Roger Godsiff

21.02.2008
The International Mother Language Day

The International Mother Language Day recognition of the heroicsacrifices which were made by Bangladeshi students and others onthe 21st February 1952 when they fought for Bangla to be recognisedas one of the two state languages of the newly created state ofPakistan and as the predominant language in EastPakistan.
The campaign to uphold ?Bangla? as the predominant language of EastPakistan started as a series of peaceful demonstrations buttragically the peaceful demonstration of the 21st February 1952ended with many students and others being killed when the Police,without justification, opened fire on the demonstrators. Bitternessand anger that this caused was recognised as the beginning of thestruggle for independence for East Pakistan which eventually led tothe war of liberation in 1971 and the setting up of theIndependence Sovereign People?s Republic of Bangladesh. Thestudents and others who were killed on the 21st February 1952 wererecognised as martyrs of the revolution and the Central MartyrsMonument was erected in Dhaka in memory of those who had paid theultimate sacrifice to preserve the Bangla language and Bangladeshiidentity.
I am delighted that UNESCO has proclaimed the 21st February as theInternational Mother Language Day to be observed globally inrecognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs of the 21st February1952 and the Resolution proclaiming this, which was passed byUNESCO, is a fitting tribute by the international community to theLanguage Martyrs of Bangladesh.
I know that the British Bangladeshi community in Birmingham wouldvery much like to erect a permanent Martyrs Monument in a part ofthe city where there are large Bangladeshi communities. London and Oldham have already provided land for the erection ofsuch monuments and because Birmingham is the most multi-culturalcity in the United Kingdom with a vibrant Bangladeshi communityshould also provide a suitable place where a monument can beerected.
I want to assure the Bangladeshi community, many of whom live in myconstituency, that I fully support their aspirations to have amonument dedicated to the memory of the martyrs of the 21stFebruary 1952 erected in Birmingham and I will work with theBangladeshi community to achieve this objective.

15.02.2008
Intercept Evidence inCourt

Roger Godsiff welcomes the use of intercept evidence inCourt.

Speaking today after the announcement that the Governmentintended to bring forward proposals to allow intercept evidence,which had been lawfully obtained, to be used in Court Roger Godsiffsaid ?This announcement is to be welcomed?. The world today israpidly changing and mobile communications are at the forefront ofthis change. Britain has lagged behind the majority of westernEuropean countries who already allow intercept evidence to be usedin Court cases and I welcome the fact that this anomaly is beingrectified. Of course, there has to be proper safeguards built inand only intercept evidence which has been lawfully obtained shouldbe allowed.

The Police strongly believe that if intercept evidence is madeavailable for use in Court then many lengthy and expensive trialsinvolving serious organised crime would not go ahead because theaccused would know the prosecution had incontrovertible interceptevidence and would plead guilt in the hope of getting a lightersentence. The security services are more concerned about the use ofintercept evidence for fear that it will uncover some of theircovert operations but I believe that this is an issue which can beovercome providing proper judgements are made by the CrownProsecution Service when weighing up how to proceed withprosecutions.

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

CHANNEL FOUR DESPATCHES PROGRAMME

Godsiff, Roger
That this House notes with great concern the content of the Channel4 Despatches programme broadcast on 15th January which containedcovert filming inside mosques in Birmingham and Derby showingspeakers using highly derogatory and racist language againstnon-Muslims including specifically, Christians, Jews, homosexuals,lesbians and women; further notes that one prominent speaker in thefilm called for homosexuals to be murdered; recognises that theoverwhelming majority of Muslims in the UK do not share theseracist and discriminatory views and prefer living in a tolerant,democratic and liberal-minded secular society as exists in theUnited Kingdom rather than in an Islamic state under Sharia law aswas called for in the programme; believes that the West MidlandsPolice and the Director of Public Prosecutions should initiateinvestigations into the content of the programme; and asserts thatincitement to religious and racial hatred and murder has no placein British society and should neither be excused away asmisunderstandings nor tolerated.

In response to the Despatches Programme, which appeared onChannel 4, Monday 15th January 2007 and featured the Green LaneMosque, Roger Godsiff MP has written a letter of complaint to boththe Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police and the Director ofPublic Prosecutions regarding the issues raised by theprogramme.

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

Mr Godsiff commented: ?the programme showed Preachers at theGreen Lane Mosque making some highly derogatory and, in my opinion,clearly racist remarks aimed at non-Muslim religions includingChristians, Jews as well as against women and gay people. There wasalso, in my opinion, a clear incitement to commitmurder?.

He went on to say: ?I don?t doubt, for one instance, thatmembers of the Mosque Committee at the Green Lane Mosque willdisclaim responsibility for what the Preachers featured in theprogramme said but I do not accept such excuses nor do I accept anysuch suggestion that what was said by the Preachers had been?misinterpreted? or ?misunderstood?. The fact of the matter is thatthese Preachers were invited by the Mosque Committee to preach inthe Mosque. They must have heard the hatred and vitriol and racistcomments being made by the Preachers and if they had wanted todisassociate themselves from such comments then they would haveimmediately withdrawn permission for the Preachers to speak intheir Mosque and would have also have apologised to worshipersincluding children for what they said.?

Mr Godsiff concluded: ?As I am sure you are aware the radicalPreacher Abu Hamza was convicted for inciting racial hatred at hisMosque in London and a prosecution was also initiated against theLeader of the BNP over comments that he was alleged to have made.On both occasions I totally supported prosecutions being takenagainst these individuals and I cannot, having watched theDespatches programme, see any difference whatsoever between thecomments made in the programme, by certain individuals and the sortof 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 HonMrs Margarat Beckett MP, concerning the imprisonment andmistreatment of Paramjeet Singh who, whilst on holiday with hisfamily in the Punjab, was accused of seeking to cause unrest in thePunjab and being in possession of explosives. Mr Godsiff has askedfor an explanation as to why,despite being a British citizen, staffof the British High Commission and family of Paramjeet Singh weredenied 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 powerin the matter of a mercy petition.

The move follows the Indian Supreme Court?s rejection of thepetition filed by Mohd. Afzal Guru, sentenced to death in theParliament attack case.

Polling Stations (Regulation) Bill

Roger Godsiff has introduced a Bill to Parliament, which would makeit 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 longserious intimidation near to Polling Stations has masqueraded asgenuine campaigning. My Bill would remove the added pressure andmisinformation which on occasions goes on quite blatantly outside anumber of Polling Stations?.

He went on to say: ? This problem is by no means universal butwhere it does occur it is serious and shows every sign of gettingworse. The quiet scout hut or school room is the universal image ofthe Polling Station widely held and rightly so but it does nothappen everywhere?. Mr Godsiff continued: ?It is not the intentionof this Bill to curb campaigning activities or even to regulate the?Tellers? which political parties select to take polling numbers onthe day but it might give the police clarity and the powers thatthey need when campaigning overspills into something else?.

Mr Godsiff is able to introduce his Bill under the rules whichgovern the introduction of ?Private Members Bills? andaccepts that without Government support his Bill stands littlechance of becoming law. He does however hope that it will, at thevery least, focus attention on the issue.