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Justice denied?

1/10/2002

ASIAN youth leaders have started a campaign against the "savage" jail sentences being passed against young men involved in the Oldham riots.

They say sentences of between three and six years - some for "throwing stones" - are far too severe. They point out that white youths guilty of serious rioting in Northern Ireland regularly get jail terms of as little as six months.

The Pakistani Youth Association in Glodwick is lobbying local councillors and community leaders to get a campaign started. They want to raise funds for appeals against the sentences and are pressing for an amnesty for people still awaiting trial on riot charges.

Said youth worker Javed Iqbal: "The policy seems to be to make an example of young men caught up in this civil unrest with no attention to the reason behind these riots. No-one on the side of the state has asked why it happened? Why, for example, did some young men, who have never been in trouble with the police, go out during those nights to fight?

"There are many young people, who are in good jobs, or about to finish university, who will have their lives ruined because they will go to prison for years, for what they thought was the defence of their community.

"I believe in Northern Ireland people who were involved in riots are often only sentenced for up to six months and in some cases fined - why can't they do the same here?"

The families of defendants jailed have also hit out. Noor Miah received a four-and-a-half-year prison term.
He was accused of "throwing a missile". His brother, community worker Nanu Miah, claims Noor was innocently caught up in the trouble.

"But even if he had done it his sentence was not justified," he said. "How can anybody in their right mind send someone to prison for throwing a stone? "People don't get such long sentences for hit and run accidents. It's just ridiculous.

"The police say they want to make examples of these men but do they realise what a blow they strike at our faith in the justice system?"

But some Asian leaders say the jailings are deserved. Councillor Mohib Uddin's brother Shofi Uddin is behind bars starting a three-and-a-half-year sentence after pleading guilty to riot.

He said: "I don't condone any of the actions by any of the defendants, my brother included. It is unfortunate he was involved, but he pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity. It wasn't a racist thing, he got caught up in the action. He realises he has brought shame to the family."

Speaking after the trials Detective Chief Inspector Martin Bottomley, who led the investigation into the riots, said: "I hope today's sentences will cause others who beleive violence is the answer to consider their actions. The town of Oldham is now rebuilding and moving on, these men will not be part of that as they face the next few years of their lives behind bars."