Police harassed me: El Masri

[parra-matters]

great role model that El Masri fella isn't he?

Top goal kicker at least.

 

[RABK]

Anyone watch the news just then? I was right, they were simply investigating another recent spate of middle eastern involved crime and had every right to ask them for ID. They could have appeared suspicious - 3 men sitting outside a cafe with glasses on. Perhaps they looked like they were scouting targets?

Over reaction from Hazem, he is wrong and should shut his mouth. What this attitude of his?

'they come out here and treat me like that?' Out where? Bankstown? I know the lebanese community would love to think of Bankstown as their own suburb but they're wrong.

I thought he was a good role model for the lebanese community - i was wrong.

 

[Glenn]

Playing the poor innocent victim, just hand over his ID and be done with it.

 

[innsaneink]

The holes are appearing in Houda and El Masri's storys, and despite ther fact theyve had another opportunity to do so, the still havent told us WHY they believe its racial.

 

[Apey]

I think they thought it was racial because they claimed the policeman asked for back-up. Don't quote me on that though.

 

[Sean7]

I'm as white as a ghost and have been asked to show my Driver's License for no reason. You know what I did? I showed them and went on my way because I had no reason not to show them. I had long hair at the time too. I probably should've filed a complaint.

Not wanting to show your ID immediately makes you look suspicious. AND is completely stupid.

 

[herbert henry1908]

If it is not an offence, then whycan they detain you?

I'm for protection of individuals rights as much as the next. There are enough safeguards there for now, but I do understand your concerns, but what is the correct balance? I think they have it right.

charlie , how can it be an offence to not provide ID when it is not a requirment under the law that we carry ID?

they simply detain suspects ( or people that look like suspects) until their identity can be confirmed.

after thet confirm an identity they dont charge people with failing to provide ID they either let them go or charge them with what they were suspected of.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Not wanting to show your ID immediately makes you look suspicious. AND is completely stupid.

beleive it or not some people dont carry ID , some dont have a drivers licence.

also some others dont want the police to know where they live.

 

[squiddy]

Despite what Elmasri said they wernt in a cafe at all they were on a seat in the street at 11.00pm at night in an area where several break ins had occurred that night , police had more than every right to question them.

WTF was el masri doing out t 11.00pm anyway night before a game ???

 

[Holla if ya hear me]

dont want the police to know where they live?..isnt that suspicious enuff?

 

[nqboy]

Common sense is what the law is all about. Protecting a citizens civil rights makes common sense.

What a load of horsesh*t. Common sense is a discredited notion and laws are there to provide for the absence of it.

 

[innsaneink]

beleive it or not some people dont carry ID , some dont have a drivers licence.

also some others dont want the police to know where they live.

Why, if your not suss?

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Despite what Elmasri said they wernt in a cafe at all they were on a seat in the street at 11.00pm at night in an area where several break ins had occurred that night , police had more than every right to question them.

WTF was el masri doing out t 11.00pm anyway night before a game ???

Well Elmasri played like he'd been out all night. That fumble on his line was a shocker.

 

[CharlieF]

charlie , how can it be an offence to not provide ID when it is not a requirment under the law that we carry ID?

they simply detain suspects ( or people that look like suspects) until their identity can be confirmed.

after thet confirm an identity they dont charge people with failing to provide ID they either let them go or charge them with what they were suspected of.

I know that. That is what I have been saying. Glad you agree.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=373271

Police deny harassing Bulldogs' El Masri
14th April 2007, 14:07 WST

The manager for Bulldogs National Rugby League (NRL) player Hazem El Masri maintains that police harassed them in Sydney's south west on Thursday night, despite police denials.

The NSW Police Force rejected suggestions El Masri, his manager Adam Houda and another man were targeted for questioning because of their race.

Mr Houda says the three men were at a cafe when they were surrounded and questioned by nine police officers who asked to see their identifications.

The lawyer says he believes the police action was racially motivated.

NSW Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Frank Mennilli said the men were spoken to because they were sitting on a bench outside shops late at night and there had been break-ins and vandalism in the area over the past three or four months.

"The nationality of the person's involved is totally irrelevant," Mr Mennilli said.

He said three people were sitting on a council bench near Regent's Park train station at 11.15pm (AEST) last Thursday, not in a cafe as claimed by El Masri and Mr Houda.

Mr Mennilli said the police were just doing their job and the community would think police were remiss if officers did not ask the men what they were doing there at that time of night.

"We've got three male persons sitting on a bench after 11pm at night, the shops are closed, and I think the community would expect the police to go and speak to these people," Mr Mennilli told reporters.

However, he said he could not confirm how many officers had approached the men or why backup was called for.

"I don't know exactly how many people attended and whether additional police were called to attend and for what reason."

Once El Masri had been identified, the officers left, he said.

Mr Houda said police had an inherent inability to admit wrongdoing.

"The outrageous claim made by police that they acted appropriately ... I demonstrated to the police officers that they were acting illegally," Mr Houda told ABC Radio.

"Now, are they patting them on their back and condoning illegal conduct by police officers? That's what it sounds like."

Earlier, he said the pair planned to lodge a complaint about the incident.

But Mr Mennilli said he had not received a complaint about the matter.

A Bulldogs club spokesman declined to comment.

El Masri said the police action, calling in five patrol cars and nine officers, was a massive over-reaction, especially considering his close relationship with the force.

"I have done a lot of work and I'm there for the youth, I'm there for the police, I'm there for the rights of the people," he told Network Ten.

"So, for them to come out here and treat me, or treat us, the way they did, it's not called for."

The officers involved had yet to be interviewed, Mr Mennilli said.

AAP

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Hang on, I though Hazem was at a cafe? Or was that a hospital, reading to sick children? I forget.

Either way how dare the police do their job. I am appalled.

 

[wounded magpie]

Still can't work out why he wasn't home with his wife and kids that time of the evening.
Even if you had to meet with your manager for an urgent one on one chat, I could think of 100 better places than a bench in Amy St Regents Park.

 

[nqboy]

I dont believe that El Masri would complain without a reason. I dont know the guy but he seems like a nice enough bloke and a good role model for the community.

Yeah, and his manager seems nice too :roll:

 

[Ant]

FTR I like threads like these,

shows the difference between those who have the intestinal fortitude to fight for freedom and the sheep who would leave it to the government of the time.

It also points out to those people whose stubborn antics make life more difficult for their friends, family and society. The people that protest against everything big business and governments despite them sometimes being great choices for the whole community. The people that believe every anti govt/authority piece of literature produced yet won't ever believe a govt statement.

If you think having to show some ID or identify who you are when you are out late at night with a few mates in dimly lit area is some sort of great loss of freedom then you have lost the plot.

Some of the people arguing against the police's actions would seemingly only like the police to react once a crime is committed, no preventative work allowed.

Mr Angry if you think you are leading the good fight by saying no one show those dirty cops your ID, they don't have the right, then you keep your highly righteous crusade. While you are at draw us up a bill of rights, so we can all bare arms and please sue anybody who looks at you funny, breathes on you with Garlic breath or makes fun of you for wearing a pink shirt. Because your rights are number one and you should be allowed to do whatever you please.

And damn those pigs for trying to ruin your fun, despite the rest of the community wanting them to put a stop to your weekly hunger strikes in the middle of the sydney harbour bridges lanes of traffic, in protest for police asking for ID from a bunch of young blokes sitting in the dark at 11.15pm at night. You on the right track to fixing our societies problems, Anarchy is the Answer, Woo Hoo!!!!! oh sorry that last woo hoo was a bit commercialised.

Sorry El Masri, but it was just police doing their job, next time just show the ID and it will be the end of it in 20 seconds.

 

[CharlieF]

It also points out to those people whose stubborn antics make life more difficult for their friends, family and society. The people that protest against everything big business and governments despite them sometimes being great choices for the whole community. The people that believe every anti govt/authority piece of literature produced yet won't ever believe a govt statement.

If you think having to show some ID or identify who you are when you are out late at night with a few mates in dimly lit area is some sort of great loss of freedom then you have lost the plot.

Some of the people arguing against the police's actions would seemingly only like the police to react once a crime is committed, no preventative work allowed.

Mr Angry if you think you are leading the good fight by saying no one show those dirty cops your ID, they don't have the right, then you keep your highly righteous crusade. While you are at draw us up a bill of rights, so we can all bare arms and please sue anybody who looks at you funny, breathes on you with Garlic breath or makes fun of you for wearing a pink shirt. Because your rights are number one and you should be allowed to do whatever you please.

And damn those pigs for trying to ruin your fun, despite the rest of the community wanting them to put a stop to your weekly hunger strikes in the middle of the sydney harbour bridges lanes of traffic, in protest for police asking for ID from a bunch of young blokes sitting in the dark at 11.15pm at night. You on the right track to fixing our societies problems, Anarchy is the Answer, Woo Hoo!!!!! oh sorry that last woo hoo was a bit commercialised.

Sorry El Masri, but it was just police doing their job, next time just show the ID and it will be the end of it in 20 seconds.

Simple really.

 

[Game_Breaker]

The officers involved had yet to be interviewed, Mr Mennilli said.

Thats nice to know