The family of Munir Farooqi, who’s serving an 18 year prison term after controversially being convicted of terrorism, has said that he’s being mistreated in Wakefield prison because he addressed a protest outside the jail via his daughter’s mobile phone.
The family say that Farooqi is effectively being punished because of his unwitting role in a demonstration which was held outside HMP Wakefield on April 5 to highlight “the mistreatment and the documented neglect of Munir Farooqi’s health.”
In a statement the family said: “At the protest an aux lead was connected to Munir’s daughter’s mobile phone, whilst her dad was on the phone at the end of the protest.
“However, Munir was unaware that this connection had taken place as he was not informed about it. The prison authority allege that he had full knowledge of what was going on.”
According to the statement, Farooqi is now being subjected to “draconian punishment” without a hearing and having the alleged evidence withheld from him.
Calls to his daughter, Zulaikha, have been blocked for three months and he was put on “basic privileges” on April 13. This means that he is locked up for 23 hours a day in a single cell, has only one hour social time, no television, no kettle and is allowed fewer visits with his family.
In addition, the family say that on April 20 the prison extended Munir’s “basic status” for 21 extra days as a punishment because “they said he was guilty,” even before the planned adjudication for the alleged offence was heard.
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“The prison service appear to be denying Munir a fair process, potentially breaching Article 6 ECHR the right to a fair hearing. Whilst subjecting him to such cruel punishment.”
5Pillars contacted the prison authorities and they denied the accusations.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “The suggestion that any prisoner at HMP Wakefield has been mistreated is completely untrue.
“All offenders must follow prison rules or face the consequences, which can include having certain privileges removed. Behaviour is kept under review and privileges can be restored when deemed suitable.”
Terrorism conviction
The 57 year old and two others were convicted of engaging in conduct designed to radicalise individuals to commit violent jihad in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The conviction was particularly controversial because the investigation involved two undercover police officers who pretended to convert to Islam and who secretly recorded conversations with Farooqi and others over a period of about a year.
No weapons or plans were ever found and Farooqi was convicted on his words alone. His family claim those words were taken out of context and were said after constant provocation. They maintain that Farooqi is completely innocent.
A documentary which features the Farooqi case can be seen here.
For further information on Munir Farooqi’s case you can “like” Free MunirFarooqi on Facebook and follow @FreeMFarooqi on Twitter. The famuly’s website is: www.FreeMunir.org.
