ADVERTISEMENT DEFEND THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH ASIF SIDDIQUE (elder brother of Atif ALEX NEIL SNP, JAMIE HEPBURN SNP, IAN Siddique) “The Siddique family are angered Defend civil liberties McKEE SNP, MARGO McDONALD INDEPENDENT, and appalled at this attack on Aamer CHRISTINE GRAHAME SNP, SANDRA WHITE SNP, Anwar. It is an attempt to silence this AND ELAINE SMITH LABOUR PARTY (MSPS) “We courageous lawyer. The statement made are deeply concerned that Aamer Anwar is outside Glasgow’s High Court last year was Open letter in support of Aamer Anwar facing contempt of court. Conviction would the view of Atif Siddique and our family. We set a dangerous precedent, threatening the stand shoulder to shoulder with Aamer. It is MOHAMMAD Atif to the G8 Summit at Gleneagles and ability of lawyers to speak out against time to stand up and defend those who Siddique was defended demonstrators who were perceptions of injustice in the interests of defend our civil liberties. sentenced to eight arrested during the protests. their clients. The Scottish judicial system is, years in prison for Following the collapse of the and should be, robust enough to tolerate terrorism offences in World’s End trial, the Lord Advocate and absorb such criticism” IAIN BANKS (author) “Aamer October 2007. Irrespective of the stressed the importance of the Anwar is a symbol of differing views on the outcome of the independence of the judiciary and freedom. There is a need to case, the criticism levelled towards prosecution. Equally as important is ROSE GENTLE (Military speak out when the right to Mr Siddique’s solicitor, Aamer Anwar, an independent defence, which is Families Against War) “Aamer dissent and the right to over a statement he released on the often all that stands between the Anwar has fought injustice speak the truths that need to day of the verdict is disturbing. accused and the state. for years, in many be spoken are under threat. Aamer was accused of showing We might not always agree with campaigns, and has been a I’d urge anyone who believes in fairness disrespect to the judge, the jury, and Aamer but he is part of a rich and leader of the anti-war and simple human decency to support him. the court, and is to face a contempt important tradition of campaigning movement in Scotland. The Scottish judicial system has enough to of court hearing with three High Court lawyers that speak without ‘fear or Nobody else will fight harder to represent be ashamed of after the Lockerbie trial; let judges on April 29 and 30, 2008. favour’. A lawyer’s job is to represent your interests.” there be no more injustice in its name.” This is deeply worrying and is an their clients to the best of their unprecedented attack on the principle ability—regardless of the crimes of of freedom of speech. which they are accused. OSAMA SAEED (Muslim Aamer has earned a reputation as All those who campaign against LOUISE CHRISTIAN (human Association of Britain, one of the most prominent human injustice and for a better world know rights lawyer) “In a Scotland) “This process is a rights lawyers in Scotland. He that one day they may have to face democratic society lawyers waste of time and resources. represented the Chhokar family in the state in a courtroom. Everyone must have freedom of I don’t know anyone who their long struggle for justice and has expression. Aamer Anwar is should be worried if the effect of this was calling for Aamer’s a dedicated campaigning diligently defended asylum-seekers. case is to make lawyers reluctant to blood after what he said. He lawyer who should not be Victims of the ‘war on terror’— carry out this work for fear of the enjoys enormous support from ordinary subjected to this pressure on his people accused of terrorism but possibility of repercussions. people who can see a witch-hunt here and professional career.” eventually proved innocent of all We, the undersigned, believe that are rankled by yet another double standard charges—have also been represented the current attack on Aamer Anwar is on free speech.” by him. an attack on the fundamental right of In 2005, he helped negotiate a way all lawyers to represent their clients. CHHOKAR FAMILY PADDY HILL (Birmingham JUSTICE CAMPAIGN Six) “As one of the (Darshan Chhokar, Birmingham Six, beaten and Gurdev Kaur Chhokar tortured and wrongfully PICTURED, Manjit Kaur, imprisoned for 17 years, I and Professor Phil KENNY ROSS (Fire Brigades MOAZZAM BEGG (former understand the importance Taylor) “Aamer is an Union, Scotland) “It is the Guantanamo Bay detainee) of individuals who defend honest and dignified professional who fundamental right of any “An avid defender of human rights. In a world where more people simply stands up and speaks out for those citizen in a free society to others’ rights is being are seen as suspects, the need for human who are vulnerable against the system. He voice their opinion, whether forced to take the stand for rights lawyers has never been more crucial.” shouldn’t be punished for helping others.” that is in the letters page of a attempting to defend his newspaper, a parliamentary client. ‘Going for the lawyer’ chamber, or on the steps of a is something I’ve seen happening in court. It is vital for the sake Guantanamo. I didn’t expect it would be PROFESSOR LINDSAY FARMER (University GARETH PIERCE (solicitor who defended the of us all who cherish our happening in Britain too. I urge all fair- of Glasgow school of law) “It is vital to the Birmingham Six) “It is a sad and dangerous freedoms that the case minded people in this country to stand practice and success of democracy that day for our country if a lawyer who sees against Aamer Anwar is not with Aamer Anwar in solidarity for the lawyers and others are able to comment freely injustice cannot say so loud and clear.” only defeated but crushed.” sake of justice and freedom.” and critically on the conduct of court cases.” OPEN LETTER SIGNATORIES: Ahmed Ceesay, Refugee of Glasgow, University & College Union (national exec Scotland); Keir McKechnie, Glasgow Stop the War Economics; Professor Gargi Bhattacharyya (West Legal Centre; Anne Gray, CAMPACC and Green Party p/c); Dr Mark Cowling, University of Teeside (reader in Coalition (secretary); Keith Hammond, University of Midlands); Professor Jeff Hyman, University of (personal capacity); Alastair Lyon, Birnberg Pierce & criminology, school of social sciences and law, Glasgow; Khadijah Aadam, Muslim Prisoner Support Aberdeen; Professor Lindsay Farmer, University of Partners (solicitor, London); Alex Neil, Scottish Cleveland); Dr Patricia McCafferty, University of Group; Lindsay German, Stop the War Coalition Glasgow; Professor Mike Gonzales, University of Nationalist Party (MSP); Andrew Fullwood, EIS (council Strathclyde; Dr Sacha Darke, University of (national convener); Liz Davies, Haldane Society of Glasgow; Professor Phil Scraton, Queen’s University p/c, Glasgow); Angela Jackman, Fisher Meredith LLP Westminster; Dr Shafi Kauser, Glasgow Central Socialist Lawyers (chair); Lorraine Barrie, Govan Law (Belfast); Professor Paul Stewart, University of Solicitors (partner and joint head of dept); Angie Zelter, Mosque (general secretary); Dr Susan Blackwell, Centre (associate solicitor); Maggie Dickson, Govan Strathclyde; Professor R H Gray (Fife); Rev Hugh peace and environmental campaigner; Ayesha University & College Union (national exec p/c); Duncan Law Centre (associate solicitor); Margaret Gordon, Drummond (Edinburgh); Richard Haley, Scotland Siddique, sister of Mohammed Atif Siddique; Bashir McLaren, Friends of the Earth Scotland (chief Christian Khan Solicitors (partner); Marion Snee, Against Criminalising Communities (secretary); Ahmad, Scottish Nationalist Party (MSP); Bashir Mann, executive p/c); Eileen Pembridge, Fisher Meredith LLP Unison (steward, Dundee); Mark Brown, theatre critic; Robina Qureshi, Positive Action in Housing (director, Muslim Council of Scotland (convenor); Beth Junor, (solicitor; senior partner; dept head, London); Eniola Mark Golding, Children Of Iraq Association Glasgow); Rowena Arshad, Centre for Education for writer; Bill Wilson, Scottish Nationalist Party (MSP); Adewale (Glasgow); Frances Webber, Garden Court (Buckinghamshire); Massoud Shadhareh, Islamic Racial Equality in Scotland (p/c); Safia Ali, Caroline Austin, National Union of Journalists (London); Chambers (London); Gary Kelly, HIV blood tranfusion Human Rights Commission (chair); Mick Napier, Pollokshields Development Agency (manager); Chris Nineham, Stop the War Coalition (national group (Glasgow); George Galloway (MP); Graham Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign; Mike Arnott, Saghir Hussain, Johns & Saggar Solicitors (crime and officer); Christopher Helm, Princes Park Labour Party Campbell, African & Caribbean Network (chair p/c); Dundee TUC; Mike Haseler, scottishhumanrights.org.uk; prison law dept head, London); Samuel Tarry, London (Liverpool); Colin Fox, Scottish Socialist Party; David Hassan Ghani, Islam Channel News; Hugh Kerr, Moazzam Begg, former Guantanamo Bay detainee and Young Labour (chair); Sandra White, Scottish Ferrard, singer-songwriter; Des Loughney, Edinburgh Member of the European Parliament 1994-99; Humza spokesperson for Cageprisoners; Mohammad Naveen Nationalist Party (MSP); Sean McLoughlin, TRP Trade Union Council; Dr Dora Scholarios, University of Yousaf (Glasgow); Iain Banks, writer; Imran Khan Asif, Scottish Afghan Society (president); Mohammed Solicitors (partner, Birmingham); Sean Wallis, Strathclyde; Dr Eileen Berrington, Amnesty (solicitor; partner, London);