Rizwaan Sabir

Rizwaan Sabir (born 1985) is a postgraduate student at the University of Nottingham who was arrested and detained for six days with Administrative Manager Hicham Yezza on 14th May 2008 under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for being in possession of an Al-Qaeda Training Manual that Sabir had downloaded from the United States Department of Justice website for his PhD research on Islamic Extremism, and sent to Yezza for printing due to financial constraints. [Melanie Newman, "Nottingham Scholar Held for Six Days Under Anti-Terror Law", Times Higher Education, 29th May 2008 [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=402188&sectioncode=26] ] [Polly Curtis, "Student Researching Al-Qaeda Tactics Held for Six Days", The Guardian, 24th May 2008 [http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/may/24/highereducation.uk] ] [Lee Glendinning, "It Really is Psychological Torture", The Guardian, 11th June 2008 [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2008/jun/11/rizwaan.sabir] ] ["Victim of State Islamaphobia Speaks Out," You Tube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRVGOD0fQlM] ] The operation was codenamed Minerva.

After six days of detention, both men was released without charge but Yezza was immediately rearrested on immigration matters due to alleged visa irregularities and was held at various immigration detention centres for 31 days, awaiting deportation [Richard Osley, "Draconian Home Office Fast-Tracks Algerian's Deportation", The Independent, 25th May 2008 [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/draconian-home-office-fasttracks-algerians-deportation-834031.html] ] . However, due to widespread pressure and protests ["Students Protest Deportation Plans", The BBC, 28th May 2008 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7423544.stm] ] the Home Office revoked its decision to deport Yezza and granted him a court-hearing. ["Former Terror Suspect Given Bail", The BBC, 17th June 2008 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7457338.stm] ] ["Former Terror Suspect Given Bail", The BBC, 17th June 2008 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7457338.stm] ] At present, Yezza’s court-case is ongoing ["Hicham Yezza's Campaign Website" [http://freehicham.co.uk/] ] .

Upon his release, Rizwaan Sabir stated: “the power of the state hit me as hard as it could” [Melanie Newman, "Nottingham Scholar Held for Six Days Under Anti-Terror Law", Times Higher Education, 29th May 2008 [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=402188&sectioncode=26] ] and described his experience as "the lowest-time in his life" [Sarah Gillet, "Al-Qaeda Download Sparked my Arrest", The Nottingham Evening Post, 23rd May 2008, [http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133942&command=displayContent&sourceNode=229136&home=yes&more_nodeId1=133951&contentPK=20698035] ] . He has stated that he will continue with his PhD despite the recent events and use his experiences to raise awareness of the draconian anti-terror legislation that the government is advancing. ["UK Faces Battle Over Detention Vote", Al Jazeera [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/06/200861502010227558.html] ]

Academic Freedom

Due to the arrests of Rizwaan Sabir & Hicham Yezza, the University of Nottingham has come under intense criticism for sacrificing academic freedom and failing to protect the right of its students and staff from conducting research free from the threat of arrest and detention under the Terrorism Act. [Melanie Newman, "Researchers Have No Right to Study Terrorist Materials," Times Higher Education, 17th July 2008 [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=402844] ] . The Vice-Chancellor of the University – Sir Colin Campbell has controversially stated:

"There is no 'right' to access and research terrorist materials. Those who do so run the risk of being investigated and prosecuted on terrorism charges. Equally, there is no 'prohibition' on accessing terrorist materials for the purpose of research. Those who do so are likely to be able to offer a defence to charges (although they may be held in custody for some time while the matter is investigated)". [Melanie Newman, "Researchers Have No Right to Study Terrorist Materials," Times Higher Education, 17th July 2008 [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=402844] ] .

Critics have argued that the University of Nottingham's stance is setting a very dangerous precedent for research on an issue (Terrorism) that is very contemporary and very popular amongst many University students. A lecturer in the school of politics and international relations stated:

"“We are greatly concerned by the disproportionate nature of the university’s response to the possession of legitimate research materials. Both the individuals are unreservedly innocent and they and their families and friends and have been greatly distressed by the overzealous police investigation. It is crucial that we do not let concerns for security become the enemy of liberty and academic freedom”" [Richard Jackson, "Academic Freedom and The Study of Terror", [http://sacrificialdevotionnetwork.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/academic-freedom-and-the-study-of-political-terror/] ]

ee Also

Samina Malik

Terrorism Act 2000

References