised in courts over 6 months ago.

• There is no CCTV on F and G Wings, despite their being numerous attacks on minority inmates within that wing

• The Prison Officers are 90% white. This should not be an issue, however it becomes one when it is clear that preferential treatment is being given to white inmates, whilst ethnic minority inmates are being victimised

• The Legal rooms do not offer confidentiality. Any conversations are clearly audible and listened to by Prison Officers.

• Some inmates, mainly muslim inmates, are required to move cells every month.

• Inadequate and discriminatory healthcare is still being offered to muslim inmates directly injured as a result of the prisons’ failure to protect their safety. This is in spite of this issue being raised in relation to Eesa Barot before his transfer.

• There were race riots on at least one occasion, and rather than addressing the issues raised from this incident, the prison chose to cover it up and under-report it.

• Inadequate training of staff to deal with muslim prisoners. They could not, or did not want to, understand the inmates repeated requests for medical assistance. They also did not intervene when a muslim inmate was being attacked.

It is clear that HMP Frankland under Governor Bob Mullen is unable to protect the rights and safety of muslim and ethnic minority inmates within its prison. We call on the prison service to investigate the issues raised within this, and if it cannot provide for ethnic minority or muslim prisoners at HMP Frankland, then it should not be housing them there. All prisoners, regardless of their crimes real or alleged, have the right to be protected and treated equally. The restriction on freedom and the fact they are held in an establishment where their movements are restricted is the punishment of prison. There should be no further punishment because of the colour of someones skin or their religious affliation.

Actions Required

•Write Letters and Make Phonecalls to HMP Frankland, making them aware of the issues raised in this alert. A sample letter is included.

•Contact your member of parliament, asking them to investigate the above issues.

•Contact the Prison Inspectorate, Anne Owers.

Key Contacts

H M Prison Service
Parliamentary, Correspondence & Briefing Unit
Room 536
Cleland
Page Street
London
SW1P 4LN
FAX: 0207 217 6403     
Governor Bob Mullen

HMP Frankland
Brasside
Durham
DH1 5YD
Tel: 0191 332 3000
Fax: 0191 332 3001

Anne Owers, Prison Inspectorate
Ashley House
2 Monck Street
London
SW1P 2BQ
Tel 020 7035 2876 or 0845 010 7938 (lo-call)
Fax 020 7035 2860
Email: mail@ppo.gsi.gov.uk
 

Sample Letter

Dear Mr Mullen,

I write this letter with dismay, to see that despite you having been made aware on numerous occasions that your prison and prison officers are delivering discriminatory treatment to muslim prisoners, you have done little to address the continually deteriorating situation at your prison.

• There is still racist grafitti left in cells and public areas which has not been removed, despite this being raised in courts over 6 months ago.

• There is no CCTV on F and G Wings, despite their being numerous attacks on minority inmates within that wing

• Inadequate training of staff to deal with muslim prisoners. They could not, or did not want to, understand the inmates repeated requests for medical assistance. They also did not intervene when a muslim inmate was being attacked.

• There were race riots on at least one occasion, and rather than addressing the issues raised from this incident, the prison chose to cover it up and under-report it.

• The Legal rooms do not offer confidentiality. Any conversations are clearly audible and listened to by Prison Officers.
• Inadequate and discriminatory healthcare is still being offered to muslim inmates directly injured as a result of the prisons’ failure to protect their safety. This is in spite of this issue being raised in relation to Eesa Barot before his transfer.

I would advise you that if you are unable to protect the safety and wellbeing of muslim inmates at your prison, then you should not be housing them there. There have been to date, that the public know about, 5 serious assaults involving an attacks on muslim prisoners and their belongings.

I believe that unless you are able to protect muslim inmates safety and ensure that your prison officers cease their discriminatory and racist behaviour, then the ethnic minority and muslim prisoners should be rehoused immediately. I will also be raising this with my member of parliament and the inspectorate of prisons.

Regards,
 

SOURCE: Help The Prisoners and Arani Solicitors

Omar Khyam Has Finally Been Moved From HMP Frankland

{ February 12, 2008 @ 4:46 pm } · { Prisoner Incidents }
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Assalaamu alaikum

 Omar Khyam was finally moved from HMP Frankland to HMP Full Sutton in York on the 30th of January 2008. He is no longer in solitary confinement. Omar was held in solitary confinement from 17th October until 30th January under very difficult conditions. Alhamdulillah he has finally been moved and is no longer living in such restrictions. Jazaak Allah khair to all those who campaigned for him and made du’aa for him.

We must not forget that Eesa Barot and Hussain Osman are still in Frankland and that we must still try to get them moved as well. So please keep them in your du’aas and continue your support towards them inshallah.

Wassalaam

Umm Ibrahim

Farid Hilali Wrongfully Extradited

{ February 11, 2008 @ 3:19 pm } · { Prisoner Incidents }
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Farid Hilali was extradited to Spain on February 8th 2008, after the House of Lords ruled that he may be sent under the terms of the European Arrest Warrant. This was in spite of a number of irregularities with the warrant, not least that it was reliant upon phone evidence that had previously been deemed inadmissible within the Spanish judicial system.
 
The British courts held that he may be extradited, but only on the basis of the charges against him. When Arani Solicitors contested that there was no case to answer, the House of Lords unfortunately ruled that it was a matter of ‘trust’ with the Spanish Government that he would only be tried on the charges to which he was extradited, and that it was not for the British Government to question the evidence before extradition.
   
Hours after arriving in Spain via military transport, the Spanish Government reneged on this promise and issue of trust. They have indicated that they will try him for being a member of a proscribed organisation, of which no mention was made in the European Arrest Warrant.
Indeed, the House of Lords explicitly stated in Paragraph 29 of their judgement that this would not be an extraditable offence under the specialty rule:-
     
“the Spanish prosecutor, Mr Rubira, states in several places in his witness statement that the respondent remains accused of participation in a terrorist organisation. It was important to make it plain in the extradition order that this was not an offence for which the respondent can be prosecuted as he is entitled to the protection of the specialty rule with regard to it”
      
The Spanish Government have therefore deliberately misled the British Courts in giving assurances that he would not be charged in relation to membership offences, then within hours of his extradition reneging on this assurance.
     
Farid Hilali is now at severe risk of torture and illegal detention in Madrid , Spain , and as of yet Arani Solicitors have not even been informed of his location. Torture is widespread within Spain , and it has been criticised by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and many other human rights organisations. Just last month, the following by a prisoner was recorded:-
     
“..They said that there, in Madrid , I would really find out what was what…That Guardia Civil told me that nobody knew I had been arrested and that he could easily shoot me. He said that their only remit was to torture and interrogate… In one day and a half they had made me do thousands of stand-ups. At the same time they would hit me on the sides and top of my head, with an object that could be a phone directory or a truncheon made out of rubber. When they hit me with that “phone directory”, I saw sort of lights. They put a bag over my head and stuck something like tobacco smoke into it. They would close the bag to cause me to suffocate…”
      
The above would appear to be from the most violent of third-world dictatorships, and certainly not from an EU member State which is a signatory to numerous human rights obligations yet continues to breach them. It is inconceivable that Britain could accept the extradition based upon ‘trust’ from a country which operates institutionalised torture, wrongful arrest and even its own prosecutor, Pedro Rubira commits perjury. 
   
ACTIONS NEEDED
  
Farid Hilali needs your help more than ever now, as this case has serious implications not only for Farid but for all persons whom are less fortunate and oppressed. There has been a media blackout regarding this case in the United Kingdom , and it is essential that protests, letters and complaints are made to the addresses attached, of which a sample letter of complaint is also provided.
     
Please take action as soon as possible to stop this travesty of justice going further than it already has, and demand that Farid be freed forthwith.
    
KEY CONTACTS
     
Please send letters of complaint to the addresses listed here. Please also personalise the letter template provided below, or compose your own.
Sir Ken Macdonald QC
Director of Public Prosecution
50 Ludgate Hill
London
EC4M 7EX
FAX: 0207 710 3447
Tribunal Supremo De Espana
Pza. de la Villa de Paris s/n
Madrid 28071
Tel :  0091 397 1200
Spanish Embassy
39 Chesham Place
London
SW1X 8SB
Tel  : 0207 235 5555
Fax : 0207 259 5392
Crown Prosecution Service
50 Ludgate Hill
London
EC4M 7EX
Tel  : 0207 796 8500
Fax : 0207 796 8680
    
LETTER TEMPLATE:-
     
Dear <NAME>
     
I write to you in relation to the case of Farid Hilali who was extradited to Spain on a false premise based upon the European Arrest warrant filed in the United Kingdom by the Spanish Prosecutors office.
    
Mr Hilali was extradited on the basis of ‘trust’ between the United Kingdom and Spain , and that this extradition was in relation to conspiracy to Murder. It was deemed in British Courts that membership of an illegal organisation would not be an extraditable offence under the specialty rules.
     
Despite this, the Spanish Prosecutor has now detained him on the basis of illegal membership, even though this was explicitly prohibited by the United Kingdom . This is therefore a breach of the ‘trust’ that the United Kingdom accorded the Spanish Government, and a breach of Mr Hilali’s fundamental human rights.
     
Farid Hilali is also at risk of torture whilst detained from Spain . Indeed Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Cageprisoners and many internal Spanish human rights organisations have condemned Spain for their treatment of political suspects and internees.
     
I therefore urge that you demand that the Spanish Prosecutor end the illegal detention of Farid Hilali and release him immediately. I would also urge that the Spanish Government free Farid, and  exonerate him of all false charges and allow him to resume his life with his family.
     
I thank you for taking the time to read this letter; I trust you will now investigate the issues raised within it.
    
I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
     
Regards,
   
   
<NAME>
     
   
===== END =========

Action Alert: Protest Farid Hilali’s Extradition

{ February 9, 2008 @ 2:53 am } · { Prisoner Incidents }
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Farid Hilali is a Moroccan national who has lived in Britain at various times for over 15 years. He was detained in the United Arab Emirates in 1999 where he was asked to be an informant by the British security services. He believes that he was detained and tortured for precisely this reason. The UAE authorities forcibly repatriated him to Morocco, where his and his families lives were made “hell”, in the words of his solicitors in Morocco. This involved being arrested, tortured and interrogated day and night without notice, his family being threatened, and many other abuses. He returned to the United Kingdom in 2001, and a few years later on the 3rd September 2003 was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000, at which point he made an application for asylum, fearing a return to Morocco.

He was then subjected to a European arrest warrant on the part of Spain, alleging that he was in part responsible for conspiracy to Murder in relation to the attacks upon the United States on the 11th September 2001. The basis of this allegation was based upon vague interpretations of intercepted telephone communication.

The Spanish Prosecutor Mr Pedro Rubira has made false statements to British Courts to substantiate these allegations. He stated that he was involved in the ‘Hamburg Cell’ and wanted in Germany. In documents provided to Farids’ solicitors, the German Prosecutors office, it is stated that “There is no investigation, with respect to the terror attacks of 11th September 2001 against Farid Hilali (or ‘Shakur’ / ‘Shukri’). The investigations carried out in this connection did not give any indication that Hilali was a member of the terrorist organisation of Mohammed Atta in Hamburg or had supported this organisation.”

Mr Rubira also stated that he has been identified as a member of a terrorist cell in Spanish courts, however no such transcripts of court statements exist to substantiate this. The Madrid Bar Association has compiled a report against Mr Rubira to this effect.

Despite all the incidents mentioned, Farid has now been authorised to be extradited to Spain under the terms of the European Arrest Warrant. In Spain, he risks being deported to Morocco or suffering torture and ill-treatment at the hands of the Spanish Prison system. Both of these occurrences are likely, and documented by Amnesty International and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

It is a matter of urgency that protests from the Muslim community are made to prevent this through the seeking of an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights. I urge all readers to phone, fax, email and write to all the persons detailed in “key contacts” in order to facilitate this, as it is quite literally a matter of life and death for Farid Hilali.

There are many ways in order to help Farid Hilali and prevent his extradition. It is imperative that you carry out as many actions as possible, as his health and indeed his life is in grave danger. All of these actions do have an effect. If the situation is highlighted in the correct manner with as much exposure as possible, there is every chance that the European and British Courts are obliged to review the evidence in more detail as a matter of public interest.

Actions Required :-

· Write letters and make phone calls to the European Court of Human Rights, asking

them to prevent the deportation

· Write and phone the Spanish Embassy, asking them to halt the extradition

proceedings

· Write to Farid, and send him messages of support. Details can be provided upon

request.

· At the very least, make Dua’ to Allah (Swt) to ease his suffering

KEY CONTACTS

European Court of Human Rights

President

European Court of Human Rights

Council of Europe

67075 Strasbourg-Cedex

France

FAX: 00330 388 4102018

Spanish Embassy

39 Chesham Pl

London, SW1X 8SB

TEL : 020 72355555

LETTER TEMPLATE :-

Dear <NAME>

I write to you in relation to the above case of Farid Hilali who is subject to a European Arrest

warrant filed in the United Kingdom by the Spanish Prosecutors office.

There are a number of irregularities and concerns that I have that I believe would make the

extradition unsafe.

· Mr Hilali is being sought on the basis of telephone intercept evidence, which was

found in the Spanish Supreme Court to be inadmissible within Court.

· The alleged co-conspirator in the European Warrant, Mr Yarkas, has been

exonerated of all charges in relation to this recording

· Mr Hilali is alleged by the Spanish Prosecutors Office to be a member of the

‘Hamburg Cell’, even though German Prosecutors have stated that there is no record

of Mr Hilali ever having been involved.

· Mr Hilali is at severe risk of torture by both the Spanish Government and by the

Moroccan Government if Spain were to subsequently deport him.

Mr Farid Hilali has numerous positive character references and has never been convicted of

any terrorist offence. There are serious discrepancies in the credibility of the statement

provided to British Courts by the Spanish Prosecutors office, as contested by the Madrid Bar

Association.

I urge you to protect the human rights of Mr Hilali by preventing this extradition, and appeal to

you to enforce the obligations of member states in relation to Article 3 on the UN Convention

on Torture, which states that “No State Party shall expel, return (“refouler”) or extradite a

person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he will be in

danger of being subjected to torture”.

I thank you for taking the time to read this letter, trust you will now investigate the issues

raised within it and prevent the extradition of Farid Hilali.

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Regards,

<NAME>

Reid’s Henchmen Assault Muslim Inmates

{ November 28, 2007 @ 8:02 pm } · { Prisoner Incidents }
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HMP WandsworthEarlier this week, a large number of Muslim prisoners were racially and physically assaulted by staff at HMP Wandsworth, Surrey.

Officers at the prison ceased the opportunity to use excessive violence on the Muslim inmates after they refused to undergo a degrading strip search.

One of the prisoners was put in a headlock and beaten by the guards. “They twisted my arm and I was screaming out of pain, but they wouldn’t stop. They then pinned me to the floor and one of the officers stood on my neck while the others were punching me.”

“I tried to explain how my religion forbids me to remove my clothes and expose my private parts in front of other people, but they didn’t want to listen. Instead they started swearing at me and my religion and calling me a f***ing Muslim.”

The past few weeks have seen a number of incidents in which Muslim prisoners have been physically and racially abused by White racist inmates and prison guards.

Prisoners at the notorious HMP Frankland have had boiling water and oil poured over them and their cells set on fire. Yet, despite such reports of abuse, the Governor insists the prison is a “safe and secure environment”.

Instead of being transferred to more secure prisons, Muslim victims of racial and religious abuse are kept in segregation (solitary confinement) “for their own security”, where they are deprived of basic human rights and privileges.

An inquest has been made into the attacks, but so far Government and senior officials have done nothing about reported abuse of Muslim prisoners in British jails, allowing them to suffer in silence.

Muslims continue to be victimised even after being punished.

Please write to Abdullah Ibrahim Hassan, one of the victims of the religious attacks at HMP Wandsworth.

Ibrahim Hassan WW7450
HMP Wandsworth
PO BOX 757
Heathfield Road
SW18 3HF

Source: captivesupport.org

Algerian Expelled From UK Failed For Terror Links

{ November 23, 2007 @ 2:48 pm } · { Prisoner Incidents }
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 Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:29pm GMT

ALGIERS (Reuters) – An Algerian expelled from Britain this year after being arrested for embezzlement was sentenced to eight years in prison on Thursday on terrorism charges, Algerian state news agency APS reported.

Britain repatriated Dendani Reda on January 20 and Algerian police then identified him as Mihoubi Sofiane, a prominent member of a terrorist group active in Britain led by Makhlouf Ammar, APS cited court documents as saying.

The criminal court in Algiers jailed Reda, 32, for membership of a terrorist organisation active abroad.

Reda learned to use weapons and make explosives and poisons in Afghanistan before travelling to Britain where he collected money using forged bank cards and forwarded it to Chechen fighters and the Taliban in Afghanistan, APS said.

British police arrested Reda and a court sentenced him to three years in prison for embezzlement, then expelled him to Algeria.

Reda denied being a member of a terrorist group and said no charges were brought against him in Britain and he had returned to Algeria of his own free will, according to APS.

It was not immediately clear if Reda was among a group of unnamed Algerians deported by Britain early this year and cited by human rights group Amnesty International as being at risk of torture in their home country.

Last year, London and Algiers agreed a framework to make it easier to deport individuals based on assurances from the North African country that suspects would not be mistreated.

(Writing by Tom Pfeiffer; Editing by Charles Dick)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL2260212620071122

Sim Card Found In Inmates Cell

{ October 20, 2007 @ 4:20 pm } · { Prisoner Incidents }
{ Tags: , , , } · { Comments (1) }

 We are hearing more and more of other prisons like Whitemoor following in Frankland’s trend of abuse to its Muslim inmates. It is clear now that it is not isolated to certain Prisons, but the start of the dehumanisation of our brothers. All their rights, dignity and integrity are stripped from them and worse of all, all our complaints and theirs, fall on deaf ears.

This incident concerns A. Garcia, he has always abided by the rules and has good relations with everyone even the guards. After his conviction and transfer to Whitemoor it was stated in his prisoner’s report that he was radicalising other inmates in Belmarsh. Subhanallah, the most that he has ever done in Belmarsh is attend some dhikr gatherings, that’s all!

A month into his stay at Whitemoor, he found himself in a middle of a sim card scandal. He remembers that the very same morning, he was cleaning out his cell, and he did his bed daily as per usual. There was ‘apparently’ a random inspection and a sim card was found in the most unlikely of places…it was found placed on the rim of the metal bed frame for all to see. My brother denied that it was his and asked them to hurry up the investigation so that they can prove that it was not his, after all his fingerprints and contact numbers should confirm if it his or not.

It was obviously fixed, it was planted there so that it can go down on his report to hinder his future in prison. It has now been over three months since this incident and my brother has not been told the outcome. Surely, if it was his, they would have punished him, and he has not been offered an explanation nor an apology.

Their aim was to smear his name, and finding a sim is worse than having drugs inside, but because he is a practising Muslim, planting drugs in his cell would not have been feasible. The matter now has been ‘hushed’ up but it goes without saying that if he was found guilty he would of have had to face up to the consequences, but who will punish the perpetrators? Who will be held responsible? Will that person be held accountable? No.

Slowly our brothers’ rights are being taken away so that soon these small incidents will be seen as normal and these injustices will increase in number and severity. May Allah protect them and reward their hardships with hasannat inshallah. Please do not underestimate the power of your du’aa. Salam alikum wa rahmatullahi ta’ala wa barakatuh.

Written by the sister of Anthony Garcia (Haaris)

The ‘Wonderful’ Eid In Whitemoor

{ October 17, 2007 @ 9:30 pm } · { Prisoner Incidents }
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 Is there going to be any day that’ll be right for the Muslims?

This is the day where we all must praise the creator for his blessings upon us.

Eid day 12th October 07

            In order to attend the Eid prayer and feast, Muslim inmates in Whitemoor prison had to fill in a form a few days before Eid. Normally the inmates would have been informed about Eid on the night before by a phone call from the imam to the prison. But in this case they were told at around 10am on Eid day so they had begun their Eid fasting!

            However two Muslim inmates were stopped on Eid by some guards from going to the hall where the prayer and feast were being held. The inmates explained to them that they had filled in the form and handed it in and if it had got lost, it was the prison’s fault. The guards didn’t seem to do anything about it, so the inmates requested a call to the governor to inform him of the situation. This is because all governors have the right to make or change any decision at any time. Following this call, they were allowed to attend.

            Most of the inmates had gathered in the main hall to start the Eid prayer. The imam was about to start but everyone said that they’ll wait for the rest to come before praying. (There were approximately 20 missing) The imam didn’t seem to care and told them to pray without them. Everyone wanted to know why some hadn’t arrived yet. Therefore a phone call was made to the governor to see if he can resolve the issue.

            The governor then came and patronised them by saying how they’ve got special treatment this Eid and should be grateful for what they’ve done. And he also mentioned that the 20 or so missing people couldn’t make it and gave excuses. So everyone in the hall protested to the governor that if he doesn’t bring the people left behind, they will not pray or eat. Following the strike the governor then bought 5 of those who didn’t come but the rest still remained.

            The governor then asked the ones who were on strike to go to a smaller hall beside the one they were in. Everyone except a few went to the other hall. The idea of going to a smaller room with no apparent reason was suspicious as, one of the inmates had seen 30-40 guards with riot gear on just outside the main hall for ‘something’ to happen.

            After this they were confined to their wings (blocks) and some had started to cook in the kitchen. There in the kitchen was an inmate with a miswaak in his hands and was asked by a guard what it was. He explained that it was for his teeth, but regarding this the guard pressed the emergency alarm which automatically locks everyone in their cells. This only occurs when big incidents happen such as serious fights, possession of weapons etc. the guard must have a very vivid imagination to see a seewak as a gun or a knife. This is obvious that the guards wanted to ruin the day that brings joy and happiness to Muslims.

            Consequently everyone stayed in their cells for a while until their cell doors started to open but they only let them out a floor at a time. Normally for Eid they’d been let out for longer, but this Eid was different.

            Is this what the governor meant by telling everyone that Whitemoor is giving you a ‘wonderful’ Eid? By having a whole riot geared army waiting outside while all they wanted to do is pray and to be happy that day, even though they’re imprisoned from their loved ones. Would they have acted the same at Christmas?

Written by the family of Anthony Garcia (Haaris)

Tensions Mount In Frankland

{ October 16, 2007 @ 11:21 pm } · { Prisoner Incidents }
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 Today Omar Khyam called and informed me of two Muslim inmates that were on his wing have now been transferred to a different prison. After an attack taking place a week ago now they are slowly removing all the Muslims and isolating Omar and Hussein Osman. Tomorrow another Muslim in-mate will also be transferred to a different prison. And then there will only be two Muslim in-mates on a wing where one has already been attacked and the other threatened. Subhanallah. This is the justice. This is the priority the governor at Frankland has given to those threatened in Frankland. He has removed the only support they had. But the governor doesn’t know that they can take away every help from them but if Allah does not allow them to be harmed he can do all he wants they won’t be harmed. And if Allah wills for them to be harmed then there is nothing we can do to stop it.

Now the question arises, how are Omar and Hussein expected to carry on staying in this prison? They are a very small minority and I believe this has been done on purpose. If there was space to move three category A prisoners to a different a high security prison, then shouldn’t Eesa, Hussein and Omar have been a priority to be moved? After we exhausted all efforts to alert the prison, the prison service, the human rights organisations, they STILL put their lives at risk now more than ever. If we start writing to them and asking for action, who knows what will happen in that time? I ask you, who will be responsible if Hussein or Omar get attacked?

My dear brothers and sisters, these are our brothers that are being targeted here. How can we sit back and allow this to happen? Will Allah not ask us what did we do? I urge you all to take action for them. Firstly, to ask Allah to protect them and to move them from there. Secondly, to write to the governor and demand an explanation for this step he has taken and to move them immediately. Thirdly, leave messages of support for these brother’s in the comments section so they can be forwarded on to them. They need to know that even though those brothers have been moved, they are not on their own. And you all are praying for them and supporting them by taking action.

Written by Umm Ibrahim

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