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Muslims Stage Demo Outside Police Station in UK 

Life Style Extra  

Islamic supporters of six Muslims arrested in London earlier this week today staged a rowdy demonstration outside the top security police station where they are being held. 

 

Dozens of angry demonstrators branded Tony Blair a "terrorist" while carrying banners stating "Sharia Law - the future, free our Muslim brothers" and "Crusade against Islam". 

More than 100 Muslim men, women and children gathered outside Paddington Green Police Station in west London where the six suspected Islamic extremists - including firebrand Abu Izzadeen - are being detained on suspicion of inciting terrorism and raising funds for terrorism. 

The group, dressed in traditional Muslim clothes including veils, chanted in Arabic: "God is the greatest! There is only one God, Allah, and Mohammed is the final messenger of Allah!" Around a dozen uniformed police barricaded the demonstrators inside barriers to keep them away from the main entrance of the police station, but there were no arrests during the one hour demo. 

Jamaican convert Izzadeen - real name Omar Brooks - achieved notoriety when he confronted Home Secretary John Reid during a visit to east London last year. One of the demonstrators who gave his name Abu Farooq, aged in his late 20s, claimed to be the relative of one of the suspects being detained. 

He refused to disclose the identity of his relative but said: "The reality is all we are doing is speaking out against this oppression by the British Government. "We are here as families and relatives in support of those arrested to give a clear message to Tony Blair that we are not going to tolerate this oppression. 

"We are angry and furious. Islamic values have been attacked, Islamic women have been attacked by the Government and there has been a policy of spying on the Islamic community. "They have raided and closed down Mosques.

There have been more than 1,100 people arrested since the introduction of the terror laws after 9/11. We are not going to remain silent anymore." 

The organiser of the rally Sayful Islam, aged in his late 20s, said he was attending the rally because he was "very close" to Rajid Khan, who was arrested in Luton. 

Mr Islam, who was born in Britain and also lived in Luton, said: "As Muslims we cannot remain silent when we see this oppression.

This oppression is in the form of a war against Islam. We have to speak out. 

"Thousands of Muslims have been arrested and there have only been a handful of charges. "It is scaring the Muslim community from coming out and speaking about Islam." 

He would only be happy when Sharia law was introduced "all over the world". Mr Islam said: "We definitely want to see Sharia law in place here. We want to see it implemented for everyone.

Only then will there be harmony and there will be peace and justice amongst mankind." Mother-of-three Umm Hediyah, who was a wearing a full hijab, said: "I am here because I heard on the TV that some of our brothers had been arrested. 

"The thing is that nowadays everyone knows someone who has been arrested. The Muslim community feel like we are being oppressed. We feel like we are living in a police state.  "It doesn't matter whether you have a big beard or not. If you are Muslim and you speak out against British foreign policy you are labelled a fundamentalist or a terrorist. 

"We believe that as Muslims Sharia is for everyone and it can actually help solve problems in the world today. 

"We have a very good economic system that will deal with homelessness in this country. In Palestine, Jews, Christians and Muslims lived peacefully for over 500 years under Shariah law."