Oldham, Burnley and Bradford Riots and the Judicial System
Aki @ Nation Records | 10.07.2002 09:29
"I should make it plain that those who choose to run their not guilty pleas up to the wire until they can see the colour of the jury's eyes should know that the discount will be substantially and visibly reduced from that which they would otherwise have earned for an early guilty plea."
by Judge Gullick
Below is more details and context, the above explains the fear of the defendants and also maybe the reason why the legal profession has submitted to the statement.
This is an outrageous position for a person who is supposed to be impartial.
Please circulate with passion and emotion.
Young Asians sentenced to years in jail
JUDGES ARE handing out vicious sentences against young Asians charged as a result of the riots in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford 12 months ago. One Asian youth was jailed for 18 months last week merely for walking around a mainly Asian area in Burnley holding a stick as a gang of white men were trying to invade it.
He was not even accused of using the stick against anyone. He was 17 at the time and had no previous convictions. He was still sent down for a year and a half, despite accepting advice to plead guilty to "violent disorder". Another defendant was jailed for two years and three months. A further 26 people from Burnley are due in court on 2 September. They are planning to plead not guilty.
They are basing their defence on the fact that the police in Burnley failed to prevent a mob of whites racially abusing Asians, attacking property and marching into a mainly Asian area. "We see the sentences that have been handed out so far in Burnley and Bradford as a clear attempt to intimidate anyone from putting up a clear defence," says Asad Rehman, who is helping to organise a defence campaign in Burnley.
Outrageous sentences in Bradford include: Mohammed Akram, five years for throwing missiles; Mohammed Munir, four years and nine months for throwing two stones; Ashraf Hussein, four years for throwing three stones; Asam Latif, four years and nine months for throwing two stones; Istifar Iqbal, 11 months for picking up but not throwing two stones.
Some 46 people from Bradford have been imprisoned for an average of four and a half years. More cases are pending.
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Victims of racist mob
THERE IS a marked difference between the sentences given to the Asians from Bradford and those handed down to white men jailed for their part in the Burnley riot. The average sentence given to the 26 white men in March was two years and two months-less than half what Asians from Bradford were sentenced to. The judge at the trial of the white defendants said the riot began after a group of 20 to 30 white men chanted racist abuse outside the Baltic Fleet pub, where they had been drinking.
Two Asian taxi drivers were attacked before some of the group moved to the White Hart pub in Church Street, where an Asian restaurant's windows were smashed and a taxi business raided. Some of the mob then moved on to Oxford Road, where two Asian shops were burgled and set on fire with the families trapped inside.
All that took place BEFORE any response by Asian youth. They took action only when the police decided to "escort" the gang of whites to the edge of a mainly Asian area. That's when young Asians came out to defend their homes. Now they are being treated as if they were guilty of starting the trouble.
The same is true in Bradford and Oldham, where the trials of 150 people are about to start. The Nazi British National Party targeted all three areas in the run-up to the general election in June last year. A recent TV documentary showed how known Nazis were at the centre of starting the Oldham riot by attacking Asian homes.
Similar racist attacks have taken place since, especially after the BNP won three council seats in Burnley in this May's local elections.
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Gullick: the hanging judge
THE BNP held a 100-strong meeting in Bradford on 6 July last year, the night before fellow Nazis of the National Front threatened to march in the city. When the NF turned up the police did not arrest them, but instead penned in anti-Nazi protesters.
The police then invaded the largely Asian Manningham area of the city, triggering a response by young people. Judges who are now sending down young Asian men in Bradford for years have taken none of this into account. "I'm not concerned with its origins," said Judge Stephen Gullick to Shazad Ashraf, the first of many he sentenced. Nor was he concerned with what Shazad Ashraf did on the day.
Gullick said, "It must be made crystal clear to everyone that on such tumultuous and riotous occasions, each individual who takes an active part...is guilty of an extremely grave offence simply by being in a public place and being engaged in a crime against the peace. It would be wholly unreal, therefore, for me to have regard to the specific acts which you committed."
Judge Gullick, while not once mentioning the Nazis' provocation that day, said he would sentence Ashraf "in the context of the overall picture" of what happened on the day.
Ashraf pleaded guilty to throwing stones and a pole. He was jailed for five years for riot. It was, according to the judge, a "discounted" sentence, and he warned: "I should make it plain that those who choose to run their not guilty pleas up to the wire until they can see the colour of the jury's eyes should know that the discount will be substantially and visibly reduced from that which they would otherwise have earned for an early guilty plea."
by Judge Gullick
Below is more details and context, the above explains the fear of the defendants and also maybe the reason why the legal profession has submitted to the statement.
This is an outrageous position for a person who is supposed to be impartial.
Please circulate with passion and emotion.
Young Asians sentenced to years in jail
JUDGES ARE handing out vicious sentences against young Asians charged as a result of the riots in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford 12 months ago. One Asian youth was jailed for 18 months last week merely for walking around a mainly Asian area in Burnley holding a stick as a gang of white men were trying to invade it.
He was not even accused of using the stick against anyone. He was 17 at the time and had no previous convictions. He was still sent down for a year and a half, despite accepting advice to plead guilty to "violent disorder". Another defendant was jailed for two years and three months. A further 26 people from Burnley are due in court on 2 September. They are planning to plead not guilty.
They are basing their defence on the fact that the police in Burnley failed to prevent a mob of whites racially abusing Asians, attacking property and marching into a mainly Asian area. "We see the sentences that have been handed out so far in Burnley and Bradford as a clear attempt to intimidate anyone from putting up a clear defence," says Asad Rehman, who is helping to organise a defence campaign in Burnley.
Outrageous sentences in Bradford include: Mohammed Akram, five years for throwing missiles; Mohammed Munir, four years and nine months for throwing two stones; Ashraf Hussein, four years for throwing three stones; Asam Latif, four years and nine months for throwing two stones; Istifar Iqbal, 11 months for picking up but not throwing two stones.
Some 46 people from Bradford have been imprisoned for an average of four and a half years. More cases are pending.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victims of racist mob
THERE IS a marked difference between the sentences given to the Asians from Bradford and those handed down to white men jailed for their part in the Burnley riot. The average sentence given to the 26 white men in March was two years and two months-less than half what Asians from Bradford were sentenced to. The judge at the trial of the white defendants said the riot began after a group of 20 to 30 white men chanted racist abuse outside the Baltic Fleet pub, where they had been drinking.
Two Asian taxi drivers were attacked before some of the group moved to the White Hart pub in Church Street, where an Asian restaurant's windows were smashed and a taxi business raided. Some of the mob then moved on to Oxford Road, where two Asian shops were burgled and set on fire with the families trapped inside.
All that took place BEFORE any response by Asian youth. They took action only when the police decided to "escort" the gang of whites to the edge of a mainly Asian area. That's when young Asians came out to defend their homes. Now they are being treated as if they were guilty of starting the trouble.
The same is true in Bradford and Oldham, where the trials of 150 people are about to start. The Nazi British National Party targeted all three areas in the run-up to the general election in June last year. A recent TV documentary showed how known Nazis were at the centre of starting the Oldham riot by attacking Asian homes.
Similar racist attacks have taken place since, especially after the BNP won three council seats in Burnley in this May's local elections.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gullick: the hanging judge
THE BNP held a 100-strong meeting in Bradford on 6 July last year, the night before fellow Nazis of the National Front threatened to march in the city. When the NF turned up the police did not arrest them, but instead penned in anti-Nazi protesters.
The police then invaded the largely Asian Manningham area of the city, triggering a response by young people. Judges who are now sending down young Asian men in Bradford for years have taken none of this into account. "I'm not concerned with its origins," said Judge Stephen Gullick to Shazad Ashraf, the first of many he sentenced. Nor was he concerned with what Shazad Ashraf did on the day.
Gullick said, "It must be made crystal clear to everyone that on such tumultuous and riotous occasions, each individual who takes an active part...is guilty of an extremely grave offence simply by being in a public place and being engaged in a crime against the peace. It would be wholly unreal, therefore, for me to have regard to the specific acts which you committed."
Judge Gullick, while not once mentioning the Nazis' provocation that day, said he would sentence Ashraf "in the context of the overall picture" of what happened on the day.
Ashraf pleaded guilty to throwing stones and a pole. He was jailed for five years for riot. It was, according to the judge, a "discounted" sentence, and he warned: "I should make it plain that those who choose to run their not guilty pleas up to the wire until they can see the colour of the jury's eyes should know that the discount will be substantially and visibly reduced from that which they would otherwise have earned for an early guilty plea."
Aki @ Nation Records
Comments
Hide the following 10 comments
Not Surprised
15.07.2002 22:57
The One Who Got Away
Prisoner Solidarity
18.07.2002 09:51
As anarchist we have ABC the Black Cross which gives solidarity to prisoners. Perhaps the community there needs to setup some sort of solidarity group for them with cash donations for legal aid, pickets outside prisons, letters of support etc and help once released. The fight against capitalism and it's tool of choice racism is a hard one and we need to stick by those who fall under its jackboot.
EmmaG
Fair Justice Campaign
18.07.2002 11:20
**Info courtsey of Aki@ Nation Records**
Yvonne Ridley, the well-renowned journalist, will be attending a protest in Bradford this Friday.
She'll be adding her support and concerns for the wives, sisters and daughters of the victims of unjustified harsh sentencing by the Courts. (1pm till 3pm outside the court)
Other prominent professionals from the legal profession will also visit Bradford to advice the families in a personnel capacity.
One appeal last week was successful after the judges ruled that it was not justified that a defendant was given a four year sentence based on the fact that he was under age on the day of events when the "riots" happened. Although this argument was presented at the initial stage, Judge Gullick beat a "diplomatic silence" when challenged. (this method of getting people into courts after they have reached an age to give maximum punishment is ongoing and has been systematically organised )
Suppose when you do not experience racism , disadvantages, the assault of the right wing at your doorstep then its easy to hide behind a "powerful blind and racist system"
However many appeals are been rejected also with the added fear of the authorities not dealing with cases in an equal and justified manner.
The Fair Justice campaign reiterates that all it is fighting is the rampant and ill conceived sentencing of young people , many who have never committed any crime before yet are facing the best years of their lives in an atmosphere which will disassociate them from a positive future. When the establishment say the prisons are overloaded they should consider who deserves to be there.
We can defend our campaign but the system refuses to engage with people who are truly concerned for the future.
.
Just not true
23.07.2002 22:04
BBC and Guardian etc. propaganda may lead you to beleive that the NF were in town ..Not true.
The police as can be seen from all footage never invaded anywhere. There were stood there taking all that was thrown at them. I cannot recall another 'riot' where the police have stood in one postion for 5 ? hours having stuff thrown at them without retreating or advancing.
I wonder what the editor of the article thinks of Ann Cryer ?
Tricky
Police organised
27.07.2002 22:37
The NF and Combat18 entered Bradford via the Interchange, flashing Nazi salutes and racial abuse as they went, and were free to tour the city centre, unmolested
A young Asian guy was beaten on.
An end of festival celebration was cancelled under police pressure.
It was replaced with an ANL meeting held under the auspices of mounted police lining Centenary Square, with riot-equipped police packed into police vans in every back street.
The skirmishes that the police had allowed were eventually backed up into the Asian ghetto, as planned
The youth emerged on to the street to oppose this invasion of their living space.
They were filmed and photographed to the hilt and the results displayed week after week in the local paper.
The local community were made to feel shamed and turn 'em in
Long sentences were to ensue. Simple fascism
dh
Common purpose???
28.07.2002 19:40
Gullick's lack of interest in the nature of Ashraf's own actions seems to leave the case wide open for appeal. and the self-defence angle seems worthy of closer investigation. but on the face of it, this does look like a clear case of a judge assuming a political role.
harangutan
e-mail:
harangutan@hotmail.com
dh
29.07.2002 19:23
What proof do you have that they were here ?
I feel this is just invented propaganda to excuse people for the destruction of Bradford, and the venting of their hatred of all things non muslim by Pakistani youth.
tricky
The racially motiveated sentencing of asian youths in the bradford, oldham, and
10.03.2004 12:27
The whole idea of a trial by a judge is to show fairness and equal rights to everyone involved to be given a fair judgement from a judge.
as a muslim i feel leagl verdicts like these are the whole reason why these riots start, as in your article the judge overlooked key events that started the bradford riots.
as with the police, we can see that it has curropt cells within it, but only untill the BBC released their programme about racism amongst the police force in Manchester, only to conclude in the officers involved being given office duties, which is an outrage, in such a 'well geverned' police force.
The stem of these problems is that the north is being deprived of government help, and financial support and if this persists then underfunded and overlooked areas haven't event even made the governments priority list, then how can you blame these people for relasing their andger and frustration against the governing body without which they would be better off.
Another thing which has stuck in my mind is the war in Iraq, and Afganistan. These were problems that started when the American governments in the seventies and eighties that in AAfganistan betrayed the afgans, after they had fought Russia in the cold war. And in Iraq if Mr Romsfeild had thought about his actions when he sold the weapons, used andgainst Quwaite, and the kurds. if Saddam wasn't sold thses waepons then would Iraq really be a threatto the world. To add to this in what part of the American governments of the time's, mistakes were the british government involved, and as they weren't why the support into a war that has nothing to do with the UK.
And more elusive is the fact that the so called 'Waepons of Mass Destruction' haven't been found. i think you can work out your own opinion of this matter.
So the government has gobe into a war, when there is a war of the north, and the south, aswell as the asians and the far-right parties like the BNP of the National Front.
Mohammed Haroon
e-mail:
booyakasha27@yahoo.co.uk
Its enough to make you want to do something
24.08.2004 23:22
we all make a concerted effort these people ( we know who they are ) will think they somehow own the planet now thats scary. Lets get behind the police and win.
Colour doesnt matter much, just as if you were disabled.
Sad thing is we need to bring the police and the community together.
when you are a victim of these people aki, what can you do, they can follow you for years having cb radios , make black people paranoid, we live in tough times ?
The drugs and the guns are moved by the gangs and racism is there, anlong with loyalty egoism , patriotism, sexism, ageism, anti zionist , anti islamic, anti sensible ism ( wry smile to keep you readers on your toes ) ...being followed and chased is not good not nice.
The state needs help from the police who need need help from all sides of the community.
thats democracy
ravi
enough is enough
21.06.2006 17:20
dean