Race hate party targets Tipton

By Tom Wells, Sunday Mercury | Sunday, 14 March 2004 | Click here for original article

A Midland MP has blasted attempts by the far-right BNP party to "cash in" on the return of the so-called Tipton Taliban.

Last week, Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal and Ruhal Ahmed returned to Britain after more than two years locked away inside Guantanamo Bay.

All three Tipton men were taken to the controversial Cuban base after being held in Afghanistan on suspicion of terrorism charges in 2001.

Yet despite intensive interrogation by both American and British intelligence officers they were dramatically released from custody without any criminal charge on Wednesday night.

It was later revealed that they had only been questioned for ONE HOUR by cops in what some critics described as a "public relations exercise".

The three men were believed to be with their families at secret locations last night.

Since their return to the Midlands, BNP activists have carried out door-to-door canvassing in Tipton ahead of the June council elections.

And last night the race-hate group issued an astonishing state-ment on their website allegedly from West Midlands Police officer claiming cops were furious that the three had been freed.

"Why did devout Muslims who knew and worked with each other all decide to go over to Afghanistan at the same time, just weeks after September 11, when everybody knew there was going to be a war in the region?" the 'policeman' said.

"Why haven't the authorities prosecuted them for treason? A special branch officer told me that they have a great deal of evidence on what they had been doing there.

"There is a feeling of frustration and some anger amongst local officers."

The BNP statement was instantly condemned by West Bromwich West MP Adrian Bailey, who said it was typical of an "unrepresentative, minority party".

"It is appalling that the BNP should seek to make political gain out of the return of these three men," he said.

"It is difficult for the families and for the community. Comments like this don't improve matters, although I am satisfied that the people of Tipton will reject any attempt by the BNP to cash in on this situation. There was always the possibility, or rather the probability, that the BNP would try to take advantage of the Tipton men.

"They are an unrepresentative minority party who will seek to exploit the sensitivities surrounding our constituency.

"I would not be surprised if the BNP try to target this area in the run-up to the June elections in a distasteful attempt to make gains."

Mr Bailey also said he had spoken to the families of the three Tipton men in the days leading up to their release.

He added: "I have spoken to the families of Mr Ahmed and Mr Rasul in the run-up to their return to the country and they have shown a quiet detachment to the proceedings.

"There was no exuberance."