21.02.2008
The International Mother Language Day

The International Mother Language Day recognition of the heroic sacrifices which were made by Bangladeshi students and others on the 21st February 1952 when they fought for Bangla to be recognised as one of the two state languages of the newly created state of Pakistan and as the predominant language in East Pakistan. 
The campaign to uphold ‘Bangla’ as the predominant language of East Pakistan started as a series of peaceful demonstrations but tragically the peaceful demonstration of the 21st February 1952 ended with many students and others being killed when the Police, without justification, opened fire on the demonstrators. Bitterness and anger that this caused was recognised as the beginning of the struggle for independence for East Pakistan which eventually led to the war of liberation in 1971 and the setting up of the Independence Sovereign People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The students and others who were killed on the 21st February 1952 were recognised as martyrs of the revolution and the Central Martyrs Monument was erected in Dhaka in memory of those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the Bangla language and Bangladeshi identity. 
I am delighted that UNESCO has proclaimed the 21st February as the International Mother Language Day to be observed globally in recognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs of the 21st February 1952 and the Resolution proclaiming this, which was passed by UNESCO, is a fitting tribute by the international community to the Language Martyrs of Bangladesh. 
I know that the British Bangladeshi community in Birmingham would very much like to erect a permanent Martyrs Monument in a part of the city where there are large Bangladeshi communities.  London and Oldham have already provided land for the erection of such monuments and because Birmingham is the most multi-cultural city in the United Kingdom with a vibrant Bangladeshi community should also provide a suitable place where a monument can be erected. 
I want to assure the Bangladeshi community, many of whom live in my constituency, that I fully support their aspirations to have a monument dedicated to the memory of the martyrs of the 21st February 1952 erected in Birmingham and I will work with the Bangladeshi community to achieve this objective.

15.02.2008
Intercept Evidence in Court

Roger Godsiff welcomes the use of intercept evidence in Court. 

Speaking today after the announcement that the Government intended to bring forward proposals to allow intercept evidence, which had been lawfully obtained, to be used in Court Roger Godsiff said “This announcement is to be welcomed”. The world today is rapidly changing and mobile communications are at the forefront of this change. Britain has lagged behind the majority of western European countries who already allow intercept evidence to be used in Court cases and I welcome the fact that this anomaly is being rectified. Of course, there has to be proper safeguards built in and only intercept evidence which has been lawfully obtained should be allowed. 

The Police strongly believe that if intercept evidence is made available for use in Court then many lengthy and expensive trials involving serious organised crime would not go ahead because the accused would know the prosecution had incontrovertible intercept evidence and would plead guilt in the hope of getting a lighter sentence. The security services are more concerned about the use of intercept evidence for fear that it will uncover some of their covert operations but I believe that this is an issue which can be overcome providing proper judgements are made by the Crown Prosecution Service when weighing up how to proceed with prosecutions. 

When this idea was first being considered, about 18 months ago, I carried out a survey of a sizeable proportion of my electors and the overwhelming majority favoured allowing intercept evidence to be used in Court and I welcome the fact that the Government is going to bring forward proposals to do this which will be a valuable contribution towards bringing to justice people who are involved in serious organised crime.

CHANNEL FOUR DESPATCHES PROGRAMME

Godsiff, Roger
That this House notes with great concern the content of the Channel 4 Despatches programme broadcast on 15th January which contained covert filming inside mosques in Birmingham and Derby showing speakers using highly derogatory and racist language against non-Muslims including specifically, Christians, Jews, homosexuals, lesbians and women; further notes that one prominent speaker in the film called for homosexuals to be murdered; recognises that the overwhelming majority of Muslims in the UK do not share these racist and discriminatory views and prefer living in a tolerant, democratic and liberal-minded secular society as exists in the United Kingdom rather than in an Islamic state under Sharia law as was called for in the programme; believes that the West Midlands Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions should initiate investigations into the content of the programme; and asserts that incitement to religious and racial hatred and murder has no place in British society and should neither be excused away as misunderstandings nor tolerated.

In response to the Despatches Programme, which appeared on Channel 4, Monday 15th January 2007 and featured the Green Lane Mosque, Roger Godsiff MP has written a letter of complaint to both the Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the issues raised by the programme.

The programme on Monday night centred on the Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham. It also made reference to a Mosque in Derby and two other places in Mr Godsiff’s constituency of Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath, the Dar-ul-loom School in Coventry Road and a Mosque in Anderton Road.

Mr Godsiff commented: ‘the programme showed Preachers at the Green Lane Mosque making some highly derogatory and, in my opinion, clearly racist remarks aimed at non-Muslim religions including Christians, Jews as well as against women and gay people. There was also, in my opinion, a clear incitement to commit murder’. 

He went on to say: ‘I don’t doubt, for one instance, that members of the Mosque Committee at the Green Lane Mosque will disclaim responsibility for what the Preachers featured in the programme said but I do not accept such excuses nor do I accept any such suggestion that what was said by the Preachers had been ‘misinterpreted’ or ‘misunderstood’. The fact of the matter is that these Preachers were invited by the Mosque Committee to preach in the Mosque. They must have heard the hatred and vitriol and racist comments being made by the Preachers and if they had wanted to disassociate themselves from such comments then they would have immediately withdrawn permission for the Preachers to speak in their Mosque and would have also have apologised to worshipers including children for what they said.’

Mr Godsiff concluded: ‘As I am sure you are aware the radical Preacher Abu Hamza was convicted for inciting racial hatred at his Mosque in London and a prosecution was also initiated against the Leader of the BNP over comments that he was alleged to have made. On both occasions I totally supported prosecutions being taken against these individuals and I cannot, having watched the Despatches programme, see any difference whatsoever between the comments made in the programme, by certain individuals and the sort of comments made by Abu Hamza and Mr. Griffin.’

Arrest of Paramjeet Singh in the Punjab

Roger Godsiff MP has written to the Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon Mrs Margarat Beckett MP, concerning the imprisonment and mistreatment of Paramjeet Singh who, whilst on holiday with his family in the Punjab, was accused of seeking to cause unrest in the Punjab and being in possession of explosives. Mr Godsiff has asked for an explanation as to why,despite being a British citizen, staff of the British High Commission and family of Paramjeet Singh were denied access for a week.

Mohd. Afzal Guru

Roger Godsiff MP has sent a letter to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, asking him to exercise his constitutional power in the matter of a mercy petition.

The move follows the Indian Supreme Court’s rejection of the petition filed by Mohd. Afzal Guru, sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case.

 

Polling Stations (Regulation) Bill

Roger Godsiff has introduced a Bill to Parliament, which would make it an offence to campaign within an exclusion zone – 250 metres – surrounding a Polling Station on the day of an election.

Speaking from Westminster Mr Godsiff said: “ For far too long serious intimidation near to Polling Stations has masqueraded as genuine campaigning. My Bill would remove the added pressure and misinformation which on occasions goes on quite blatantly outside a number of Polling Stations”.

He went on to say: “ This problem is by no means universal but where it does occur it is serious and shows every sign of getting worse. The quiet scout hut or school room is the universal image of the Polling Station widely held and rightly so but it does not happen everywhere”. Mr Godsiff continued: “It is not the intention of this Bill to curb campaigning activities or even to regulate the ‘Tellers’ which political parties select to take polling numbers on the day but it might give the police clarity and the powers that they need when campaigning overspills into something else”.

Mr Godsiff is able to introduce his Bill under the rules which govern the introduction of  ‘Private Members Bills’ and accepts that without Government support his Bill stands little chance of becoming law. He does however hope that it will, at the very least, focus attention on the issue.