MUSA ON TV

He said a lot more than this, and spoke mainly to say that in his opinion, The Quilliam Foundation don't know what they are talking about. I noticed he said

"I have done my time and got out"

when he should have said

"I was held for nine months and found not guilty"!

There has been a bit of press recently about the taps in Hamza's cell and Hamza preaching through the plug hole. Musa reckons this is just prison guards making money out of outlandish stories and he thinks that the drains from the prison within a prison where Hamza is held go in the other direction anyway.

Some of the press goes into much more detail about Fatwahs from Abu Qatada appearing in the Arabic press. One article even elaborates on some sort of code developed by Qatada, Hamza and Abu Doha. I remember a recording of Hamza smuggled out of jail one time reported in the papers. I cant find it online but it sounded genuine. I don't remember that it encouraged terrorism, unless it did so in code of course.

The Prison Service insisted: “There is no proof this recording was made by Hamza and no evidence it was made in prison.”

One report says

...The Ministry of Justice said it had not seen Quilliam's report. The ministry said it was unfortunate Quilliam had not interviewed prison staff as part of its research...

I think Musa, like a lot of Muslims thinks that Quilliam are just trying to justify their budget.

He said the said that the CNN interview was a few minutes out of half an hour, but he wasn't that unhappy with how it came out. I can see that he is on a mission to ready the world for a rehabilitated Atilla, which I think is a good thing. I am not sure that the authorities are ready for the idea at all. I am pretty sure he wont be able to do any media which pretty much fucks up my filming ideas but that is not necessarily a bad thing. He probably could do with being plugged back into family life rather than the oxygen of any more publicity. I am not sure how much more I can say, but I am hoping Musa will drop round and do some more Malung TV soon.

..

MORE JENVEY

OK, so it looks like The International Analyst Network didn't like Mr Jenvey's recent updates and have removed them, so they are currently only available on a Pravda forum.

I don't know Mr Jenvey but have had contact with him about all this as recorded here, and I was helping him a bit with some editing of the second piece when this news came through. I have also heard from one of the Islam4UK guys (Mr Waleed) about their recent encounter with Mr Jenvey.

He said that not surprisingly a lot of them didn't really know how to deal with meeting him when he came down to London and spent the day with them, but that after meeting him they feel his conversion is genuine. He told me that they had been reasurred by the Koran which carries stories of Mohammed's enemies converting.


As I have also said before, none of this makes any difference to me but I do find it all fascinating. Being an ex- born again Christian myself who used to knock on peoples doors and tell them about Jesus conversion stories are obviously going to be an interest of mine. Maybe this seems like an unnatural interest but I don't think I will be converting any time soon. I think I am still a bit of a slave to some addictions, even ones which I don't partake in anymore cause me worry sometimes but I don't really see the hand of Satan in it all, its just brainwaves, direction, motivations and concepts.

I found myself watching Abu Haffs lecture about Music Are You On the Right Track on the Islam4UK site. I think I asked this guy if he wanted to make some films after their meeting in Euston one time. Personally none of this moves me or resonates with me at all. I spent most of my time watching it thinking "Get to the bloody point!" but then I am a bloody musician innit so thats probably not surprising. Reading my own writing I am obviously happy for Mr Jenvey, if he is happy.

There are bloggers I know about as well as I know him who might have reason to dislike and mistrust him, I have no idea if these reasons are founded or not. To me he is now just another colourful Muslim I have come across who doesn't believe people should blow up random strangers here and as long as they don't I feel I must treat all of them the same way really.

To maybe provide a bit more perspective of where I am, I missed all this because I was in France doing a show. I just got word of some pictures on a britanny photographers Flash based website. If you click here and follow the links > "Spectacles"> "Vos galeries (...privées) > "The impossible" you can see them.

This sort of thing is much more my focus these days. I rarely examine my beliefs or my perspective on what is "success" in terms of film. In terms of filming Islamists or anyone else for that matter I still think the main thing I believe in is simply documenting. Although I haven't had any success in worldly terms I find I still hold this belief quite strongly and although I live in London and have done for a while now I try to keep hold of a very un-London attitude to hurry. This only seems to bother other road users for some reason.

UPDATE: Omar Hamza Jenvey has reappeared here
..

Just in case talking doesn't work...

I bought one of these!

MALUNG TV NEWS

I didn't blog about it at the time but Atilla and Hamid both appealed their sentences and lost last week. A few of those who were sent down with them are now out, and turned up at the hearing. They aren't allowed to talk to the meida, and in some cases they aren't actually allowed to go home. They are staying in hostels under curfew. I wasn't there, and didn't hear any of this from them.

So Atilla has another year or so to serve, and there is every chance that when he does come out I wont be able to complete a film with him, assuming he even wants to of course. Obviously this is alarming but time passes, shit happens. Lets see.

Mr Choudhary turned up in the news over the last few days again defending some people waving placards at returning British troops. Mr Waleed sent me a link to his new website. It is all "In Islamic" which makes it a bit difficult for me to wade through. I've found a page which lists the different types of Kaffir you can be and I don't think I fit into any of them.

1. Kufrul-'Inaad:

Disbelief out of stubborness. This applies to someone who knows the truth and admits to knowing the truth and admits to knowing it with his tongue, but refuses to accept it and refrains from making a declaration. Allah(swt) says: Throw into Hell every stubborn disbeliever [Surah Qaaf (50), Ayah 24]

I'm not one of these, I don't "Know the Truth". Hajj says sometimes that "I know the truth". I don't get it. If I knew the truth I would tell him what it was. I don't.

2. Kufrul-Inkaar:

Disbelief out of denial. This applies to someone who denies with both heart and tongue.

Allah(swt) says: They recognize the favors of Allah, yet they deny them. Most of them are disbelievers. [Surah Nahl(16), Ayah 83]


I don't deny or afirm. How the fuck do I know if there is or isn't an Allah?

3. Kufrul-Kibr:

Disbelief out of arrogance and pride. The disbelief by the devils (Iblis) is an example of this type of Kufr.

That would imply an "I know better" attitude. I don't. I have no idea.

4. Kufrul-Juhood:

Disbebelief out of rejection. This applies to someone who aknowledges the truth in his heart, but rejects it with his tongue. This types of kufr is applicable to those who calls themselves Muslims but who reject any necessary and accepted norms of Islam such as Salaat and Zakat.

Allah (swt) says: They denied them (OUR SIGNS) even though their hearts believed in them , out of spite and arrogance. [Surah Naml(27), Ayah 14]

Not applicable.

5. Kufrul-Nifaaq:

Disbelief out of hypocrisy.This applies to someone who pretends to be a believer but conceals his disbelief. Such a person is called a MUNAFIQ or hypocrite.

Allah( swt) says: Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell. You will find no one to help them. [Surah An Nisaa (4), Ayah 145]

As above. Not applicable.

6. Kufrul-Istihaal:

Disbelief out of trying to make HARAM into HALAL. This applies to someone who accepts as lawful (Halal) that which Allah has made unlawful(Haram) like alcohol or adultery.Only Allah(swt) has the prerogative to make things Halal and Haram and those who seek to interfere with His right are like rivals to Him and therefore fall outside the boundries of faith.

Accept as lawful? I suppose I accept Alcohol as"lawful" in as much as I drink the stuff sometimes. Adultery? That is a whole different can of worms isn't it. If someone is beaten by or neglected by their partner and strays...how is it any of my buisness? I don't really go by what is and isn't lawful. There are lots of "Man made laws" I don't agree with. I'm not into what is and isn't lawful in a way maybe a judge or a copper would be. Not my bag.

7. Kufrul-Kurh:

Disbelief out of detesting any of Allah's(swt) commands. Allah(swt) says: Perdition (destruction) has been consigned to those who disbelieve and He will render their actions void. This is because they are averse to that which Allah has revealed so He has made their actions fruitless. [Surah Muhammed (47), Ayah 8-9]

Detesting commands? I don't agree with stoning people or chopping hands off. I think a barbarous legal system would encourage barbarity in society. I don't agree with violence of any sort except for in self defence. The rest of it I don't really understand. Allah is making my actions fruitless? That would just give me someone to blame. So far if there is one thing in life I have learnt it is that I can fuck things up all on my own.

8. Kufrul-Istihzaha:

Disbelief due to mockery and derision.

Allah (swt) says: Say: Was it at Allah, His signs and His apostles that you were mocking? Make no excuses. You have disbelieved after you have believed. [Surah Taubah (9), ayah 65-66]

I have been polite to Mr Hamza. I have been polite to Atilla. I didn't offend anyone in Finsbury in two years or so. I can still talk to some of them, those that aren't in jail anyway. They still seem pleased to hear from me. If I have mocked them in any way it has been meant with no offence.

It is easy to mock, vilify and objectify someone you don't know isn't it. I have been thinking that over the last few days looking at the reaction to the Luton placard wavers. I don't know who they are or if they mean me any harm. I would assume if they were dangerous the Police would arrest them. I totally fail to get excited about thse people. I am fascinated by them and that they exist in 21st centrury Britain. I want to film them for some reason. Ask them what they are about.

9. Kufrul-I'raadh:

Disbelief due to avoidance. This applies to those who turn away and avoid the truth.

Allah(swt) says: And who is more unjust than he who is reminded of his Lord's signs but then turns away from them. Then he forgets what he has sent forward (for the Day of Judgement) [Surah Kahf(18), Ayah 57]

Turn away? I look all this full in the face and question. Is this truth? There are thousands upon thousands of religions in the world. I question them too. Are any of them true? You have to know "The truth" if there is such a thing for yourself don't you.

Lastly:

10. Kufrul-Istibdaal:

Disbelief because of trying to substitute Allah's Laws. This could take the form of: (a) Rejection of Allah's law(Shariah) without denying it (b) Denial of Allah's law and therefore rejecting it, or (c) Substituting Allah's laws with man-made laws.

Allah (swt) says: Or have they partners with Allah who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed. [Surah Shuraa(42), Ayah 8]

Allah(swt) says: Say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely (that) is lawful and this is forbidden so as to invent a lie against Allah. Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah will never prosper. [Surah Nahl (16), Ayah 116]

Rejection of Allah's law(Shariah) without denying it- Ah. I suppose you got me.

Except that I don't think these two verses are necessarily saying this. The first is saying someone has partnered with someone else for a new religion-(not me). The second is simply about telling a lie. Anyway I hope to talk further about all this with Mr Choudhary and Mr Waleed.

..

MALUNG TV NEWS

Loads going on in mad Jihadiland at the mo. I watched Richard Watsons Muslim first, British second on the iPlayer yesterday. I heard about the progress of this film a long while back from Mr Waleed and was at the Islam4UK meet that features in this doco, though I was outside having a cigarette and missed argument with Mr Watson. I blogged my version of events (THE MAGICIANS OF THE PHARAOH here)

From what I heard there certianly seems to be some beef between the guys and Mr Watson, or maybe the BBC in general. I don't know what about, maybe I will find out in due course when Mr Waleed gets back to me. I think they have another meet up coming up the beginning of March. When I was in Finsbury I thought the investment in tension between Muslims and media to be unproductive but unsurprising. Without going through specifics it is hard to unpick or to know how to go about filming. Of course I disagree fundamentaly with some of the fundamentals of Islam, but if I want to do something its really just to document, and if possible to look for solutions. I'm interested in who people think they are and the vison they have of Britain, now.

Anyway, in further "Abu news" Abu Qatada has been passed for deportation to Jordan so he'll be lost in the corridors of Brussels, or Strasbourg or wherever the fuckin European court of Human rights is for a little while. Oh and they want to give him money. Also heading that direction is Abu Hamza, who may be able to sit out his wait at home.

Whitehall torture by proxy, of course they do. I'm not even taking a position there- if someone knows about some up coming terr-ist attatcks how do you get them to tell you about it? I don't know. Anyway now the government are looking for Muslims with beards who want an Islamic state, don't like homosexuals, believe in Jihad and fail to condemn the killing of British soldiers.

Err.. OK. I know some of them. What happens now?

We want to label them as "Extremists" who "Don't share our common British ideals."

Err.. OK. Good. Do that. Lets label them as extemists. Maybe they should wear a fucking star or something? And while we are talking shared British values what is going to happen at Stonehenge next Solstice? Are you going to send extremists to stiffle common British values rearing their pretty little heads? Seriously. British values are important. I don't want to fight anyone for them, but I'd love to enjoy them you know?

The BBC go into a bit more detail saying

...that Muslim leaders who urge separation will be isolated and publicly rejected. He also said this would occur even if their comments fell within the law. This will include those who argue that Muslims should not vote and that homosexuals should be condemned on religious grounds...

I still don't get it. Isolated? Publicly rejected? By who? Richard Littlejohn in a dog collar? What does this mean in reality? They can't come to the party? From what I have seen I don't think they want to come to the party.

Down in Belmarsh the liquid guys are up again, with the prosecution telling a different (Gulzar-less) story and the first jury being mysteriously dsmissed by the judge. I don't know if I can be arsed to head down for any more of this.

Anyway what else? Oh. There is a jihad going on in Somalia where some of these guys come from. Hajj knew a couple of them. Said they were very nice. He was very surprised to see them naked outside a flat on TV.

..

Giving this man compensation is a triumph for democracy over medievalism- (The Times)
..

Happy Go Skateboarding Day!

If I thought I had minor hassles with over enthusiastic cops at least I'm not a teenage skateboarder. Happy Go skateboarding day guys!

At this point I would like to big up all the Police who do useful things, like those who attend traffic accidents, catch criminals, deal with the aftermath of terrorism, catch fraudsters, stop people beating up their kids/wives/dogs/cats etc,direct traffic- that sort of thing. People like these guys, especially the guy who is trying to reason with Abu Izadeen.



(cheers to Glen Jenvey for posting)

And Darcus Howe on Izzadeen's famous attack on the Home secretary:

...What angered my Pakistani hosts was that Reid knew nothing about the intense discussions that go on in their homes, small groups meeting in each other's houses to debate the political line offered them by al-Qaeda. Parents follow every move their sons make, lest they drift from legitimate dissent against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan into cauldrons of hate. They felt insulted and unrepresented.

I tried to calm them: it was only a stunt, a cynical preamble to Reid's bid for the Labour Party leadership at the upcoming conference. And Abu Izzadeen, they agreed, was way off-beam, a showman full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. All the young men there had visited his meetings once or twice, but his message had fallen on stony ground.

Off went Abu Izzadeen to the BBC the following morning, calling for sharia law in the Islamic state of Britain. And Reid? He played on cue at the Labour party conference. No no-go areas, he shouted from the platform. We will go where we please, he declaimed, as he laid down the law to Abu Izzadeen and any others who questioned his presence in their midst.

As it turned out, the Sky News clash was staged by Reid and his cohorts at the Home Office. They organised the meeting, Abu Izzadeen was invited in advance - his performance guaranteed - and the press was alerted to film and report the confrontation.

John Reid is not fit for purpose.

Rachel North Talks to Musa Ahmet part 2

In part 2 Musa talks about life in Belmarsh with the Crevice plotters who were going back and forth to The Old Bailey on trial at the time.

MALUNG TV NEWS

I was watching TV at a friends place last night. I was about to switch it off and switched it over totally by accident to see Rachel and Glen on Newsnight. Abu Izadeen was a favourite radical voice for them over a long time. The show was presented by my favourite brown eyed ex- BBC London presenter who is looking even more sexy as she gets older. She had a right go at Anjum Choudarry who got in his Blair Bush Corporation one liner and is the only one who mysteriously still manages to stay out of the nick somehow.

I'm not sure that I agree with the whole concept of "radicalization" how it is presented here. If the idea that we are totally right and they are totally wrong was true, that "they" have been "brainwashed" by an "evil ideology" we wouldn't be at risk. Continually. I am not sure how I can join in the debate really as it seems so obvious to me but when I tell anyone else they glaze over.

I don't think I met a single person in Finsbury park who appeared to be brainwashed in all the years I used to pop up there. I think the concept of "brainwashing" as it is presented is a serious red herring which will only lead to less understanding and more danger. I wish everyone would get over this whole brainwashing fantasy. No one is brainwashed. Except perhaps the guy at 4.00 they name "Osama" on Newsnight's Al Mujaharoun video he is brainwashed. People should stop with this "swinging pocket watches" fantasy. Now. People believe things. I think certain Koranic verses we all know by now have become alive to a worrying number of Muslims who are reacting to events in the world as they see them. Its not rocket science, I mean they are making the fucking videos. They are telling us really clearly.

Is that a controversial view? I don't know. I'm just selfish. I don't want to be bombed.

via Paula

Ketamine breakthrough in treating depression

the class C drug, which is abused for its hallucinogenic effects, is now being hailed by scientists as a breakthrough treatment for severe depressives.

New research has found that patients who have failed to respond to more conventional drugs can be cured of depression within as little as two hours with an injection of ketamine...

...Ketamine is one of several banned drugs that have been found to have therapeutic benefits. Ecstasy has proved effective for traumatised servicemen who have fought in Iraq, and trials are also taking place involving rape victims who are given the drug to help them to recount their ordeals without triggering anxiety. Scientists have used LSD to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety.

However, mental health charities have reacted with caution to the results of the ketamine trials. The charity Sane points out that many people with mental health problems already self-medicate using illegal drugs, and that not enough is known about their long-term side effects.

People self medicate? No shit. I'd say there was some truth in this. K took away my depression and transported me to a world of euphoria- for at least two hours..

Also LSD testing begins in Switzerland:

Dr. Gasser's study received final approval from the study's Ethics Committee (the Swiss IRB equivalent) on July 12, 2007. The protocol is for a preliminary 12 patient, double-blind design to gather basic information on safety and efficacy for this patient population and to develop a treatment approach. Though there has been substantial prior research with LSD in cancer patients that demonstrated safety and some degree of efficacy, that research was conducted over 35 years ago. For this study to follow modern drug development standards, we must start from scratch and build carefully.

Carefully does it.

I GOT THE MESSAGE

I saw maybe four or five videos, much the same as the other day.

They are doing it because Allah calls the to Jihad. Jihad is the purest path for a Muslim thought they may not like it and is mentioned in the Koran as a duty. Allah will reward them and their families.

I think the questioner is the same person on all the tapes. His questions are always the same. About the accusations which will follow that they are killing innocents, and what people including errant Muslim scholars would say. That they were brainwashed, or suffered from lack of opportunities in life. At one point the questioner even puts it TV News like, qualifying by saying that this isn't what he thinks, but words people would use.

One of them says that he is well educated and could lead a very comfortable life in the west. He said he has wanted to do this for years and is very happy to do such an operation. Another also says he has had this ambition for many years. Only on says he is fairly new to the faith. People aren't innocent because they pay their taxes. That was a recurrent theme. This taxpayers money goes to fund the destruction of his people. People are aware of what their government are doing and they do nothing about it. We are being run by paedophiles and such like and we don't care. People should stay away from Government, Economic and Military targets. They will be targeted again and again by the mujahadeen until the destruction and humiliation of Muslims stops.

One is videoed waving his finger saying that peaceful negotiation is pointless. It does nothing to stop the slaughter and rape of his people. One appears to show a glimmer of awareness that not everyone supports their government actions. He almost thanks them, but justs warns them to stay away from Government, Economic and Military targets.

The questioner uses the phrase "Preachers of Hate" asking if they had been "radicalised" by "scholars". He says he's been radicalised by the starving of a million kids in Iraq. By actions in Kashmir, Chechenya and Palestine. They say they have gone back to the Classical Scholars. One of them spoke about Sayed Kutb, but the only other scholarly person mentioned is Osama Bin Laden. What do they think about people who will say that their actions cause Muslims in the west to suffer? Muslims in the west should read the Koran and Sunnah and return to their deen.

They are all adamant that they haven't been brainwashed by anybody. They can do what they like with their lives, they are choosing to do this as a reaction to what is happening to the "Muslim Uma". Mohammed was a fighting man. Until the kaffirs stop stealing the wealth of Muslim lands, raping and humiliating Muslim women and killing Muslim men there is going to be more of this. Wave upon wave.

We saw containers of 20% Hydrogen Peroxide which were in the Garage. The video was found under a plastic bag on a high shelf. There were also syringes found. I don't know a lot about explosives. I know the 7/7 guys apparently had ice packs around theirs. I wonder whether someone would actually make it through customs onto a plane with this sort of mix without going off.

Channel 4


Rachel North in Kingston

Rachel North talks to Musa Ahmet

Times Online

This is part one, part two will include loads more about The Bridge to China raid, also Musa speaks candidly about life in Belmarsh with the Crevice guys, Dhiren Barot etc...


Yeah anyway. No one believes me so I told Rachel and she told everyone with the Sunday Times on their coffee table today! Thanks to The Sunday Times for doing this. It feels really good. We did it! It wasn't difficult. Musa rocked up 4th October last year with all this and we started filming straight away with Mike, Claudio Franco (a real journalist) and Katya Nisim who made this. There was no issue of trust, as his brother in his darkest hours had been talking about me saying

“Dave Bones knows I'm not a terrorist. He's got loads of footage.” etc.

Pre- trial our conversation focused a lot more on serious tensions between Atilla and Hamid, jointly charged as leaders of the group that is probably not surprising. Now the trial is over I am glad we didn't use this story. Musa is a very credible person. He appears in Preachers of Hate but that was one of the only times I saw him in Finsbury Park and I had no idea he was Atilla's brother as I didn't speak to him.

He's not what I would call a “Jihadi” and he wasn't involved like his brother was. As I say, no one believes me and I had a deep yearning for something a bit closer to "The Real Atilla" to come out so I introduced him to Rachel and we filmed the above. The Ahmet family hate journalists, but Rachel, with what has happened to her is a person Muslims who aren't in favour of terrorism are going to want to explain themselves to isn't she?

There is loads more to come soon. Atilla, in his situation is very lucky to have a brother like Musa. He said to Rachel that when he told his bro he had been talking to a journalist Atilla had a right go at him. He called him later saying what a nice woman he had seen on Newsnight.

“THAT'S THE JOURNALIST.” said Musa.

I know Atilla is bigger, but Musa should still punch him when he gets out. I remember blogging that I hoped something positive would come from this. Unaware what was going to come out in Atilla's trial I had been nervously "suspending belief" about what Atilla had either said or done, as well as preparing myself for the improbable notion of standing in front of a load of professional wigs and a jury of my peers saying

"Well I thought he was alright you know? A bit nuts undoubtedly, but he's from Cyprus isn't he? They are all like that over there aren't they. I mean you should meet my mate.. etc. etc. "

I realised what Musa had to say about the Crevice guys was very news worthy, and properly surreal “Malung TV News”. I've had journalist friends with my interests at heart bollocking me for not doing this story myself. I just got sick of shouting in the relative darkness and I was also worried that a "shoot the messenger" situation might occur if I popped up with all this in a newspaper. For someone who didn't want to accept Atilla's reformation it wouldn't take too much of a dig around this blog to find plenty of target practice to subtract credibility from something by me- but you can't argue with Rachel can you? Unless you are a conspiracy theorist apparently.

I've got so much footage of Atilla in action in Finsbury park I haven't put up. I don't dare in case the Sun come pilfering again.

Finally- if THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION want to give Atilla a start coaching when he gets out- EIGHT SEASONS UNBEATEN with a schoolboy team. Do you know ANYONE with a record like that? I mean seriously, why are we getting fucking foreigners in to run things when we have home grown talent like this? Shameful that's what it is. Its a fucking disgrace.

I'll dig out the letter I wrote to the judge at some point but I remember the last sentence was "I hope the court will take Atilla's rehabilitation very seriously".

If anyone wants to write to Atilla do get in contact. His wife told me he doesn't get letters. I know Atilla as a man who has huge emotional energy which he is desperate to put to good use and along with sorting things for Muslims in a responsible manner, I couldn't think of anything better for him than terrorising over paid football stars for our national benefit.

MONKEY TERR-R

OK. Bumped into Monkeyboy, occasional Malung Cameraman with me in Finsbury park who appears as "G" in this Socialistwanker piece and also in a blog I wrote from the Hamza trial entitled ENTERTAINMENT. He filmed most of the action in my first Finsbury park edit, A Year on the Street and also features in a blog called HIT HIM WITH A PIECE OF WOOD

Turns out he had a bit of an adventure on a one way ticket from Holland back into Stanstead. He's, how shall we say a bit Indian looking, his family hailing from the Punjab and had a Palestinian looking scarf on, which added up to two burly looking representatives of the law singling him out of the incoming passengers for a talking to for an hour and a half.

"I told 'em man" he said indignantly, "I said why do I smell of alcohol? Why have I got a ring in my nose and one in my ear? Look at my name- S___ its a Sikh name isn't it. What is a Sikh?"

"Well you know, the guys who did Mike's place in Israel apparently left empty bottles of alcohol in the guest houses they stayed in to cover their tracks. If you come in doused in alcohol with glazed eyes how are they to know you are pissed? They might well think you are about to blow up.." I countered. "I'm a bit distressed that they actually let you back in so easily. I feel less safe to be honest..Did they ask you why you were smiling at Abu Hamza in the court room?"

"He smiled at me first!"

He fell asleep so I popped round to Hajj's place. Intending to watch a dvd of Al-Faisal on Jamaican Hardtalk I ended up having a long discussion about God, Islam and the state of the world. I left video unseen invited to a premiere of our new music video but I missed that too. Tomorow is another day.

MALUNG TV NEWS

OK, clicking through I've found a site which appears to have a newish message from Omar Bakri I was unaware of which features Abu Abdullah and Hamza. Connected is what appears to be a UK based blog. I don't know these people, I contacted IslamBase when they first started featuring my videos but got no reply.

I was watching it to see if the faces of those arrested with Abdullah were going to appear as I'm still not sure which faces, I have presumably met to put the names to. I'm featuring this video, but I'm not supporting it- catch my drift?

Appearing on Getty Images as "the unknown supporter" (maybe there'll be a statue one day?) has shit me up a bit to be honest, I'm hoping its an accident and they overlooked THE FUCKING RING THROUGH THE NOSE but maybe to make clear about things I ought to take the time to explain myself.

When I first started painting psychedelic images, I was overjoyed to find that I had my "own way" of realising an image on canvas if you get my meaning. During my erratic experiments in Finsbury park I sort of found "my own way" of film making, which so far financially has drawn a big zero, so in conventional terms of "success" I'm not a film maker am I?

Maybe if I'd tried very hard to get in Islamists confidence, and then tried to expose them I'd have got "somewhere" quicker. You think?

Anyway I'm here and over the years if there has been one thing which has unified my approach to filming people is that I just try and let people talk. Tell me their truth, if you get my meaning. I want to edit it so as they would say-

"I am happy that is a true representation of what I told you"

- whoever they are.

I'm upfront about whatever situational and experiential bias I might have. I realise we all come from different sides to "this". I am very much motivated by a desire for these different sides to meet each other, and to stay in contact, which is why I appreciate Uncle Jimbo's filmed liasons with his local "looney left". I think if Jimbo and these guys are recognising each other, and communicating it has to be a good thing no?

I feature Jimbo's stuff, I feature Jihadi video's. I don't support either. Over the years in Finsbury park I tried to report what Hamza and Abdullah etc were saying, we conversed with a camera running. A lot of things I would support them on, in general I tried to keep to those subjects, as there was really no point in falling out with them without a TV deal, or at least a more realistic prospect of making a "proper film", whatever that is.

I would think it was obvious that there are a few things I wouldn't support them on. At the time, I thought it was really important that they were preaching against terrorist acts in this country time and time again on the street. Pre 7/7 I thought this was important for, I don't know, maybe MUSLIMS to be hearing. Selfish? Maybe. Ask Rachel.

I don't really challenge people with a camera, I try to absorb. I'm in a situation where I can leave being confrontational to the experts, so thats what I've done. I tried the same thing with the National Front to test my theories. Now this theory testing has put me in a position where I may not be making money from all this, but my videos are, for my good graces being featured by online communities of National Front supporters and Islamic "Fundamentalists".

Now I haven't had any contact with either, and I don't think either group would support me. Neither would I support them. The only Islamists I have ever felt any "support" from as a film maker were Hajj, Abdullah, Jamal (who wouldn't appear on camera) and Mr Dumplings, all of whom, though they weren't allowed to have "friends amongst the kaffir" nevertheless seemed to have built up a level of trust with me. Abdullah's in jail. Jamal is in jail. Dumplings has been in and come out of jail, Hajj is round the corner.

As I've said before, I'm out of this now. Its not that I don't give a shit anymore, I just concentrate on playing guitar and try not to upset myself.

So who is supporting who? Am I for Israel or Palestine? Bush or Bin Laden? Tory or Labour? Red or White? Us or Them?

To be honest I'm continually overwhelmed by the sheer luck of living in a situation where I can speak without fear. I think those of us who have this precious opportunity should use it to try and sort it for the rest.

Is that possible? I don't know. Why are we here?

National Front March 21st APRIL Bermondsey

Rocked up in Bermondsey to be descended upon by a number of Police for a thorough search and a talking to. I'm sort of used to it these days, but being a sunny day a couple of friends had come along for a laugh and as a whole load of Police were there with nothing to do we got pounced on. They stole one of my friend's ganja, but not a lot, so if they smoke it they are let off.

I had an interesting conversation with the officer, who I recognised.

"He recongises me." he said to his co-workers.

I admitted I had filmed on a number of demonstrations though I didn't feel part of any group anymore.

"So you've given up?" he asked.

"No. I'd have a revolution tomorrow, but only if you lot would join it."

"We'd join in if we got better pay, and bigger truncheons." he answered.

I spoke for a long while with a lady called Barbara (I think) who wouldn't go on camera. She was a bit cryptic but definitely a BNP sympathizer who was also a lecturer who used to work for Police intelligence. When a member of the F.I.T. team took her photograph and she challenged them as to why they told her it was because she was talking to me.

Eventually maybe 50-80 National Front supporters turned up and marched. I was expecting a load of anti-Nazi people. There weren't any and the black independent journalists who turned up had much the same objective interest in filming as I did. I managed to do quite a civilized interview with a standing National front parish councillor, which was my main objective for the day so I'm quite happy. I'll get an edit onto Youtube later.



Interesting afternoon, interesting bunch and I had a very good chat with the others who were filming afterwards some of whom had heard of Malung TV News.

ABU HAMZA ARRESTED

This is a new edit. I still have a lot of unused footage up my sleeve. I was really suprised when I heard Hamza was arrested. As he had been preaching every friday in full view and not hiding the idea that he was in anyway dangerous seemed farfetched.

I headed to Belmarsh. The original blog I wrote about it is here.

SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL

Abu Hamza preaches against shopping your Muslim brothers to the Police, but in the same sentence speaks out unequivocally against terrorist acts in this country. If the first bit gets to the TV but the second doesn't have we as a nation been told a "half truth"?

Pre 7/7, if this was WIDELY PUBLICIZED would we have been safer?

This is about how the news from Finsbury Park was made. The journalist in the blue suit is Dan Rivers, then of ITN. Not sure who the guy in the brown jacket is. The tall guy in the long black coat is Vivian White from Panorama who seemed pretty cool to me.

I've often seen the concept of Malung TV News as my "Sympathy for the Devil" project. In this case "the Tabloid Devil" believes himself to be on the side of God. You might have noticed that I haven't put a lot of Hamza's words into my movies so far. To be honest I thought he was a bit boring and as you will see, I struggled to hold my camera still.

I've edited this as real time as possible. The whole concept of a "street protest mosque" was really fascinating me at the time and I was enjoying the high drama of it all. Of Hamza's posse who would speak to me, all gave the impression they thought only a nutter would bomb in this country. If they hadn't I'd have stopped filming. I scare very easily. ...

the BBC piece is quite good actually

Mr Abu Hamza's appearance in the witness box, for his own defence against 15 charges, was never going to be a simple case of pleading not guilty.

It was a nuanced theological debate, a denouncement of Zionist politics, a defence of Jihad (Islamic struggle) - and it even lifted the lid on MI5's meetings with the cleric...

"They may have treated him as guilty before this trial even began - but they haven't heard the evidence. It's not their decision - it's yours."...

Mr Abu Hamza's defence began with an appeal to the jury to closely read his words in the context of Islam's holy and historic texts and, crucially, the interpretation that can be put upon them

So when he was appealing to people to fight - it was his case that he was calling on Muslims to defend their own people, rather than to fight for any reason.

The cleric said he wanted to explain the true meaning of "jihad". He said that it could be spiritual, meaning a duty to "struggle" for God's way of life without seeking personal or material reward.

But it could also be physical, if required. And this "jihad of the sword" was governed by strict rules.

"There are limits on what can be done in fighting," he said. "We fight for the cause of God. We do not kill women or children. We must not fight for the sake of fighting. We do not fight for racism, or for nationalism. Only for the sake of God."

He was asked about what he thought about Jews, a key element of the case against him. Were they to be hated and harmed?

Early life

Mr Abu Hamza said that Jews had a kinship with Muslims, both religions being descended from Abraham. But Israel and "Zionism" was another matter.

"I do not believe in Israel," he said. "In the Torah [Jewish holy text] it is not Israel. In the Bible it is not Israel. In the Koran it is not Israel. It is Palestine. It's an abomination to change its name."

Much of the day was taken up with such extremely complicated debate - but the court also heard, for the first time, many details of his early life.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, to a naval father and a headmistress mother, Mr Abu Hamza came to Britain in 1979 as a trainee civil engineer.

He quickly found an interest in Islam and the politics of the Middle East. In turn, as he spent more and more time in mosques, he met Muhajideen veterans from Afghanistan - Islamic fighters who had been funded by the US against the Soviet Union - who had come to London for artificial limb treatment.

He often translated for them at Harley Street -and this led to him taking his engineering skills to the war-ravaged country. "I put my belongings in a crate, I went there intending never to come back," he said.

It was here that he lost his hands, although he did not elaborate how. In 1995, after returning to the UK for treatment, he went to Bosnia where Muslims were involved in another conflict amid the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.

Before all of this happened, he had been just a plain old engineer. And one of his biggest contracts, he proudly told the court, had been a major construction project at Sandhurst, the Army's military academy in Berkshire.

He had retained the plans of the Sandhurst grounds as part of his engineering archives. When he was interviewed by police in 1989, he told the court, they had taken these papers away - but later returned them to him. They were still in his home, he said, when he was arrested prior to this trial.

"It's a very crucial document for any terrorist if he wants to do anything," he said.

And this got to the heart of his defence. Abu Hamza argued that if he were such a threat to others, why had the security services not acted against him before?

Critically, he said the security services knew of his sermons long before his arrest, as they were monitoring him as part of a strategy widely dubbed "Londonistan", the idea of allowing radicals into Britain in return for ensuring that violence does not come here.

Unlawful sermons?

Abu Hamza told the court that he had been interviewed on many occasions by members of MI5, police Special Branch and, on one occasion, investigators from France interested in his links with Algerian Islamist fighters.

Most of these meetings coincided with his rise to prominence in 1997 as the imam of Finsbury Park - but other Islamist figures were also talking to the security services, such was the climate.

"I received a phone call [from MI5] and I said: 'Should I bring a bag?'. They said they just wanted a discussion. We talked about suicide bombers. They said they were not recording, I did not need a solicitor, they just wanted to know about me.

"It was Londonistan. It was not Londonistan because of me. It was Londonistan because of government policy."

"Did they [any of the security services or police] ever say that your sermons were unlawful?" asked Mr Fitzgerald.

"No, they said 'you are walking on a tight rope'. They said that I was saying things they did not like, 'but you have freedom of speech'. 'We don't have to worry as long as we don't see blood on the streets.'"

The 47-year-old, from west London, denies 15 charges including soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred. The case continues.

I actually knew about Hamza's military father and retired teacher mother back in july.

Hamza trial 19th

I've got so behind in all this, I can't write my notes up before I get a whole load more. As you might have seen Mr. Hamza suprised everyone with a bit of a bombshell today revealing that he had the plans to Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in his house- because he was a civil engineer on the project. Its strange hearing his voice again. Not suprisingly the judge has to interupt him to stay on subject. He hasn't got too irritated yet. Its been great being in the public gallery to catch up with "the brothers" who pass by occasionaly and bring their point of view to you, but its a pain in the ass now because I can't see Hamza nor, maybe more importantly the juries reaction to him. I'll see if I can maybe blag a press card. I think he's going to be speaking all day tomorow.

Theres loads that I have missed out and will catch up on I promise.

UPDATE: I thought the BBC News at 10 misrepresented the story a bit tonight.

They said he "admitted having plans of Sandhurst which could be useful to terrorists..."

They didn't say he had them cos he was the bloody civil engineer on the project and the Police gave them back to him twice. I wonder if Fitz (defence) is going to pick up on it with the judge tomorrow?

Hamza: I kept plans of Sandhurst Ireland Online,
Abu Hamza 'convicted by media' The Observer

Eyewitness: Abu Hamza in court (BBC)

Notes from the Hamza trial 16th etc

Observer, Daily Mail, Jihad Unspun,

Reading the Daily Mail and then Jihad Unspun is amusing. I'm not sure which are bigger "Hamza fans". Samir, from the Supporters of Shareeah told me that the story of a prisoner assulting Hamza is untrue. The correct story was that a non-Muslim prosoner got solitary for assulting some doctor who was fucking with hamza's medicine or something. He's always promised me a letter they got from the prisoner but I've yet to see it. Its quite funny seeing a pro-Hamza Islamic piece quoting a Sun special. I have also heard very recently from someone who visits him that Hamza is treated OK in prison these days so Jihadunspun is wrong there too unless everyone is lying to me.

Sorry, playing catch up again. This is probably the most important part of this blog so far and I'm getting blog burnout. Anyway this is a badly written sketch straight from my badly written notes again:

I caught the end of a tape:

If it is killing, do it. If it is ambush do it. They are kaffir, they are acting as one body, we should act as one body.

Another video came on, this one filmed in the front room of a house, probably before 1999, Hamza seemed to be giving Muslims advice on the sort of thing to expect if going to the Balkans for Jihad. he says that Macedonia want to split Kosovo and Albania. The Albania/Kosovo people need a bit of a shake up. More blood. He spoke against the Red Cross, saying that they go into areas worldwide to make people dependent on them and then "Steal the diamonds from under peoples feet" like in Africa. He seemed to be wary of any help from non-Muslims in the area. Apparently (if I got this right) there are people giving out 4x4s etc. The Muslims in the area need "dawa" and change is slow.

Someone asked about the terrain. Chalk cliffs by the sea, lots of mountains. Good for small groups of Mujahadeen. Borders difficult to Police as cars are such an easy target. There seemed to be a problem between Shia and Sunni apparently. Hamza suggests people choose their "emir" (leader) and train, get some discipline and "take a village" or "take somewhere else" (?)

I think he said that he had problems there with people saying "Hamza wants to make a group inside a group" and he had to leave. They wouldn't let him teach there because they wanted to check what he was going to say about Arafat etc first. Individually they are great people but colectively they failed.

He seemed to think it was good to put policies before people and for people to be clear why they were going.

1. To establish Kalifa
2. To create "pockets" of Muslims who could make no-go areas for Kaffirs as Kaffirs made no-go areas for them.
3. Dawah (ministering Islam)
4. So that people who didn't want to fight were left alone (?I think)

He seemed a bit down about the achievements so far. Lots of martyrs, no banks closed. No real change. You have to establish every reason to fight.

"Tell the Serbs, NO. You are not going to rape my sister, she doesn't like you."

The whole earth wants to fight. The tree says there is a Jew behind me, kill him. There is no liquid more loved by God than blood, be it the blood by lamb, by Jew, whatever. Muslims will never be together with kaffirs, if you want to achieve this it is just a dream.

It is OK taking kaffirs as slaves. If you take a kaffir slave girl she will see you pray and see you practice your religion. You can convert slaves by showing them your lifestyle. Its all about controlling kaffirs. There is a bad leadership now (in the Balkans still I think) the leaders don't take advice, they kill people who give advice. Anyone can make a pocket somewhere on earth and make that pocket increase. You have to be free.

He uses the example of blood and the way red cells fight germs.Just like the fight is inside us, the germs are the Kaffirs. We can't escape nature.

Every civilization was spead by the sword. Christianity, America, if you can't support with the sword, put it on the shelf. If you don't fight the religion dies. If you fight religion comes back. recently from someone who visits him that he is treated OK these days in prison so the Jihadunspun article is wrong there as well.People have replaced the sword with a cheque book. If you create the first Islamic state the rest will topple. No one will let you do it.

Someone asked a question about joining groups.Hamza says they should have an "understanding of Sahaba" and all policies should be backed up with verses from the koran and Sunna. "Give me a verse". No scholar should ally themselves to this country. Any ruling shouldn't be contradicted by other verses in the Koran. Bring evidence, don't hide verses.

After lunch we had a talk in Arabic relating to the charges of soliciting to murder.
a video called "How to Survive in the land of Kuffar." a Supporters of Shariah production dated 4th sept 1999

It is stated that this tape is especially aimed at the youth who live in this land (Britain) people who "Hold fast" a dificult thing to do in Muslim lands, let alone here.

He starts with a long tirade against "Hywaymen Sheiks" who consent to the sale of alchohol and "the showing of the flesh of disbelievers" Corupt scholars who "make the lawful unlawful and the unlawful lawful with the worst trickery." Don't be tricked, and whoever changes from his faith and commits apostacy, kill them. he critizes sheiks who acknowledge the state of Israel, those who say "Israel has become a reality, no need for Jihad."

This nation is built on capitalism and usury. Forbidden acts. Arms sold to the enemies of Islam. Don't vote. Don't even get into this "lesser of two evils" bullshit (my words of course) Don't ally yourself against the Muslim. Convert to Islam even if you are lying- you will get used to it.

Even when the US aproved of Jihad how many Muslims went to fight? Amongst the Jews even 15 year old girls answer the call. They are well banded together. This country uses tricks to placate Muslims, being nice to immigrants etc.

Someone asks- for a person who claims benefit in this country, is it a land of war? The answer was something like, If you get asylum on religious grounds you have to respect all the laws, if you are here on political grounds it is a land of war. In Muslim lands you should have no contact with unbelievers. they shouldn't see your fire, nor you theirs.

he then said something about "John Travolta" which I am pissed off I cannot translate from my notes as it was quite funny. It could possibly be this, although I don't think I got the same understanding. Fuck knows.

Friday 13th experiences

Channel 4 news and video report

I've eaten as many bacon double whopping Mickey Mc Mackers burgers in three days as I usally manage in three years, (3).

OK here we go.

Before the jury came in Perry asked the judge if Channel 4 news could remove the tapes for the purpose of broadcasting. Fitz objects because of potential impact on jury seeing selective edits on TV. Might prompt discussion.

The judge said a very interesting thing. He believed the press should be able to put the people in the public gallery but not necesarily that of the jury. In trials it was not normal for anyone but the jury to see the evidence. He called Channel 4 news a "Prominent, respectable and well known" media outlet but if he made it available to one he would be unable to deny the same opportunity to those less responsible.

Simon Israel from Channel 4 news address to judge explaining he wanted a visual parallel to the written media, precendents had been set during Soham trial. A copying machine could be brought into court.

Judge denies.

"Selective highlights" "domestic customers" (?) not on jury. Potential 4 misuse. If crowns case is proved this is inflamatory material and once broacast could be copied and redistributed.

Jury allowed in

They start watching tape filmed in a house with Hamza sitting at a small table answering questions from those off camera. His animated naked stumps are visually mesmerising and almost a subconcious "visual language" for all things frightening about the public perception of fundamental Islam in Britain.

If a licensee doesn't accept Dawah- Kill him. I could make that out even from the public gallery. A Kaffir under no protection from Islamic law, kill him. Take his money.

the next tape was in arabic and related to the soliciting murder and racial hatred charges.

Dated 13th Oct 2000 it was in black and white. Rather than sitting through it the jury would be given a flavour, which was Hamza shouting, animatedly in black and white.

"Do you mant more?" Judge asks Fitz. "No." he replies a bit downcast.

The ground shakes around us cursing the Jews. "Sons of Monkeys and Pigs". Intifada was predicted. If Muslims hadn't given their blood when Sharon visited Al -Axah the mosque would have been desecrated. Look at the Jews, ordering Clinton to come talk to Arrafat.

The US gave aid to the Afghans when they already could see they were winning. The Intifada happened in Yemen because the Prophet predicted "12 000 will ally themselves to prophet." A bit confusing but I think the idea is that although the rulers of Islamic countries do deals with Jewish state, there is a ring of personally armed Islamists as a barrier to Jewish influence though the authorities who do deals with "the Jews" control the actual borders.

Hamza seems to be advising Islamists who cross these borders to fight. "If they ask for your papers, say "I am a Muslim." If they give you any shit, kill them, don't even pray for them first. Never give up their weapons to anyone because God says "Keep your weapons."

Jews cant live with each other without fighting, they pretend to be allies because they are scared. They would sell their own friends or family to the athiest. They are blasphemers. It is no point making peace with them. Their relationship with the world is that they corrupt it, that is why God sends people to punish them. Mohammed kicked them out of the Arab peninsula because of coruption. Hitler thought to himself, "The Jews deal arms to both sides so lets kill them."

Abu Bakah (in the Koran?) tried to convert a Jew who says " Gods hands are tied. He is poor. We are rich. Why do I need God when I have usury?" he hit him in the face. This is a Jew who deals in usury, kill him. Jews will be destroyed and the Jewish state will be destroyed until there are none left. In Gods name they will be killed.

The Intifada will teach Muslims how to unite, sacrifice and crave martyrdom to cleanse their lands of jews and Christians. Bosnia started without weapons. They asked for help from the east and the west and no one helped them. They took weapons from the hands of their enemies and it was only when they were about to win that the American pirates forced them to negotiate. Hezbollah are shiites and make enemies of Israel without making enemies of its allies, the US and Britain.

The borders are closed on "the brothers" with everyone bowing to Jews and to Arafat. (Don't think he likes Arrafat) There is going to be a struggle between Jews, Christians and Muslims till the judgement day. The christians are slaves to the Jewish state. the Koran predicts the Jews will be buried there. Because they take Muslim lands is only a side reason for killing them. the prophet kept them away from the holy places so they couldn't have influence there where desicions are made.

There are no civilians in Israel. All train for war. Jews the world over train even their women to fight. They forced Arafat to hand over 6 for killing 2 Israeli soldiers. He should not have done this. The allies and the Jews close the borders. Allies are more Jews than the Jews themselves. The Jews wouldn't enter palestine till they had got the British to make it safe for them then they thanked the British by bombing them and becoming terrorists. They are cowards. We don't hate Jews because they hurt each other (?) but because they corrupt the earth.

Next 2 tapes were in English dated 13/10/2000

First one started with a camera wandering around all over the front of Finsbury park mosque with a hugely elaborate, echoing call to prayer. It reminded me of the first time I noticed the mosque many years ago passing on a motorcyle, hearing the call to prayer from the now infamous minarete. I don't think the new crowd there have gone back to using it yet. I couldn't make out what was being said from the public gallery at all.

-----------------------------------

This has got to be the hardest stuff I have ever written on this blog. Thankfully some of the younger brothers turned up in the afternoon so I could confront them with how I felt about it all. Samir, who runs the supporters of Shareeah website has a brother who I have never asked the name of. Anyway they are both in their twenties, are very quietly spoken and have visited me at one the scruffiest squats I lived in years ago. It is very obvious that they both see Hamza as a father figure. All of the younger guys in the public gallery do. Most of them are at college and none of them want to appear on camera.

I told Samirs brother straight that I had known him a long time now, and if I had heard Hamza talking how I had seen all that in the court I would have left and quoted the bits I struggled with back to him a bit. He explained that at that point Hamza was still learning English and didn't properly distinguish in his terminology between "Jews" and "Zionists".

All of this was in the context of the Intifada. While Hamza spoke, many Muslims were being killed in Palestine. Every Muslim in Britain from the age of 5 to 70 was inflamed by what was happening.

Yes, Hitler had been sent by God to punnish the Jews, but Saddam was also sent to punnish the Moslems and teaching that wasn't racist against Moslems.

"Is this what you understand or what Hamza had actually told you himself?"

He assured me that it was the later and none of those who accept Hamza as a teacher believe it is Islamic to hate anyone on the grounds of race. Looking at Samirs brother I believe this is what he thinks. Because neither of them will go on camera I can't show you what I mean which is the most frustrating thing in the world to me.

I went back into court to see Hamza say that the Kaffirs hate the Jews more than Muslims do because they control all their money.

One of the things which hasn't been picked up on in the media is the fact that Hamza doesn't stand when they say "All rise." The judge is making out that this is because he is old and he "hopes hamza is comfortable" The real reason became apparent to me when the guys in the gallery refused to stand up. There is an officious but likeable turkish (I think) guy who works there who was a bit afronted by this, or more suprised that they refused to stand. Later in the afternoon they avoided confrontation by walking out for the "all rise".

It occured to me this is because neither they nor Hamza respect the authority of this court. They are in a religious situation where according to their beliefs they cannot bow to "Man made law". The judge, very wisely wants to see the case through rather than make any issue of "contempt of court" at this stage, but it will be interesting to see what hamza does when he is sentenced.

as "respectable media organisations" say-

the case continues....

Hamza trial 12th

Reuters, CNN

Well its not as if the jury have got selective edits. They are going to watch the entire tapes. The initial excitement of sitting in judgment on such a high profile case must have turned to horror by their 11.30 am tea break. You've got to sympathize with them sitting through all this for the next few days. From the public gallery I didn't have a transcript to follow and so due to the sound quality of an old video copied onto DVD it was mostly unintelligible. I suppose I could try and get a copy of each from the brothers.

Considering the words outlined by the prosecution yesterday I was expecting a much more fiery Hamza. I couldn't see a difference to the man I saw on the street really. Thankfully I had business elsewhere this afternoon.

Its quite cute really seeing how a top judge treats random members of the general public selected to do this.

"Was 20 minutes OK for your tea break? Are you all OK to continue like this?"