While press and TV have concentrated on war action in Gulf, a full-scale witch-hunt against people from the Middle East has been going on in Britain.
23 Iraqis were expelled in September, and another 67 issued with notices of intention to deport on 3 January. Since Jan 15, hundreds of people from the Middle East have been rounded up by the police, with no notice, under a clause in the Immigration Act which deals with the question of 'national security'. Those detained or expelled include op ponents of Saddam Hussein.
Most of the detainees have been held in Pentonville, in appalling conditions, but are soon to be transferred to Full Sutton, a security prison in rural Yorkshire. A prison camp is being prepared on Salisbury Plain for 'prisoners of war' Detainees have very few deportations rights. There is a right of appeal to the Immigration Appeals tribunal, which won't to meet for at least six weeks and whose recom mendations are only advisory.
Many of the detainess have lived in Britain for many years, and are Iragi dissidents who left Iraq because of opposition to Saddam. Like many Palestinians they face grave danger if they are deported.
Not surprisingly, there have been increasing attacks on people though to be of Arab origin, and also against mosques. This has been going on since August and has become particular ly severe in the past few weeks. And we can expect is to grow rapidly if there are many British casualties.
It is vital that the antiwar movement takes up these issues and builds a campaign to defend those arrested, interned or threatened with deportation.