The Muslim News - West Midland’s police accused of censorship

Issue 239, Friday 27 March 2009 - 30 Rabi' al-Awwal 1430

West Midland’s police accused of censorship

By Elham Asaad Buaras

West Midland’s police was accused of “wanton censorship” after it erased a ‘Free Gaza’ mural by renowned Muslim graffiti artist on February 16. Despite receiving the permission of the property owner police assessed Mohammed Ali’s work as a “security risk”.
The force, which did not receive a single complaint, was also accused of deploying underhanded scare tactics in getting the mural removed by suggesting to the elderly homeowner that it could trigger a petrol bomb attack.
The 30 year-old award winning accused police of “wanton censorship”.
Ali, who won the ITV South Bank Show awards, told The Muslim News, “The murals are not racist or homophobic and they do not incite violence but the police implied that they could stir up trouble and trigger violence between Jews and Muslims.”
“I paint about things I feel strongly about.
“For the last six years my murals have been about bringing communities together, Jews, Christians and Muslims but I am also strongly against war and that is why I am highlighting the suffering that the conflict has caused in Gaza.
“It is ludicrous to suggest that these paintings could be divisive.”
The mural, one of five in Birmingham voicing protest against the Gaza siege, was erased at the request of West Midlands Police.
In a meeting with the force, Ali was told the decision to remove the image was made following a “risk assessment” exercise.
Police had approached the homeowner and asked her to withdraw mission for the mural and sign a form authorising its removal.
The owner’s son Mohammed Azam said, “The police arrived out of the blue and told my mother that the house could be petrol-bombed because of the mural - my mother is scared stiff.
“I asked them on what a risk assessment was carried out, and the officer at the police station told me his sergeant had seen the mural and decided it should come down.”
Local Jewish bodies backed the mural. Ruth Jacobs, of the Israel Information Centre in Birmingham, said, “I would not complain about these images because I see them as part of the right to free speech in this country. They are actually quite good pieces of art.”
Birmingham Labour MP, Khalid Mahmood, said he was “concerned” by the police’s action. He said, “The murals are expressive and show the emotion of young people about what is going on in Gaza. The police need to clearly demonstrate that these murals have put somebody at risk.”
Lib-Dem Councilor, Tariq Khan, described police claims that the mural may trigger a bomb attack as “outrageous”.
A West Midlands Police spokesman refused to comment on allegations that the mural was removed following a “risk assessment”, and that the householder had been warned of the threat of a petrol bomb attack. A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said the authority had received no complaints about the mural.

Photo: Free Gaza Mural