PRESS RELEASE: Reaction by Family to Police Bugging of MP's Visit.
 
Sunday 3rd February 2008

After Babar's traumatic abuse at the hands of the police and the subsequent cover-up campaign by the authorities including the "Independent" Police Complaints Commission, it does not surprise us that “dirty dealings” like this were being authorised in the prison. Behind the squeaky clean images there is a lot of hidden corruption which only surfaces in cases like Babar's. It seems as though they were clutching at straws and desperate to find something to pin on him as they have been unsuccessful in doing so prior to this. Hence Babar has never been charged with a crime and was in fact released in December 2003 by the authorities. The Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has also given written confirmation that there is insufficient evidence to charge Babar in this country.

It is outrageous however that the authorities then felt the need to bug an innocent welfare visit by his MP. These are privileged visits between a constituent and his MP which you would expect to be respected with confidentiality. We would like an investigation to be carried out to get to the bottom of this kind of misconduct.

We have left no stone unturned and will continue to fight for justice. Babar is a British citizen who should be afforded a fair trial in this country. He likes football, he enjoys fish and chips, he has English white friends etc. He has been targeted by the system because he happens to be a Muslim. The family have fought a rigorous campaign to fight the unfair treaty which is shipping Britons like Babar and the Natwest 3 to the U.S without ever having a chance to see or challenge the evidence said to be against them. Naturally people would say families always stand by each other, but the reality is that we have had national and international support from all backgrounds and communities. These include people from villages in Wales to cities in Scotland , including support from as far away as New Zealand . The feeling shared by everyone is that of frustration. We had petitions, MP lobbying campaigns and demonstrations, etc. All this fell on deaf ears and left people feeling further frustration and disappointment at the unjust system.

Babar was brutally assaulted and abused in December 2003, having received over 70 injuries to his body by anti-terrorist police officers. The IPCC and Metropolitan police investigation was a complete farce. They just wanted to be seen  to be investigating the assault and abuse, but in reality they had already decided to do their utmost to sweep this matter under the carpet. We will take the civil case against the Metropolitan police as far as possible until justice is served. No police officer has ever been suspended or charged with the brutal attack.

We are asking for a trial on British soil where he stands a much better chance of preparing his defence properly and receiving a fair trial in comparison to the U.S. No Briton should be extradited to the U.S. without the right to a fair trial in the UK and being able to challenge the evidence against them first.

The full article concerning the bugging of Sadiq Khan MP's visit to see Babar Ahmad can be found at the following link:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3295393.ece

For further information:
 
Free Babar Ahmad Campaign
Telephone: 07963537779
Email: info@freebabarahmad.com

Photographs of Injuries Inflicted by Police during arrest in December 2003
http://www.freebabarahmad.com/injuryphotos.php