As Muslims, we don’t show our awrah (private parts) to others, but they would force us to be stripped, despite the fact that we have gone through a very sensitive scanner as well as being followed by the dogs. When we objected on religious grounds, they made a point to force us to strip more often. We heard about the Qur’an being abused. This same Kenyan brother, they threw his Qur’an at him and he was really upset and began to protest, so they locked him up in segregation for a few days. We heard of cases like this on a few occasions. When the abuse of the Qur’an in Guantanamo hit the headlines, the guards in Belmarsh began to wear gloves when handling the Qur’an.

Al-Istiqamah: Is it an exaggeration to call Belmarsh ‘the UK’s Guantanamo’ with regard to the attitude of the guards towards Muslim detainees?

Mouloud: I don’t think it’s an exaggeration at all. That prison is practically a police prison. It has been built to crush people, to make them weak before appearing in court. Other high-secure prisons are less restrictive than that.

Al-Istiqamah: Did you spend time in the HSU (High Secure Unit) there?

Mouloud: I did spend some times there and it is like being inside a container ship. You feel nauseous, anxious, you have no appetite, so uncomfortable. They will put the heating on full blast and it goes through a big pipe in your cell. You have no control over these things.

Al-Istiqamah: How are detainees P and Q, who returned to Algeria?

Mouloud: Detainee P is Mustapha. He was taken for questioning when he arrived in Algeria. He was taken to a secret location for a few days, but then he was released. Each time a new batch would arrive from the UK, he would be questioned again. Another brother arrived in Algeria and nothing was not heard of him, until he was recently charged with being part of the Ricin case. He was convicted without a jury and is now serving a sentence.

Detainee Q is Mihoubi (Dandani). He was released the same day as Mustapha. He was picked up a week later and was eventually charged and convicted a few months ago. He got eight years for membership of a terrorist organisation active abroad.

Al-Istiqamah: With our site al-istiqamah.com, our primary aim is encouraging steadfastness in times of trial. Could you please give some advice to our readers in the current climate?

Mouloud: Our ummah today is so weak. They want to think that it won’t happen to them. Well, today it happened to me. Tomorrow it will happen to you. It’s just a matter of time because every Muslim in Britain is considered as a terror suspect, a potential terrorist. If you are Asian or Arab, you are more likely to be stopped and detained, even if you have done nothing wrong. You better start acting now; stand up for your rights before it’s too late. Make your voice heard. I'm sure your site has information on this.

Al-Istiqamah: Mouloud, jazakullah khayran (may Allah reward you) for letting us interview you.

Mouloud: Wa iyyakum (and you too).

Source: al-istiqamah.com

 

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