Zahid Mubarek - Home Office Picket
NCRMSW | 30.11.2003 18:42 | Anti-racism
The vigil has been organised to remind the Home Secretary of both his statutory responsibility and to make it clear that the family’s quest for justice, now supported by the highest legal authority in the country, will not fade away but get stronger despite his stance.
Zahid Mubarek
Murdered by a racist, failed by a racist prison system
VIGIL OUTSIDE THE HOME OFFICE
3.30PM TO 5.30 PM
MONDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2003
On 16th October 2003, the Law Lords compelled the Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, to hold a prompt Public Inquiry into the circumstances leading to the racist murder of Zahid Mubarek by his cellmate, Robert Stewart, at Feltham Young Offenders prison. Over six weeks have passed since the Lords judgment yet the Home Secretary is still ‘considering’ his response. He has, to date, failed to acknowledge and respond to the family solicitor’s letters and refuses to meet the victim family. Unreasonable delay on part of the Home Secretary not only adds to the tragedy suffered by the Mubarek family but it is a breach of the order made by the Law Lords.
Background
His cellmate, Robert Stewart, beat Zahid Mubarek to a pulp and coma on 21st March 2000. Mubarek died a week later. Stewart was convicted for murder in November 2000. It became obvious at the trial and through a number of internal prison inquiries that Zahid’s life was in danger as soon as Stewart was placed in the same cell. Whilst in custody Stewart had written over 200 letters, all of these were signed with a swastika. A month before he killed Zahid, Stewart gave a chilling description of how he would kill his “pad-mate”. Yet the prison authorities did nothing to save Zahid.
Soon after the incident, the family wrote to the Home Secretary asking for a public investigation into the circumstances that led to Zahid’s brutal murder and whether any lessons could be learned. However given Home Secretary’s refusal, the family was forced to seek a judicial review. In a landmark decision (September 2001), the High Court Judge, Justice Hooper, asked the Home Secretary to reconsider his stance and order an independent investigation. However the Home Secretary refused to budge and instead won an appeal against Justice Hooper’s judgment in February 2002. The family then challenged the Appeal Court’s decision through the Lords in July this year. The final judgment delivered on 16th October 2003 allowed the appeal and compelled the Secretary of the State to hold a prompt public inquiry into Zahid’s murder.
A full test of the Law Lords judgment can be found on our website: www.monitoring-group.co.uk
Imran Khan, the family’s solicitor said, “This case is a wake-up call for the prison service just as the Lawrence murder was a wake-up call for the Police. The family is entitled to know why the prison service failed Zahid. Lessons must be learned so that a similar tragedy does not happen again.”
Imtiaz Amin, Zahid’s uncle said, “The family is going through hell to ensure that there should justice for Zahid. Why was my nephew’s murder allowed to happen? For us, only a Public Inquiry can answer this simple but potent question.”
Suresh Grover, the family campaign spokesperson said, “ It is both dangerous and unreasonable for the Home Secretary to bury his head in sand and hope that his lack of response will somehow minimize the demand for a rigorous public examination of the events that led to this tragedy”.
For further info: contact Suresh Grover on 020 8843 2333 or 07958 174451
ENDS
Murdered by a racist, failed by a racist prison system
VIGIL OUTSIDE THE HOME OFFICE
3.30PM TO 5.30 PM
MONDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2003
On 16th October 2003, the Law Lords compelled the Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, to hold a prompt Public Inquiry into the circumstances leading to the racist murder of Zahid Mubarek by his cellmate, Robert Stewart, at Feltham Young Offenders prison. Over six weeks have passed since the Lords judgment yet the Home Secretary is still ‘considering’ his response. He has, to date, failed to acknowledge and respond to the family solicitor’s letters and refuses to meet the victim family. Unreasonable delay on part of the Home Secretary not only adds to the tragedy suffered by the Mubarek family but it is a breach of the order made by the Law Lords.
Background
His cellmate, Robert Stewart, beat Zahid Mubarek to a pulp and coma on 21st March 2000. Mubarek died a week later. Stewart was convicted for murder in November 2000. It became obvious at the trial and through a number of internal prison inquiries that Zahid’s life was in danger as soon as Stewart was placed in the same cell. Whilst in custody Stewart had written over 200 letters, all of these were signed with a swastika. A month before he killed Zahid, Stewart gave a chilling description of how he would kill his “pad-mate”. Yet the prison authorities did nothing to save Zahid.
Soon after the incident, the family wrote to the Home Secretary asking for a public investigation into the circumstances that led to Zahid’s brutal murder and whether any lessons could be learned. However given Home Secretary’s refusal, the family was forced to seek a judicial review. In a landmark decision (September 2001), the High Court Judge, Justice Hooper, asked the Home Secretary to reconsider his stance and order an independent investigation. However the Home Secretary refused to budge and instead won an appeal against Justice Hooper’s judgment in February 2002. The family then challenged the Appeal Court’s decision through the Lords in July this year. The final judgment delivered on 16th October 2003 allowed the appeal and compelled the Secretary of the State to hold a prompt public inquiry into Zahid’s murder.
A full test of the Law Lords judgment can be found on our website: www.monitoring-group.co.uk
Imran Khan, the family’s solicitor said, “This case is a wake-up call for the prison service just as the Lawrence murder was a wake-up call for the Police. The family is entitled to know why the prison service failed Zahid. Lessons must be learned so that a similar tragedy does not happen again.”
Imtiaz Amin, Zahid’s uncle said, “The family is going through hell to ensure that there should justice for Zahid. Why was my nephew’s murder allowed to happen? For us, only a Public Inquiry can answer this simple but potent question.”
Suresh Grover, the family campaign spokesperson said, “ It is both dangerous and unreasonable for the Home Secretary to bury his head in sand and hope that his lack of response will somehow minimize the demand for a rigorous public examination of the events that led to this tragedy”.
For further info: contact Suresh Grover on 020 8843 2333 or 07958 174451
ENDS
NCRMSW