Posted on 08/11/2006 1:25:42 PM PDT by LibWhacker
LONDON (Reuters) - Muslims criticised the government on Friday for publishing the names of 19 men who police sources say are under arrest for allegedly plotting to blow up passenger planes bound for the United States.
The government instructed the Bank of England to publish the names on its Web site on Thursday, just hours after police arrested 24 people in connection with the suspected plot.
Police have not named the 24 but a police source confirmed they include the 19 named by the central bank. Although the bank did not give the addresses of the 19, it listed their dates of birth and the areas where they live.
The bank's action is unusual. Normally, authorities do not publish the names of suspects until they have been formally charged and identified by the police.
But the government defended the move, saying it was essential to ensure the assets of the 19 were frozen.
"The Treasury has informed us that this is a normal procedure," Home Secretary John Reid told a news conference.
"When people's assets are frozen, the names are published, and this, the Treasury tells us, is part of the obligation of ensuring that people cannot deal with such individuals in the transfer of assets."
Some Muslim groups said the move was unnecessary and could hamper the suspects' chance of a fair trial if they are eventually charged in connection with the plot.
The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS), an umbrella group representing Muslim students, said it was "extremely disappointed" by the government's action.
"It is important to wait until a thorough investigation has taken place before pointing fingers and drawing conclusions," FOSIS spokesman Wakkas Khan said in a statement.
"It is important to maintain the legal principles we hold dear, namely the concept of innocent until proven guilty."
The government said that in publishing the names, it was not inferring guilt.
Police are still questioning the 24 suspects and can hold them for up to 28 days before either charging or releasing them.
Hizb ut-Tahrir, a radical Islamist party which the government says it plans to ban, said it too was dismayed by the publication of the names.
"It concerns us that there is already talk in the media about the ethnic identity of the suspects, and that suspects are presumed guilty before any due process," said Imran Waheed, spokesman for the British branch of the party.
"We urge caution before jumping to conclusions."
Many Muslims accuse the police of unfairly targeting their community in their crackdown on terrorism.
Since 2000, police have arrested over 700 people -- many of them Muslims -- under tough anti-terrorism laws, but have brought only a handful to court. The vast majority have been released without charge.
WAH!!!
Boo-frickin-hoo!!! Go back to the desert!
Hello, Muslims. This is THE perfect opportunity to speak up and condemn those who claim to act on your behalf.
*crickets*
ha ha suicide bombers asking for fairness? Priceless.
Don't we have a 'WHO CARES' category in here?
I would be ashamed to have the world to know that I belonged to a bunch of savages like this, and I would probably want to hide too.
I'm not ready to be lectured by these, of all people. If they have something constructive to say, such as some small self criticism of the way they treat women, other religions, etc., I'm ready to listen.
Empty words, considering the "legal principles" in the countries where all these mangy dogs come from...
Yeah, they want the govt to wait until the terrorists flee the country with all the wealth accumulated.
"'It is important to wait until a thorough investigation has taken place before pointing fingers and drawing conclusions,' FOSIS spokesman Wakkas Khan said in a statement."
I Feel For You (NOT!) - Wakkas Kahn
RAP SECTION:
Wakkas Khan, let me rock you
Let me rock you, Wakkas Khan
Let me rock you, that's all I wanna do
Wakkas Khan, let me rock you
Let me rock you, Wakkas Khan
Let me rock you, let me feel for you
Wakkas Khan let me tell you what I wanna do
Do you feel for me, the way I feel for you
Wakkas Khan let me tell you what I wanna do
I wanna love you, wanna hug you, wanna squeeze you too
Let me take you in my arms
Let me fill you with my charms, Wakkas
'Cause you know that I'm the one to keep you warm
Wakkas, I'll make you more than just a physical dream
I wanna rock you, Wakkas
Baby, cause you make me wanna scream
Let me rock you, rock you...
Yep. How DARE any country crack down on the poor, put upon muzzies. Law enforcement should waste their time at the old folks home and the hog rendering plant. Since exactly zero terrorists came from there.
Who would have ever thought Muslims would have bean involved in a terror plot? I was certain they were Catholic.
_________
I'm pretty sure that good money puts it on the radical Mennonites.
I'm critical of the muzzies being critical!
Now why would they do that?
Cuz they're all named Mohammed!
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