Zayd, Birmingham West Midlands Police arrested Mahfooz Blbl, mother of 5, from Sparkhili, Birmingham on September 11 2003, after Mrs Blbl herself called the police during a dispute between neighbours. The pollce forces' blunder was covered up after she was released moments into her detention at Belgrave Road Police Station.
Her husband, a serving police officer, enquired why she had been arrested but was met with a wall of slience. Mrs BIbl later learnt that an unnamed officer had her arrested bocause he belleved that Mrs Bibl was pulling the wool over his eyes, in that he belleved that she could speak English.
Mrs Bibl was then arrested a further three times In a period of 14-months and complaints Ignored, when she suffered harassment and physical assaults at the hands of her nelghbours, one occurrence of which was witnessed by plain clothes pollce officers.
On Aprll 4 2004 she was charged with criminal damage and was required to remove her Hijab and face vell by an unnamed officer. When she questioned the authenticity of this procedure, she was threatened that force would be used.
She sald, "I only asked because except for my family no one had seen my face, but the officer was very rude and his conduct was upsetting". She exercised her right and complained about the conduct of the Police officer. The senlor officer at Belgrave Road Police Station dismissed the complant, but Mrs Bibi persisted and appealed to the Independent Pollce Complaints Commission, who upheld her appeal and requested the Police Force Investigate the complaint. The case agalnst her was dropped at Birmingham
She was arrested after calling the police to say she had been
assaulted and the
same officer
demanded that she remove her veil so he
could see her face. Magistrates Court due to lack of evidence.
She was arrested after callIng the police to say she had been assaulted and the same officer demanded that she remove her veil so he could see her face.
"He was so angry that I honestly thought If I hadn't taken It off myself he would have grabbed my face and pulled it off. I decided to save myself that bit of dignity," she said.
Again a further complaint was lodged about the officers conduct and his insonsitvity towards Mrs Blbi. Daughtel Sofina, 18, a slath form A-Level student from Swanshurst School, was also on the recolyIng end of the same officer's ordors. She sald: "I refused to take off my vell. He took advantage of my mother
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ST WA
Unless new members of Respect are given
a party to which
they can relate,
with functioning
and accessible
local branches
that have a