London, UK , June 10 – The detention without charge for a week of two brothers in a huge police anti-terrorism raid in Forest Gate and rumours of suicide chemical vests can now join the ranks of 'ricin plots', plots of blow up Manchester United Football Club and the existence of WMD in Iraq.
Commenting on the release without charge of two brothers arrested in Forest Gate, Dr Imran Waheed, said, "This raid was based on flawed intelligence and resulted in the shooting of an unarmed man who has been released without charge. The raid has also caused immense damage to community relations and has resulted in sensational media coverage resulting in an atmosphere of fear and hysteria."
"Since 9/11, Home Office statistics show that of almost 950 people arrested under anti-terrorism related charges, 148 were charged under the Terrorism Act and of those only 27 were convicted of offences."
"These heavy handed tactics must be seen in the context of the introduction of draconian anti-terror laws, moves to deport foreign nationals to countries that routinely torture, the bullying of the judiciary and threats to amend the Human Rights Act. The pattern of wrongful arrests and fear inducing propaganda surrounding police operations can only lead to the conclusion that the police are not being exclusively used to maintain public safety, but are rather being used as a political tool in the propaganda used to justify foreign policy and to silence dissenting voices. "
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