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Muslim activist sentenced to prison for not giving up passwords

Rabbani was carrying crucial evidence taken from torture survivor implicating high-ranking officials, NGO spokesperson

News Desk May 18, 2017

UK CAGE Director Muhammad Rabbani. PHOTO: CAGE

More than four months after he was arrested at Heathrow airport, UK director of non-profit organisation, CAGE, was formally charged by the British police on Wednesday at the Bethnal Green police station in east London.

Muhammad Rabbani has been sentenced three months in prison with a fine of US$3 200 for alleged “willful obstruction and frustration of a search”, said the campaign group that advocates for those affected by British terror legislation within and outside the country.

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"Rabbani was unable to hand over the passwords to his devices as he was carrying crucial evidence taken from a torture survivor and did not have permission from the client to share the information,” CAGE said in the statement. "Rabbani has taken a principled stance to protect the right to privacy in an ongoing case of torture that implicates high-ranking officials."

Our Director, Muhammad Rabbani, has been charged for failing to disclose his password under Schedule 7 pic.twitter.com/a0pny8a30y
— CAGE International (@CAGEintl) May 17, 2017

The 36-year-old was detained at the airport in November under Schedule 7 powers – allowing passengers to be stopped and searched at entry points without ground for suspicion. It allows authorities to seize and search any electronic devices and gives them the authority to book those who refuse to comply with criminal charges under the British Terrorism Act.

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Rabbani, currently on bail, believes he was right in refusing to provide the password. "I do believe I am doing what any reasonable person would do under the circumstances in order to protect the privacy of a client," he said.

The exact charge is "wilfully obstruct/ seeking to frustrate search/ examination by Schedule 7" pic.twitter.com/mKPcKqIUQq
— CAGE International (@CAGEintl) May 17, 2017

The Metropolitan Police confirmed reports of charging Rabbani – who is due to appear before the magistrate on June 20.

This article originally appeared on Al Jazeera

COMMENTS (4)

Akhtar | 6 years ago | Reply Headline is misleading. He has only been charged and given a court date .....not sentenced. They are two different things. Sentenced means being punished by the court. Charged means being having an allegation being formally put to you and a court date being set. He has to go to court in June and if he accepts guilt then he will be sentenced. If he denies the allegation then he will have a trial to decide whether he is innocent or guilty. The key question is going to be whether he is technically guilty of the offence or whether he has a defence based on the reason why he would not disclose the password. Even if found guilty he may not be sent to prison and may receive a community penalty but that will depend on the mitigation that is put forward on his behalf.

Imran Qadri | 6 years ago | Reply Funny thing is that same Metropolitan Police is so powerless against a leader from Edgware who regularly incites violent bloodshed thousand of miles away in another country.

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