Open Letter to Defend Aamer Anwar: Statement from the Stop The War Coalition

Recently, Mohammad Atif Siddique was sentenced to a total of 8 years for terrorism offences. Irrespective of the differing views on the outcome of the case, the criticism levelled towards Mr Siddique’s solicitor, Aamer Anwar, over a statement that he released on the day of the verdict is extremely disturbing. Following sentencing on the 23rd…

Liam

November 22, 2007

2–3 minutes

Following sentencing on the 23rd October, Aamer Anwar was ordered to appear at a court hearing before the Judge. He was accused of showing disrespect to the Judge, the Jury and the Court. Aamer has now been informed that the matter may be remitted to another High Court Judge to consider Contempt of Court proceedings against him. The possibility that Aamer Anwar may have to face contempt charges is deeply worrying and is an unprecedented attack on freedom of speech.

Aamer has earned a reputation as one of the most prominent human rights lawyers in Scotland today. He represented the Chokhar family in their long struggle for justice and has diligently defended asylum-seekers. He has represented victims of the ‘war on terror’, who were accused of terrorism, and who where eventually proved innocent of the charges laid against them. In 2005, he helped campaigners negotiate a way to the G8 Summit at Gleneagles and defended demonstrators arrested during the protests.

Following the collapse of the Worlds End Trial, the Lord Advocate stressed the importance of the independence of the Judiciary and Prosecution. Equally as important is an independent defence, which is often all that stands between the accused and the state. We might not always agree with Aamer Anwar, but he is part of a rich and important tradition of campaigning lawyers that speak without ‘fear or favour’.

If the Judiciary is successful in silencing Aamer Anwar, then this will have far-reaching consequences. A lawyer’s job is to represent their clients to the best of their ability – no matter what crimes they are accused of.

All those who campaign against injustice and for a better world, know that one day they may have to face the state in a courtroom. They need lawyers who are willing to advocate and speak out on their behalf. We should all be very worried if the effect of this case is to make lawyers reluctant to carry out this work for fear of the repercussions.

We believe that the current attack on Aamer Anwar is an attack on the fundamental right of all lawyers to represent their clients.

Sign the petition here. View the signatories here.

5 responses to “Open Letter to Defend Aamer Anwar: Statement from the Stop The War Coalition”

Tom

November 23, 2007 at 9:22 am

Well done, Liam. I look forward to Andy adding a thread on his SUN blog. Whatever Respect and Respect Renewal members think of each other, whatever Solidarity and SSP members think of each other, we do have to put aside our personal feelings at times like this. This is not just about the Aamer Anwar as an individual. It is about the rights of ALL socialists, and ALL Muslims to have lawyers free to let us have a fair trial. And to appeal against a miscarriage of justice, when necessary.

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Tom

November 23, 2007 at 9:52 am

I had already sent my details to an on-line petition in defense of Aamer previously. However, this new petition seems to make the previous effort redundant. So I filled in my details in this new petition. Unfortunately, the form kept rejecting my details, five times saying that the verification code that I entered (to stop spam) did not match what I was asked to fill in. I knew I supplied the code correctly, all five times. I thought I was going to have to adjust my cookie setings or something. However, it seems that it will only accept lowercase, even when letters appear to be in uppercase. If anyone else has a problem, I suggest they enter the code all in lowercase.

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tony

November 26, 2007 at 10:39 am

There’s a bug on their system. If you can’t get it to accept the signature, click on the “contact us” link and send them your details. That’s what I did.

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Tom

November 27, 2007 at 3:10 am

If there are any Scots reading this blog, check out the following, and try to contact your MSP, via the link provided in this emal from Scotland Against Criminalising Communities. And if anyone has not signed the on-line petition, please do so asap. enter the verification code all in lowercase. If this still does not work, use the method suggested by Tony. Check out your email in-box, because your details won’t be added until you go through one more procedure. You need to click a link supplied by an email that will be sent to you. If things dont’ go well, you might have to cut and paste the link from your email to the the url box in your browser. That is the final stage though.

From: “SACC news” Add to Address BookAdd to Address Book
Subject: URGENT – We need the help of YOUR MSP
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:32:38 +0000
News from Scotland Against Criminalising Communities – SACC (www.sacc.org.uk)
Please DON’T REPLY TO THIS EMAIL – use the ADDRESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MESSAGE

URGENT

9 MSPs have given their support to Margo MacDonald’s resolution in the Scottish Parliament about Aamer Anwar. This is great progress for a resolution barely more than a week old BUT we need the support of at least 30 MSPs by 21 December to make sure the resolution stays current into the New Year.

It’s vital that MSPs speak out about this. The Scottish justice system should be capable of digesting a poorly-founded complaint like this one and responding appropriately. But the obvious political implications of the complaint (whether or not it is upheld) mean that it is right and necessary that the Parliament should express it’s concern. That is exactly what the motion does.

Please contact ALL your MSPs URGENTLY (your regional list MSPs as well as your constituency MSP. Better still, arrange to go and see them (either go along to thier weekly surgery or make an appointment)

You can contact your MSPs using http://www.writetothem.com

Ask them to support the motion below:

S3M-810 Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind) : Aamer Anwar— That the Parliament, while recognising and strongly supporting the independence of the judiciary, is concerned that a contempt of court charge should be hanging over the head of Mr Aamer Anwar, solicitor, for his remarks made outside the court, following the verdict in the trial of Mohammed Atif Siddique; notes that Mr Anwar’s comments on aspects of the prosecution and trial, on behalf of his client, were controversial; believes that the Scottish judicial system is robust enough to absorb criticism and that solicitors should not be constrained from speaking out against injustice, and recalls cases where the system has been faulty to the point of innocent persons being found guilty.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Dr Bill Wilson, Bashir Ahmad, Alex Neil, Sandra White, Dr Ian McKee, Hugh O’Donnell, Robin Harper
And please let SACC know how you get on – email richard@sacc.org.uk

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Hamid

November 30, 2007 at 5:35 am

Liam, what did Anwar say that offended the court?

If you cared for meaningful exchanges, you would report that. But since you don’t, you want me to sheepishly follow your dictates to sign a petition that you make no attempt to cast light upon?

Like you saying – don’t think for yourself – just follow my dictates.

You pro-theocrates are shameful.

Hamid R.

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