Arrests and deportations
01 January 1991
Arrests and deportations
artdoc July=1991
The belief that Saddam Hussein will launch terrorist attacks
against Western targets has led to the detentions of Iraqis,
Palestinians, Jordanians and North Africans across Europe.
In Britain all Iraqis staying on limited visas have been
ordered by the Home Office to register with police. And
employers are said to be screening Middle East employees for
potential `terrorist suspects'.
The arbitrary and random nature of the detentions in
Britain, under the 1971 Immigration Act, have been
criticised by MPs from all political parties. According to
David Blunkett, Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside: `There
is good reason for our security services to be suspicious of
some Iraqis in Britain who clearly have links with the Iraqi
regime and may be working on its behalf. Distinguishing
between them and Palestinian and Arabic residents who are no
threat to our security is critical if we are to retain the
freedom and democracy which distinguishes us from Saddam
Hussein'. (Guardian 23.1.91)
On 15.1.91, two days before the outbreak of War, the
Daily Telegraph reported on increased liaison between
police, intelligence services and government departments as
senior police officers warned of the risk that `Palestinian
fanatics or maverick Arab groups sponsored by Baghdad may
launch a bombing campaign'.
Then, on 18.1.91 came the arrests of 7 Palestinians
living in Britain who were served with deportation orders.
Two days later, the Independent (20.1.91) reported that
European police were confident that they had smashed `a
Palestinian terrorist network planning attacks on US and
British targets'. German police raids in Berlin led to
documents being seized, describing plans to carry out
attacks on `allied targets'. It was these raids in Berlin,
suggest the Independent, that led to the `arrests' of
Palestinians living in London. Previously, however, the
Independent stipulated that the 7 Palestinians detained
`were not believed to be part of an organised cell, but all
had connections with known organisations and individuals in
the Middle East which would make them vulnerable to pressure
to take part in action against Western targets'.
(Independent 18.1.91; 20.1.91)
On 23.1.91 armed police were used to expel 14 Iraqi
students to Jordan and a further 31 Iraqis were arrested and
detained in a joint police immigration operation. (Times
24.1.91).
IRR Police-Media Bulletin no 67. Institute of Race
Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS