“Sometimes knowing too much can be a curse.”
This was the last Facebook post before Moazzam Begg, Outreach Director for CAGE, was arrested by West Midlands Police yesterday, in what will most certainly be one of their biggest PR disasters to date, in shā Allāh.
Moazzam has been campaigning for years to highlight the breaches of human rights, due process and rule of law that have characterised many western governments since the War [of] Terror began. As a result he has suffered much abuse and harassment by certain institutions within the Establishment, which he wrote about recently[1].
Upon his arrest, CAGE (formerly CagePrisoners) issued the following press release:
PRESS RELEASE: MOAZZAM BEGG ARRESTED FOR UNCOVERING WESTERN COMPLICITY IN RENDITION AND TORTURE?
(London) CAGE is outraged by the arrest of our Outreach Director, Moazzam Begg. A former Guantanamo Bay detainee, he has been campaigning for due process and the human rights of victims, despite suffering over three years of torture and abuse by the US government with the complicity of the British security services.
This latest action is designed to ensure that any travel to Syria is deemed suspicious. It follows a concerted campaign of harassment against Muslim individuals and charities involved in providing humanitarian aid to the victims of the Syrian crisis. Moazzam Begg is just the latest individual drawn by the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria who has been labelled a terrorist. The purpose is to intimidate and vilify the wider Muslim community so that they are prevented from delivering much needed aid to the Syrian people.
Moazzam is an internationally recognised figure on issues relating to due process and human rights. His advocacy on behalf of the Guantanamo Bay detainees has been recognised across the world, resulting in various governments accepting detainees who could not be returned to their countries of origin.
Cerie Bullivant, Media Officer of CAGE said:
“Moazzam has been very open about his international travel and his objectives, including importantly exposing British complicity in rendition and torture. The timing of Moazzam‘s arrest given his travel to Syria took place in December 2012 requires a detailed explanation. The timing coincides with the planned release of a CAGE report on Syria and a major news piece that was due to be televised soon. As with David Miranda it seems those who are engaged in exposing abuse of powers are targeted and smeared to prevent disclosure of vital evidence.”
“We are also concerned that the Police and the security services are using the wide scope of terrorism laws, and applying them in Syria to set precedents that will make legitimate activity unlawful in future.”
Asim Qureshi, Research Director of CAGE said:
“CAGE calls on all defenders of civil liberties and the rule of law to stand up and protest against the serious curtailment of yet another victim. The message may be unpalatable to those who wish to shroud their abuse in secrecy but that can never justify an attack on the messengers.”
“We are disgusted that Moazzam Begg is being retraumatised with the same guilt by association accusations that resulted in his unlawful incarceration in Guantanamo Bay. We fully support our colleague and see his arrest as politically motivated and as part of a campaign to criminalise legitimate activism.”
[ends]
1. CAGE (formerly known as CagePrisoners) is an independent advocacy organisation that works to empower communities affected by the War on Terror and to highlight abuses of prisoners’ rights.
2. For further information on our work on Syria, please refer to these articles by Moazzam Begg:
http://www.cageuk.org/article/real-reason-behind-confiscation-my-passport
http://www.cageuk.org/article/syria-britain%E2%80%99s-new-war-terror
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Source: www.islam21c.com
NOTES: the press release within this article has been taken from http://www.cageuk.org/press-release/press-release-moazzam-begg-arrested-uncovering-western-complicity-rendition-and-tortur
[1] https://www.islam21c.com/politics/the-real-reason-behind-the-confiscation-of-my-passport/
This is so typical of a ‘sugar coated’ tyranical system that we are all living in, the UK.
It is certainly the case, that the only way any Muslim can live here is by accepting EVERYTHING & question
NOTHING. How can we accept the injustices & oppression that this government has embarked upon, with our ummah? All their ties & allies with regimes that do not represent our Islam, & simply silence anyone with a sincere political opinion, awareness, true islamic conscience.
This arrest should keep us being the main voice for all oppression, as the responsibility is for each one of us, by Allah swt. Truly, may Allah swt give our dear brother patience as his reward is great, and for all those who are imprisoned for speaking the haq.
Please enlighten me as to which non tyrannical and non corrupt part of the World you came from. Maybe its much better back there? If all the borders of all the countries were open for 1 week, where do you think the majority of people would flock to?
Please tell me, is there Islam where you came from? would it not be better to go back to this wonderful place so that none of these injustices occur anymore for you?
I really do get fed up of our people blaming everyone but themselves. A wise person once told me, when you point the finger at someone, three point right back at you.
I see you don’t have the nerves to accept what is going in in the WEST and the rest of the world supported by the WEst and it’s puppets as being wrong.
If you were a MUSLIM then you would know that there is a concerted effort in the WEST to marginalise Muslims and the truth.
WEST is great….