We urges the UK government to adopt a policy of caution regarding claims by Bangladeshi police that 24-year-old Briton Samiun Rahman was recruiting for the Islamic State , Brother Samiun Rahman, Has been Accused to recruiting in Bangladesh on behalf of Islamic State (IS) But they the Bangladeshi Detectives could not find any evidence based on these allegations again Samiun Rahman.
As we know from history Bangladesh has an abysmal human rights record. Reports of extrajudicial killings, torture in prisons and police violence and bribery is common.
“It is highly unlikely that Rahman will face a fair trial by a judiciary that has been called ‘almost redundant’ by leading human rights lawyers. One can hardly expect due process in this case.”
“There is a high likelihood that the alleged confession was elicited under torture, and that Rahman will be facing further torture in custody. This goes against the Geneva Convention which protects prisoners from such cruel and dehumanizing treatment.”
“It is worth mentioning that the British government has in the past been complicit in facilitating torture in Bangladesh. On this occasion instead of turning a blind eye given that the case is now public it must intervene to protect one of its citizens who is detained by a state internationally condemned for an appalling record on abuse as well as government and judicial corruption .The alleged confession and parading of suspects is obscene and a testament to an unjust legal system.”
The wife of Samiun Rahman, spoke to CAGE and said:
“It’s a shocking time for us all. We are very stressed and worried. We don’t know how he is being treated. Bangladesh is known for torture and as a British citizen, we expect the UK not to allow any mistreatment.”
“My husband is a good and kind person who wants to help others. But he is portrayed as some sort of felon or gang leader which is really not the case.”
The British government must ensure that Saimun Rahman gets a fair trial, the government of Bangladesh is a fascist regime that suppresses people that have religious appearance. The authorities of Bangladesh are known for torturing prisoners in custody and it is highly likely that Samiun Rahman will face torture
Here is the transcript of what Br Samiun Rahman Said In Court:
Reporter: Is it true what they are saying about you?
Samiun Rahman: They have got no proof.
Reporter: You are denying it?
Samiun Rahman: Yes, they have no proof. They arrested me five days ago without any charge. Left me in a cell for five days. Yesterday, they take me out of the cell to a train station. Two officers beside me, another two were way forward. They take me forward and then say, ‘yes I have got him. I have got him’ Then they made me sign a sheet of paper. Through out the whole time, I never knew what was going on. Throughout they never gave me no information about what is going on. All they said, was, ‘you are my BROTHER, you are my brother’.
Reporter: You know they are alleging that you are some kind of recruiter for jihadism. Why do they think this?
Samiun Rahman: I don’t know, because I was speaking to someone on the phone. Whoever I was speaking to maybe is amongst this scenario. They have no proof against me. Nothing regarding my name and anything to do
Reporter: They said that you went to SYRIA?
Samiun Rahman: Yes, I went to Syria, for humanitarian aid in 2013. I went with a friend. I got stopped under the ante-terroiram act in Gatwick. I proved to them that I went for humaintrian aid. They let me go after five hours questioning. So now I come here, and just because I spoke to someone about me being in Syria, it wasn’t even in Syria, just the border, I think they go over happy, something like this and they must have contacted a few other people and they said some stuff, but they did not mention my name, I saw the TRANSCRIPTS of the phone calls of the other persons. They never mentioned my name, and now I am under suspicion for trying to take people to Syria. The other two people are from really good families, his mother has a high position in the govt. They accuse them of being terrorists as well
Reporter: Why did you come to Bangladesh?
Samiun Rahman: Land dispute, within the family
Reporter: You went to Sylhet/Habigang?
Samiun Rahman: That is where I live
Reporter: It is said that you were arrested for some offences, frug, alcholic offence in London
Samiun Rahman: This is my previous. It is spent. I don’t have to mention it. I don’t want to mention how long ago it was.
Reporter: Have you been well treated here?
Samiun Rahman: Treated well, but in terms of communication, very badly. They don’t tell me why I am here, what is going on, what is happening. Until now I don’t know my charges
Reporter: Where did they pick you up?
Samiun Rahman: In Sylhet, my home town nabiganj. My village.
Reporter: They say that they raided your house and you were not there?
Samiun Rahman: No, I was there
Reporter: When was this?
Samiun Rahman: On Wednesday
Reporter: Have you asked to speak to the British High Commission?
Samiun Rahman: Yes. They have not allowed me to do anything. Have not allowed me to make a phone call. I asked to speak to BHC straightway. I Just managed to get a lawyer now
Reporter: Do you have relatives in Sylhet (Bangladesh)
Samiun Rahman: Some cousins. In UK you have rights to make call, but I was never allowed me to make a call.
Reporter: How are you feeling now?
Samiun Rahman: Sad?
Reporter: What do you think will happen to you?
Samiun Rahman: Lets see
Reporter: What is your JOB IN England?
Samiun Rahman: Mini cab controller. In central London.
Reporter: Did YOUR FAMILY know you were coming to Bangladesh?
Samiun Rahman: Yes, they all knew
Reporter: So the people they accuse you of meeting, you met them?
Samiun Rahman: I spoke to one on the phone.
Reporter: For what reason?
[He did not want to say]
Reporter: You categorically deny that you have any conenection with ISIL, Al Quaeda or any other jihadist organisation
Samiun Rahman: Yes,
Reporter: Are you a religious man?
Samiun Rahman: Yes, I pray five times a day
Reporter: Have you been religious all your life?
Samiun Rahman: No. Started four years ago
Reporter: What made you become religious?
Samiun Rahman: Wanted to become a better person.
Reporter: Your parents are in London?
Samiun Rahman: Yes
Reporter: When you were interrogated did you deny all these things?
Samiun Rahman: I was not even interrogated. They kept on taking me in and out and asked me question that were not relevant. They said ‘You did this. You are a very bad man’ Things like this. They did not even question me. ‘Said you are a very bad man. You are the leader, a representative of AQ in Bangladesh'. They would not ask questions. They would just throw assumptions at me. This was happening throughout. Don’t know what I am being charged with. I had to leave the court after this and did not see the magistrate's proceeding.
The Reporter later said I was told by a colleague that when his case came up, there was no LAWYER present in court to represent him. When Samiun asked if he could say something as he had no LAWYER, the magistrate refused to allow him to speak.
Further More Cage Prisoners urges the UK government to adopt a policy of caution regarding claims by Bangladeshi police that 24-year-old Briton Samiun Rahman was recruiting for the Islamic State
We Also Urge All The Muslim Communities to Spread Awareness For This Case This Is A Great Reward To Secure The Release For Our Prisoners Who Are Arrested unjustly Without Evidence May Allah Bless you All
Prisoners of faith
As we know from history Bangladesh has an abysmal human rights record. Reports of extrajudicial killings, torture in prisons and police violence and bribery is common.
“It is highly unlikely that Rahman will face a fair trial by a judiciary that has been called ‘almost redundant’ by leading human rights lawyers. One can hardly expect due process in this case.”
“There is a high likelihood that the alleged confession was elicited under torture, and that Rahman will be facing further torture in custody. This goes against the Geneva Convention which protects prisoners from such cruel and dehumanizing treatment.”
“It is worth mentioning that the British government has in the past been complicit in facilitating torture in Bangladesh. On this occasion instead of turning a blind eye given that the case is now public it must intervene to protect one of its citizens who is detained by a state internationally condemned for an appalling record on abuse as well as government and judicial corruption .The alleged confession and parading of suspects is obscene and a testament to an unjust legal system.”
The wife of Samiun Rahman, spoke to CAGE and said:
“It’s a shocking time for us all. We are very stressed and worried. We don’t know how he is being treated. Bangladesh is known for torture and as a British citizen, we expect the UK not to allow any mistreatment.”
“My husband is a good and kind person who wants to help others. But he is portrayed as some sort of felon or gang leader which is really not the case.”
The British government must ensure that Saimun Rahman gets a fair trial, the government of Bangladesh is a fascist regime that suppresses people that have religious appearance. The authorities of Bangladesh are known for torturing prisoners in custody and it is highly likely that Samiun Rahman will face torture
Here is the transcript of what Br Samiun Rahman Said In Court:
Reporter: Is it true what they are saying about you?
Samiun Rahman: They have got no proof.
Reporter: You are denying it?
Samiun Rahman: Yes, they have no proof. They arrested me five days ago without any charge. Left me in a cell for five days. Yesterday, they take me out of the cell to a train station. Two officers beside me, another two were way forward. They take me forward and then say, ‘yes I have got him. I have got him’ Then they made me sign a sheet of paper. Through out the whole time, I never knew what was going on. Throughout they never gave me no information about what is going on. All they said, was, ‘you are my BROTHER, you are my brother’.
Reporter: You know they are alleging that you are some kind of recruiter for jihadism. Why do they think this?
Samiun Rahman: I don’t know, because I was speaking to someone on the phone. Whoever I was speaking to maybe is amongst this scenario. They have no proof against me. Nothing regarding my name and anything to do
Reporter: They said that you went to SYRIA?
Samiun Rahman: Yes, I went to Syria, for humanitarian aid in 2013. I went with a friend. I got stopped under the ante-terroiram act in Gatwick. I proved to them that I went for humaintrian aid. They let me go after five hours questioning. So now I come here, and just because I spoke to someone about me being in Syria, it wasn’t even in Syria, just the border, I think they go over happy, something like this and they must have contacted a few other people and they said some stuff, but they did not mention my name, I saw the TRANSCRIPTS of the phone calls of the other persons. They never mentioned my name, and now I am under suspicion for trying to take people to Syria. The other two people are from really good families, his mother has a high position in the govt. They accuse them of being terrorists as well
Reporter: Why did you come to Bangladesh?
Samiun Rahman: Land dispute, within the family
Reporter: You went to Sylhet/Habigang?
Samiun Rahman: That is where I live
Reporter: It is said that you were arrested for some offences, frug, alcholic offence in London
Samiun Rahman: This is my previous. It is spent. I don’t have to mention it. I don’t want to mention how long ago it was.
Reporter: Have you been well treated here?
Samiun Rahman: Treated well, but in terms of communication, very badly. They don’t tell me why I am here, what is going on, what is happening. Until now I don’t know my charges
Reporter: Where did they pick you up?
Samiun Rahman: In Sylhet, my home town nabiganj. My village.
Reporter: They say that they raided your house and you were not there?
Samiun Rahman: No, I was there
Reporter: When was this?
Samiun Rahman: On Wednesday
Reporter: Have you asked to speak to the British High Commission?
Samiun Rahman: Yes. They have not allowed me to do anything. Have not allowed me to make a phone call. I asked to speak to BHC straightway. I Just managed to get a lawyer now
Reporter: Do you have relatives in Sylhet (Bangladesh)
Samiun Rahman: Some cousins. In UK you have rights to make call, but I was never allowed me to make a call.
Reporter: How are you feeling now?
Samiun Rahman: Sad?
Reporter: What do you think will happen to you?
Samiun Rahman: Lets see
Reporter: What is your JOB IN England?
Samiun Rahman: Mini cab controller. In central London.
Reporter: Did YOUR FAMILY know you were coming to Bangladesh?
Samiun Rahman: Yes, they all knew
Reporter: So the people they accuse you of meeting, you met them?
Samiun Rahman: I spoke to one on the phone.
Reporter: For what reason?
[He did not want to say]
Reporter: You categorically deny that you have any conenection with ISIL, Al Quaeda or any other jihadist organisation
Samiun Rahman: Yes,
Reporter: Are you a religious man?
Samiun Rahman: Yes, I pray five times a day
Reporter: Have you been religious all your life?
Samiun Rahman: No. Started four years ago
Reporter: What made you become religious?
Samiun Rahman: Wanted to become a better person.
Reporter: Your parents are in London?
Samiun Rahman: Yes
Reporter: When you were interrogated did you deny all these things?
Samiun Rahman: I was not even interrogated. They kept on taking me in and out and asked me question that were not relevant. They said ‘You did this. You are a very bad man’ Things like this. They did not even question me. ‘Said you are a very bad man. You are the leader, a representative of AQ in Bangladesh'. They would not ask questions. They would just throw assumptions at me. This was happening throughout. Don’t know what I am being charged with. I had to leave the court after this and did not see the magistrate's proceeding.
The Reporter later said I was told by a colleague that when his case came up, there was no LAWYER present in court to represent him. When Samiun asked if he could say something as he had no LAWYER, the magistrate refused to allow him to speak.
Further More Cage Prisoners urges the UK government to adopt a policy of caution regarding claims by Bangladeshi police that 24-year-old Briton Samiun Rahman was recruiting for the Islamic State
We Also Urge All The Muslim Communities to Spread Awareness For This Case This Is A Great Reward To Secure The Release For Our Prisoners Who Are Arrested unjustly Without Evidence May Allah Bless you All
Prisoners of faith