London - British police Wednesday agreed to pay 60,000
pounds (83,850 dollars) in compensation to a terrorism suspect after
admitting that the man was subjected to violent assault and religious
abuse during his arrest.
Babar Ahmad, a 34-year-old IT analyst of Pakistani origin, had
alleged that he was punched and repeatedly choked to the point of
unconsciousness during his arrest on a US extradition warrant in an
anti-terrorism raid in London in December, 2003.
He was present at the High Court hearing Wednesday which heard
Scotland Yard chief Paul Stephenson concede that Ahmad had been the
victim of 'gratuitous violence' by officers.
One of the unnamed officers involved allegedly involved is
expected to face criminal proceedings, the court heard.
Ahmad, who was never charged in Britain following the raid, had
been suspected of links to al-Qaeda. He is awaiting extradition to
the US on charges of fundraising in support of terrorism in Chechnya
and Afghanistan.
At the High Court hearing, the Metropolitan Police admitted that
officers had subjected Ahmad to brutal beating, despite his offering
no resistance.
The court heard that an officer twice placed him in a life-
threatening neck hold, causing him to feel that he was about to die.
Officers openly mocked his Islamic faith, at one point forcing him
into a praying position with an officer shouting 'Where is your god
now? Pray to him,' the court heard.
One officer had grabbed his testicles and pulled hard, causing
intense pain, the court was told. Officers had also deliberately
wrenched Ahmad about by his handcuffs, causing him excruciating pain.
One officer told him after a beating in the police van: 'You will
remember this day for the rest of your life.'
Ahmad's counsel, Phillippa Kaufman, said the treatment to which
her client was subjected was intended 'to humiliate and debase him
and make him fear for his life.'
'This abuse took place not in Guantanamo Bay or a secret torture
chamber but in Tooting, south London,' a statement read out on
Ahmad's behalf said.
His wife, Maryam, said she was 'delighted' at the court ruling
which came after a 'long and hard-fought campaign' lasting six years.
USA
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