Bitter Winter Brings Attention to the Disproportionate Police Raid
- thedivinejuststate
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
On the 30th of April 2026, Bitter Winter, “A magazine on religious liberty and human rights,” published an article with the title “Police Raid on AROPL in Crewe Raises Concerns Over Proportionality”. Written by Alessandro Amicarelli, a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, and a barrister of Italy, specializing in International and Human Rights Law and Immigration and Refugee Law, this article offers a unique perspective on the proportionality and use of force by the police on the 29th of April during the raid on Webb House, the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.
“Accounts speak of tasering, violent takedowns, and individuals—including pregnant women—being pushed or thrown to the ground. A 16‑year‑old girl was allegedly struck in the face, and several detainees reported assaults while handcuffed. Children were dragged from their beds in pyjamas, separated from parents, interrogated without guardians present, and in some cases left without diapers, clothing, or medication. Some women and children were forced to walk barefoot on asphalt to the police station. Property damage was extensive, including broken doors and smashed household items. Religious sensitivities were disregarded when the leader’s headwear was removed despite prior assurances.”
The overall assessment of this article indicates that the actions of the police during the raid follow a pattern employed by law enforcement for disproportionate use of force when raiding small religious communities, as the publication by scholars Susan J. Palmer and Stuart A. Wright in “Storming Zion: Government Raids on Religious Communities” (Oxford University Press, 2016) sought to document.
The Divine Just State magazine encourages readers to take the time to review the Bitter Winter article to gain perspective on this story. A special thank you also to Alessandro Amicarelli for shedding light on this particular aspect of the raid on AROPL in the UK.
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