'Targeted and victimised'

KEITH BULL

APRIL 22 WAS just a normal Tuesday for most people.

However, for four Burton men, it was the start of five months of worry and anguish.

From 7.30am, five addresses belonging to the men were simultaneously raided by the police in front of crying children and terrified family members.

They claim they had no idea about why police were swarming over their homes, searching drawers and turning property 'upside down.'

Officers visited addresses in Harlech Way and Kingsmead, in Stretton, and in Sydney Street, Derby Road and Derby Street, Burton.

Computers and literature were seized by police and taken away for further examination after the swoops.

Five months on, the four men whose homes were raided have finally been told by the police that no further action will be taken against them.

The quartet, none of whom were arrested, questioned or charged, have now recalled the dramatic scenes of when their homes were raided.

Zakeel Abbas, 31, who has lived in Sydney Street for 10 years, said: "Police came into the property and there were about 10 to 12 officers.

"They came straight upstairs. The kids were screaming and were really frightened.

"Officers went into the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom and went through paperwork and personal documents. I did not know why they were there.

"It looked like someone had burgled the property. They took more than 50 items, such as leaflets, DVDS and information on prayer.

"It appears we live in a society where you are innocent until proven Muslim."

A 31-year-old man, who asked not to be identified, had his home in Kingsmead, Stretton, and rented property in Harlech Way, ransacked by police.

He said: "They went through the house and found absolutely nothing. They took a laptop, which was not even mine, and searched for about an hour and a half. Everything was turned upside down and inside out."

Majid Ishfaq, 21, who has lived in Derby Street for 14 years, was not at home when his property was broken into.

He told The Mail: "They broke the lock on the front door. Carpets, walls and the bath were damaged, and they went through the wheelie bins.

"It is disgusting, terrible, and the police are no better than thieves if you ask me."

A 25-year-old man's home in Derby Road was also raided while two babies were inside and he was not there.

He only found out about the incident at midday as the battery on his phone was flat.

During the investigation, which cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds, the foursome received no communication from the police about proceedings and were kept 'in the dark' until being given the all clear.

The accused are now demanding an apology from the police and the whistleblowers who 'blackened' their names.

They pointed the finger at East Staffordshire Borough Council's Shobnall member, Khadim Thathall, who was chairman of the Princess Street mosque between 1990 and 1999, and urged the police to take action after the march.

All four accused the councillor of serving a 'personal agenda' and 'trying to make a name for himself', a claim he denies.

Mr Ishfaq said: "No one had a clue what was happening. There is no doubt in our minds the police and Mr Thathall should say sorry."

"We have had a lot of support from the community, who know we were not involved in criminal activity", said Mr Abbas, who runs a store outside Burton job centre on a Saturday to give people a 'better understanding of Islam.'

"We were not arrested. We were not questioned. We were just kept in the dark."

The Stretton accused told The Mail: "I was ringing up the police every two to three weeks, but there was no communication at all.

"It was a waste of taxpayer's money. It demonised our name and that of our families as well. We felt targeted and victimised."

The quartet admitted they considered their futures in Burton after the raids, but were determined not to move away.

Mr Abbas said: "No compensation could pay for what they have done. This whole experience has just made me feel stronger about what I believe in.

"As Muslims we feel as though we have an obligation to society. We tackle things such as drugs, crime and give people a divine solution to problems. We do not do things such as this."

Abu Najm, 35, of Derby Road, is a long standing friend of the quartet. His home was not raided, but he is disgusted at how his pals have been treated.

He said: "The trauma and stress that the families have experienced is shocking and it is something that could have been avoided.

"It was like the police tried to crack a nut with a bulldozer. I could have understood if they had been a criminal gang with history, but these guys are so open and transparent it is unbelievable. It puts up further barriers between Muslims and the police.

"It is a very bad chapter in the history of Muslims living in Burton. However, it has made these guys stronger and they are not going to be silenced."

The police and Councillor Thathall today defended their roles in the investigation.

Councillor Thathall said: "I was asked by the Princess Street mosque committee, including the Imam, for assistance.

"I was not a participant in the march and did not know who the perpetrators were, but studied the literature that was displayed.

"After having discussions with the committee and other members it was suggested the matter should be reported to the police.

"If my constituents have any concerns it is my duty to listen to them and try to assist them. That is what I did.

"The leaflets are inflammatory about what Islam stands for.

"Immaterial of whether the police took action or no action, I'm glad they conducted a thorough investigation into the matter."

Councillor Thathall told The Mail he has received threatening leaflets and 'from time to time' nuisance calls for helping with the investigation.

Mick Harrison, the commander of Staffordshire Police's Trent Valley division, which covers Burton, said: "These posters caused some upset.

"We carried out investigations and identified the people we thought were responsible and as part of that carried out search warrants.

"All the officers were fully briefed about what needed to be done and we had to force our way into one premises. If there are any issues about any damaged property then they are free to make a complaint.

"Some of the property seized was computers, which take time to fully examine.

"All of the information went to the CPS to have a look at and they felt that there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

"We were acting primarily on the concerns and complaints from people in the area. We have a duty to act upon them.

"We had to investigate the matter in the most proper way and we did it with the vast support of the community."

The commander told The Mail that if any further information came to light on the posters, the police would act immediately.