Gloucester Anger

gloucs | protests | news report Tuesday December 09, 2003 11:36 by Gloucester Stop the War Coalition

Anger at meeting in Gloucester

Gloucester anger

OVER 600 people, mostly local Muslims, turned up to try and get into a packed meeting in Gloucester last Monday evening. Only 400 could fit into the hall.

The meeting followed the arrest of Sajid Badat in the town two weeks ago after a massive police operation.

There is a real feeling of a community under siege among Muslims in Gloucester. The biggest focus of anger at the meeting was against New Labour\'s home secretary David Blunkett, who had decided that Sajid Badat was guilty even before he had been charged with anything.

When I spoke on behalf of Gloucester Stop the War Coalition, calling for Blunkett to go, the hall erupted in support and a succession of speakers took up the call.

A leaflet we had prepared for the meeting was eagerly taken. We argued that \"the government is desperately trying to portray Muslims as the \'enemy within\'. How long before they create a Muslim Birmingham Six or Guildford Four?\"

And we argued, \"We don\'t know whether charges will be pressed against Sajid Badat. What we do know is that Blunkett and the press have made outrageous statements designed to strike fear into the general population and isolate the Muslim community.\" He should go now.

PHIL JONES, Gloucester Stop the War Coalition