Case Background:

Munir Farooqi is a muslim who ran a “dawah” (Call to Islam) stall in a Manchester market. Two police officers intent on entrapment pretended to convert to Islam through his stall, and then continually visited him and instigated conversations and discussions regarding controversial political issues. Due to clever manipulation of the facts (falsification of evidence) by the prosecutor together with questionable testimony by the authorities, whose previous undercover activities in other police services have included lying on the stand, perjury, by testifying officers, during previous trials involving environmental activists. The unjust and illegal conduct by the officers and prosecutor led to this popular family man as well as two others (Mathew Newton and Israr Malik) being convicted of various spurious charges, clearly drummed up to justify the high cost of a wild goose chase in these times of financial austerity.

Munir Farooqi is now serving life in prison purely because of his alleged beliefs. Tony Porter, head of the so-called “counter terrorism unit”, described the following:

“This was an extremely challenging case, both to investigate and successfully prosecute at court, because we did not recover any blueprint, attack plan or endgame for these men. However, what we were able to prove was their ideology.”

And thus the first conviction for what people think (“thought crimes”), rather than what they do, was secured and begins a frightening trend of persecution for “thought crimes” in this increasingly Orwellian legislation and governance.  Politicians throughout the land, from MP surgeries to Question Time to Parliamentary Reports, utter the now tired mantra “its not a war on Islam”, however the fact that three people were convicted purely because of their ideology, and not for any action, is surely an indication that the times are changing. Muslims are being targeted for their beliefs, to an extent where the police are now willing to finance an operation in which they pretend to accept Islam, only in the sole attempt to elicit incendiary information, in a climate of hate and fear, with the intent of manufacturing a “crime” which is based soley upon ones religoious or polictical belifes and not actual criminal acts or activity. The criminalisation of ones beliefs or opinions is not only a mockery of the genuine beliefs (in this case Islam) held by billions around the world, but also the nominal conventions of freedom of belief, expression and dissenting opinion upheld by democratic society. 

Of course the Manchester Police, who are well known to have members of the  British National Party (BNP) and English Defense League (EDL), groups well documented for their anit-Islamic and racist idealogies, within their rank and file, are not happy only with three innocent men going to prison, and are now targeting the family of Munir Farooqi, attempting to seize their family home. The youngest child of the home is only eight months old.

When we look at this reality, and this act, its clear this is a test case. The Farooqis, with no roof over their head, would have to look for accommodating friends and family, or else “go back where they came from”.

Unfortunately for Mr Porter and his gang of thought police, his actions would constitute a war crime in and of themselves, as these actions clearly fall into the area of “collective punishment”.

Article 33 of the Geneva convention states:

“No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.”

Article 8, European Convention on Human Rights:

“Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.”

If the Manchester Police and the Conservative Government are happy with following in the footsteps, through pursuing these racist and vindictive strategies against a minority population, of Hitler, Pinochet, Trujillo, Somoza, Batista, Stalin and Netanyahu, then so be it, and let history judge them accordingly. If however they wish to be seen as normal members of society, they will cease these actions against Munir Farooqi and his family, and free him, Matthew Newton and Israr Malik immediately.

Actions Required:

• Write to Tony Porter of Manchester Police, advising that their actions against the Farooqi Family are a form of collective punishment that is not only immoral but also illegal.
• Write to the Crown Prosecution Service, discussing the above.
• Write to your MP discussing the above, informing them of your disgust with Manchester Polices’ strategy of collective punishment.
• Write to Munir Farooqi, Matthew Newton and Israr Malik, letting them know that you are aware of their case and the unjustness of their convictions.
• Sign the Save the Family Home petition.

Key Contacts:

The Greater Manchester Police Service:

Via Post:
Greater Manchester Police
P.O. Box 22
Manchester
M16 0RE

Or Online:
Greater Manchester Police Online Praise / Complaint Contact Form

The Crown Prosecution Service:

Via Post:
The Crown Prosecution Service
Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge,
London, SE1 9HS
Tel: 020 3357 0000

Or Online:
The Crown Prosecution Service Online Praise / Complaint Form

Sample Letter:

Dear [Name],

I am writing to you concerning the actions of Manchester Police, who are pursuing a vindictive and vicious policy of collective punishment against Munir Farooqis family, having not been satisfied that they have put 3 innocent men in prison.

Munir Farooqi is a muslim who ran a “dawah” (Call to Islam) stall in a Manchester market stall. Two police officers pretended to convert to Islam through his stall, and then continually goaded him into discussing controversial political issues. Due to clever manipulation of the facts by the prosecutor together with questionable testimony by the authorities (whose undercover activities have included lying on the stand themselves during previous trials involving environmental activists), led to this popular family man as well as two others (Mathew Newton and Israr Malik) being convicted of various spurious charges, clearly drummed up to justify the high cost of a wild goose chase in these times of financial austerity.

Munir Farooqi is now serving life in prison purely because of his alleged beliefs. Tony Porter, head of the so-called “counter terrorism unit”, described the following : “This was an extremely challenging case, both to investigate and successfully prosecute at court, because we did not recover any blueprint, attack plan or endgame for these men. However, what we were able to prove was their ideology.”

And thus the first conviction for what people think, rather than what they do, was secured. We have heard politicians throughout the land, from MP surgeries to Question Time to Parliamentary Reports, utter the now tired mantra “its not a war on Islam”, however the fact that three people were convicted purely because of their ideology, and not for any action, is surely an indication that the times are changing. Muslims are being targeted for their beliefs, to the extent where the police now are willing to finance an operation in that they pretend to accept Islam, mocking the genuine belief held by billions around the world.

Of course the Manchester Police, who are well known to have BNP and EDL members within their rank and file, are not happy with three innocent men going to prison, are now targeting the family of Munir Farooqi, attempting to seize their family home. The youngest child of the home is eight months old.

These actions clearly fall into the area of “collective punishment”.

Article 33 of the Geneva convention states :-

“No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.”

Article 8, European Convention on Human Rights :-

“Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.”

I would urge you to cease the affront of law being perpetrated by Manchester Police and to ensure that this attempted collective punishment is ended, with these three innocent men (Munir Farooqi, Matthew Newton and Israr Malik ) being set free so they may rebuild their lives.

Regards,

[Your Name]

You can also show your Solidarity with Your Brothers by letting them know they have your Support by writing to them at:

Munir Farooqi A9693AQ
HMP Manchester
1 Southall Street
Strangeways
GREATER MANCHESTER
M60 9AH
UK

 .

Israr Malik A3877AQ
HMP Manchester
1 Southall Street
Strangeways
GREATER MANCHESTER
M60 9AH
UK

.

Matthew Newton A9375AN
HMP Manchester
1 Southall Street
Strangeways
GREATER MANCHESTER
M60 9AH
UK

And do not forget them & their family in your dua.

 Keep informed regarding the status of the Campaign and the Farooqi family by frequenting their website: Save the Family Home & their facebook page SAVE THE FAMILY HOME.

The Bulk of this Material Courtesy of our friends at Help the Prisoners