IHRC condemns police crackdown on students in London

London, Dec 13, IRNA – Head of Islamic Human Rights Commission in Britain, Massod Shajareh, on Sunday condemned British police tough approach towards opposition students attending last week’s huge demonstrations in London.

Shajareh told IRNA that unfortunately, British police are forced by British authorities to confront protests and demonstrators.

Criticizing British police tactics in dealing with student demonstrations, Shajareh said such tactics as kettling or indiscriminate attacks by police on horse backs escalate tension.

He said 99 percent of those pouring into streets demanded restoration of their legal rights through peaceful ways, while there are minority who really seek fanning tension and disorder.

So, he added, police should make a distinction between the two groups of people attending the demonstration.

Based on official statistics, 55 people, majority of whom students, were injured and 34 were arrested by police in Thursday’s anti-government demonstrations.

Police have launched a public order investigation, codenamed Operation Malone, to cover all fee protests held from November 10, when students stormed Tory HQ in Millbank, until Thursday’s Parliament Square demo.

A total of 175 people were arrested in the four demonstrations, including 34 who were detained on Thursday after havoc in central London left dozens of officers and protesters injured./end