The family of a man jailed for terror offences have told how they are fighting a legal bid to seize their home. Munir Farooqi, 54, was found guilty of preparing for terrorism, soliciting to murder and disseminating terrorist publications. The Crown Prosecution Service now wants to steal his family’s home in Longsight and sell it as part of a Proceeds of Crime prosecution.
They say Farooqi, who distributed religious material from a Longsight market stall, used the basement to radicalise young men into going to Jihad. He was given a life sentence last year following an undercover police operation. He is currently in the process of appealing.
Farooqi’s family, who still live in the house, are fighting the seizure. Campaigners say his wife and daughter own the house and say the action represents collective punishment. Over 15,000 people have signed an online petition supporting them.
His son Harris, 28, who stood trial alongside his father but was cleared of preparing for terrorism, said:
‘I went through the whole trial and lived on bail for a year and a half before being acquitted. Now I face having my house taken away from me. The court said only a small part of the basement was being used for terrorist activities – which we do not believe – so why should the whole house be taken?’
Harris’s wife Juvaria Khalid, mother Zeenat, sister Zulaikha, 22, her husband Robert Fallon, young baby and nine-year-old sister also live in the house. Zulaikha said:
‘I don’t understand why this is happening – we’re all British, we’re all living here and should all have the same rights. We shouldn’t have to go to court to fight for our home but we’ve been really surprised and pleased by the support from the community who recognise this is an injustice.’
The family say police have returned hundreds of religious books and CDs seized from the house during the investigation which were then found to be within the law. Campaigner Naheela Ashraf said: ‘The seizure of this house forms collective punishment against people who are innocent.‘ Under the Terrorism Act the CPS can use a forfeiture order to force the sale of a property used for terrorist purposes, with proceeds given to the courts.
A CPS spokesman said: ‘The CPS is making an application under S23a of the Terrorism Act 2000, for the forfeiture of Munir Farooqi’s home address on the basis that it has been used for the purposes of terrorism. The court will consider the effect of any order on the family members.’
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. Also take an active role to Stop the Collective Punishment of the Farooqi Family by writing the British government and signing their Petition before the February deadline.
You can also show your Solidarity with Your Brother & let him know he has your Support by writing him at:
Munir Farooqi A9693AQ
HMP Manchester
1 Southall Street
Strangeways
GREATER MANCHESTER
M60 9AH
UK
And do not forget him & his family in your du’a.
Two undercover officers, posing as converts to Islam, secretly recorded conversations for over a year without ever documenting any plan or scheme to commit any illegal act. According to the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, “However, what we were able to prove was their ideology”: a summation of terrorism-related prosecutions in recent years.
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