Cheetham Hill Cllr. Afsal Khan said:

"The War on Terror is being used to undermine our civil liberties. It is terrorising the whole world. Britain, Afghanistan, Pakistan - all are feeling the effect.  This war on terror is not taking place in our name. It is for us to hold the politicians to account.

"On the day of the Cheetham Hill arrests. I took calls from people saying that there were a lot of police with guns in the streets, that they have surrounded the whole area.

"I have been told that 700 officers were on this case working for months. Yet not a single person was charged. When they were released without out charges I said that's it now, enough is enough, too many times the police and the intelligence they are getting it wrong. This is having an effect on people's relationship with the police.

"I have met with the senior police officers, I said I cannot understand this - not a single person charged and now you want to deport them! Had they been involved in something, would they really be fighting the deportations? If they were guilty they would get out of the country straight away before the police had a chance to find new evidence. They would not stay here and fight the deportation orders."

Solicitors Robert Lizar represents one of the students, now in Strangeways Prison, who is contesting their deportation order:

"You are at your home, a place where you feel secure and safe. There is a terrific noise. The door goes in. Men come running into the house, They have guns. They point the guns at your head. They throw you to the floor. They handcuff you behind your back. You are absolutely terrified.

"These people are police officers. You are picked up off the floor eventually. Taken to a police station. How long will you be kept? Who can you speak to? Apart from your legal adviser you can have no contact wit the outside world. 

"People in the community now realise that these terrifying experiences could happen to any one."

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