Britain and censorship--The Guardian

The Guardian

A masters student researching terrorist tactics who was arrested and
detained for six days after his university informed police about
al-Qaida-related material he downloaded has spoken of the "psychological
torture"
he endured in custody. Despite his Nottingham University supervisors insisting
the materials were directly relevant to his research, Rizwaan Sabir, 22,
was held for nearly a week under the Terrorism Act, accused of downloading
the materials for illegal use. The student had obtained a copy of the
al-Qaida training manual from a US government website for his research
into terrorist tactics.

The case highlights what lecturers are claiming is a direct assault on
academic freedom led by the government which, in its attempt to establish
a "prevent agenda" against terrorist activity, is putting pressure on
academics to become police informers.

Sabir was arrested on May 14 after the document was found by a university
staff member on an administrator's computer. The administrator, Hisham Yezza,
an acquaintance of Sabir, had been asked by the student to print the
1,500-page document because Sabir could not afford the printing fees.
The pair were arrested under the Terrorism Act, Sabir's family home was
searched and their computer and mobile phones seized. They were released
uncharged six days later but Yezza, who is Algerian, was immediately
rearrested on unrelated immigration charges and now faces deportation.

Dr Alf Nilsen, a research fellow at the university's school of politics
and international relations, said that Yezza is being held at Colnbrook
immigration removal centre, due to be deported on Tuesday.

"If he is taken to Algeria, he may be subjected to severe human rights
violations after his involvement in this case. He has been in the UK for
13 years. His work is here, his friends are here, his life is here."

Of his detention, Sabir said: "I was absolutely broken. I didn't sleep.
I'd close my eyes then hear the keys clanking and I would be up again. As
I realised the severity I thought I'd end up in Belmarsh with the nutcases.
It was psychological torture.

"On Tuesday they read me a statement confirming it was an illegal document
which shouldn't be used for research purposes. To this day no one has ever
clarified that point. They released me. I was shaking violently, I fell
against the wall, then on the floor and I just cried."

Bettina Rentz, a lecturer in international security and Sabir's personal tutor,
said: "He's a serious student, who works very hard and wants a career in
academia. This is a great concern for our academic freedom but also for the
climate on campus."

Students have begun a petition calling on the university to acknowledge
the "disproportionate nature of [its] response to the possession of
legitimate research materials".

A spokesman for Nottingham University said it had a duty to inform police
of "material of this nature". The spokesman said it was "not legitimate
research material", but later amended that view, saying: "If you're an
academic or a registered student then you have very good cause to access
whatever material your scholarship requires. But there is an expectation
that you will act sensibly within current UK law and wouldn't send it on
to any Tom, Dick or Harry."

At its annual conference next week the University and College Union will
debate a motion on "assaults on academic freedom by the DIUS [Department for
Innovation, Universities and Skills]". Sally Hunt, general secretary of the
UCU, said: "If we really want to tackle problems like extremism and terrorism,
then we need to be safe to explore the issues and get a better understanding.
The last thing we need is people too frightened to discuss an issue or
research a subject because they fear being arrested or reported."

The higher education minister, Bill Rammell, said: "The government does not
want to or has never asked for staff or students to spy on their colleagues
or friends. We want universities to work with staff and students on campus to
isolate and challenge the very small minority who promote violent extremism."

Sabir's solicitor, Tayab Ali, said: "This could have been dealt with sensibly if
the university had discussed the issue with Rizwaan and his tutors. This is the
worrying aspect of the extension of detention [under the Terrorism Act]. They
can use hugely powerful arrest powers before investigating."

:-
>From a group of Nottingham residents, concerned student and academics at
the University of Nottingham.
For immediate use, 24/05/08 SATURDAY

Notts Uni detainee innocent but still facing deportation

Hicham Yezza, a popular, respected and valued former PhD student and
current employee of the University of Nottingham faces deportation
to Algeria on Sunday 1st June.  This follows his unjust arrest under
the Terrorism Act 2000 on Wednesday 14th May alongside Rizwaan Sabir
and their release without charge six days later.

It has subsequently become clear that these arrests, which the police
had claimed related to so-called "radical materials" involved an Al Qaeda
manual downloaded by Sabir as part of his research into political Islam
and emailed to Yezza for printing because Sabir couldn't afford to get it
printed himself.

There has been a vocal response from lecturers and students. A petition
is being circulated, letters have been sent by academics across the world
and a demo is being planned for Wednesday. 28th May. This has clearly been
deeply embarrassing to a government currently advocating an expansion of
anti-terror powers.

On his release Hicham was re-arrested under immigration legislation and,
due to confusion over his visa documentation, charged with offences
relating to his immigration status. He sought legal advice and
representation over these matters whilst in custody. On Friday 23rd May,
he was suddenly served with a deportation notice and moved to an
immigration detention centre. The deportation is being urgently appealed.

Hicham has been resident in the U.K. for 13 years, during which time he
has studied for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Nottingham.
He is an active member of debating societies, a prominent member of
an arts and theatre group, and has written for, and edited, Ceasefire,
the Nottingham Student Peace Movement magazine for the last five years.

He is well known and popular on campus amongst the university community
and has established himself as a voracious reader and an authority on
literature and music. An application for British citizenship was underway,
and he had been planning to make his yearly trip to Wales for the Hay
Festival when he was suddenly arrested.

The authorities are clearly trying to circumvent the criminal justice
system and force Hicham out of the country. Normally they would have to
wait for criminal proceedings to finish, but here they have managed to
convince the prosecution to drop the charges in an attempt to remove him
in a quick, covert manner. The desire for justice is clearly not the
driving force behind this, as Hicham was happy to stand trial and prove
his innocence.

Hicham had a large social network and many of his friends are mobilising
to prevent his release. Matthew Butcher, 20, a student at the University
of Nottingham and member of the 2008-9 Students Union Executive, said,
"This is an abhorrent abuse of due process, pursued by a government
currently seeking to expand anti-terror powers. Following the debacle
of the initial 'terror' arrests they now want to brush the whole affair
under the carpet by deporting Hicham."

Supporters have been able to talk with Hicham and he said, "The Home
Office operates with a Gestapo mentality. They have no respect for human
dignity and human life. They treat foreign nationals as disposable goods -
the recklessness and the cavalier approach they have belongs to a
totalitarian state. I thank everyone for their support - it's been
extremely heartening and humbling. I'm grateful to everyone who has
come to my aid and stood with me in solidarity, from students to Members
of Parliament. I think this really reflects the spirit of the generous,
inclusive Britain we know - and not the faceless, brutal, draconian
tactics of the Home Office."