‘Framed’ gay Muslim appeals conviction
A gay Muslim prisoner has launched an appeal against a conviction for grievous bodily harm, claiming he was framed by the men who had been targeting him in a homophobic hate campaign.
The 28 year old, Mohamed S, whose full identity cannot be revealed for safety reasons, was jailed for eight years in 2002, but has had his case accepted for review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC,) who decide if a conviction should be sent to appeal.
He is being supported by Peter Tatchell of gay rights group, Outrage.
The group claims to have new evidence of bias, intimidation and perjury which shows Mohamed was the victim, not the perpetrator.
Mr Tatchell said: “We are assisting with the preparation of his CCRC appeal and his parole application.
“Mohamed appears to have been subjected to a vicious homophobic hate attack by five Asian men who had been previously threatening to kill him and his male partner, Junda.
“Mohamed says the men burst into his home in east London on 30 June 2002 at 3am, armed with a knife and sticks”.
At the trial, the men claimed they had been invited to a party at Mohamed’s house and accused him of attacking them.
Mr Tatchell said: “After Mohamed was jailed, a similar group of men burst into the east London home of his partner, Junda, also in the middle of the night. They hacked him with a sword and then shot him dead. Mohamed believes the killing of Junda is probably related to the threats and attack on him. Both men were receiving homophobic death threats. According to Mohamed, these death threats came from some of the men he says attacked him in his home. Junda’s murder remains unsolved.
“Mohamed is the victim of a grave miscarriage of justice. The criminal justice system has failed him. It is scandalous that he was convicted,” said Mr Tatchell.
