Justice for Amer Rafiq

Sarah Cotterill (Manchester Central CLP).

Two thousand people demonstrated in Manchester on 9th March in anger at the blinding of Amer Rafiq by Manchester police.

21 year-old Amer Rafiq was arrested in the early hours of 21st February in Rusholme, Manchester. It was the Muslim festival of Eid. After his arrest Amer Rafiq was assaulted with such brutality by the police that he lost one of his eyes and is in danger of being blinded in the other.

Rusholme is the focus of Eid celebrations in Manchester, attracting people from throughout the North-West. Over the past few years, police harassment of Eid celebrations has become a regular feature in Rusholme. Police dogs, horses, riot squads have been used to disperse crowds. A police helicopter constantly whirs overhead. The tragedy for Amer Rafiq and his family was a disaster waiting to happen, the result of heavy handedness by the police. To date no police officer has been suspended or charged.

Contact: Amer Rafiq Defence Campaign, c/o Pakistani Community Centre, Stockport Road, Manchester. Tel: 0831 366051 or 0402 124805.

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