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Jackboot Justice: Algerian Lofti Raissi

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 11:08:00 PM EST
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The Timesonline has been profiling the case of Algerian pilot Lofti Raissi. This commentary today, the Dawning of Jackboot Justice, today is a great read.

Barge in first, ask questions later: we should all be worried by the police’s gung-ho tactics...

Yesterday The Times reported the case of Lofti Raissi, an Algerian pilot who was being watched by the FBI as a possible suspect in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. The request to Scotland Yard was to monitor him “discreetly”. Instead, police mounted a dawn raid, put a gun to his head and led him naked to a waiting police car. It turns out he was innocent.

....Yesterday Tony Blair addressed the issue of criminal justice. He said that the problem lay with the system itself. In his view, it needed toughening. “It doesn’t mean abandoning human rights,” he added. “ It means deciding whose come first.” He proposed “a radical extension of summary powers to police and local authorities”. No mention here of building trust in the police, of the need for balance, moderation or civilised standards.

Yet these too are the foundations of a safe society, more important by far, and certainly more effective, than the helmets, the visors and the sledgehammers.

Raissi is now seeking compensation and a full apology. He deserves both.


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    Jackboot Justice: Algerian Lofti Raissi | 1 comment (1 topical)
    Re: Jackboot Justice: Algerian Lofti Raissi (none / 0) (#1)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:27 PM EST
    The request to Scotland Yard was to monitor him “discreetly”. Instead, police mounted a dawn raid, put a gun to his head and led him naked to a waiting police car. It turns out he was innocent.
    Wha?? They usually pop off five caps to the dome of an innocent dude. Somebody was seriously slackin!

    Jackboot Justice: Algerian Lofti Raissi | 1 comment (1 topical)