The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) strongly condemns ongoing attempts by Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to confiscate the family home of a Muslim man convicted of terrorism offences.

Munir Farooqi’s family face eviction from their home in Longsight, Manchester if he is unsuccessful in his appeal to get the convictions overturned. Judges are due to decide today if the convictions should stand.

Mr Farooqi was sentenced in 2011 to four life terms under the draconian Terrorism Act 2000. None of the family members living in the house have been convicted of any offences. If the authorities are successful this would be the first time that forfeiture provisions contained in the Terrorism Act 2000 have been used to seize a family home.

Three generations of a family including a grandchild face losing the roof over their heads because their father has been convicted of committing an offence of which they are completely innocent.

The IHRC views any forfeiture as a clear and alarming violation of natural justice and international law. It would constitute a form of collective punishment, legitimising similar actions by other less human rights-friendly jurisdictions.

“All kinds of crimes involve use of the family home for planning or committing criminal offences. But it is the perpetrator who is made to pay for his actions, not his family,” said IHRC chair Massoud Shadjareh.

“The fact that these provisions have never been invoked before is itself suggestive that Parliament never intended them to be used as collective punishment”, he added.

Notes to Editors

For media enquiries please email media@ihrc.org or call 020 8904 4222[Ends]

——————————————————————————————

IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183

Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org

Twitter @ihrc