Protesters accused of damaging Oldham factory claim they were motivated by 'ethical responsibility'

Protesters accused of breaking into a factory in Oldham - damaging windows, a fire door and equipment - claimed they were motivated by ‘ethical responsibility’.

Istasham Ali, 33; Shaheeb Aziz, 40; and Michael Rabb, 77, are charged with causing criminal damage at Cairo House, the building home to Ferranti Technologies, on Greenacres Road. Mr Ali and Mr Aziz are also charged with burglary with intent to cause criminal damage.

The charges relate to an incident at Cairo House on June 21 202. Prosecutors say the defendants broke into the building before trashing items. Ferranti Technologies, owned by Israeli firm Elbit Systems, manufactures electrical items for use by the defence industry, jurors were previously told.

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The three men deny the offences and are on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court. Representing himself, Mr Ali - wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh - said: “Our protest was to stand up against [them].”

He described his actions as ‘an act of civil disobedience’, adding: “My actions were motivated by ethical responsibility.” He described the jury as being the ‘moral compass’ of the community and said they were at the forefront of the judicial system.

Mr Ali added: “The right to protest is a human right not only in the eyes of the law, but in the native human behaviour. We feel the need for action when we believe something is wrong.

“The building I am accused of damaging was involved in manufacturing weapons involved in great civil casualties and suffering. I do not regret my actions.”

He added that he carried out the acts because he ‘did not want to be remembered as being complicit in genocide’ or ‘complicit in the bombing of children’.

Tom Wainwright, representing Mr Aziz, said the jury system is the cornerstone of the judicial system and urged jurors to consider the right to protest.

In his defence closing speech, Mr Rabb, who wore a red boiler suit and also wore a Palestinian keffiyeh, said the prosecution had ‘failed to prove’ he had caused damage to the building.

He added: "What I was doing was civil disobedience." He said three years ago, the group had ‘shut down’ the factory that ‘produced the weapons’. Mr Rabb explained to jurors about the premise of ‘conscientious objection’, stating that it is the ‘right of an individual to refuse to partake in an act due to one’s moral or religious beliefs’.

“It’s a defence as old as Socrates,” he said. "My conscience told me I had to do something to stop the genocide. I ask you to exercise your right to conscientiously object and find me not guilty."

Jurors previously heard that at around 6.45pm police officers were called to attend at Cairo House, on Greenacres Road, Oldham. At the time the company was regularly being targeted by pro-Palestine groups such as Palestine Action.

When police officers arrived they could see red and green smoke coming from the roof. After gaining entry to the building they could hear ‘smashing sounds’ coming from inside, it was said. They also saw two individuals in red boiler suits, the court heard.

“One officer saw two individuals smashing windows with a sledge hammer and the fire door before climbing inside the building,” prosecutor Ryan Donoghue said.

“Once inside the building, the officers could hear smashing sounds, and they made their way up to floor E and could hear the smashing sounds continuing. They saw two of the individuals in red boiler suits.

“Inside the building officers shouted towards them, the Crown says this was Mr Ali and Mr Aziz. They ran to the fire exit and Mr Aziz was seen to pull computer equipment using the wires off a desk.”

The men were followed by the police before Mr Aziz was detained and arrested, it was said. Mr Rabb was also found to be on the roof, also wearing a red boiler suit.

Mr Ali made his way to the edge of the roof and jumped over the railing, jurors were told. Officers tried to prevent him from falling, and he could be heard on body worn footage to say: “They are killing children, they have killed my family”. He also accused the officers of being ‘child murderers’, the court heard.

“The police held on to him and sought to persuade him back onto the roof. He then said, 'say Free Palestine and I will come back over'. They did and he came back onto the roof and was arrested,” the prosecutor continued.

Mr Aziz, of Dearnley Street, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire and Mr Ali, of Luton Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire, both deny criminal damage and burglary with intent to cause criminal damage.

US citizen Mr Rabb, of 30th Street, Boulder, Colorado - who previously lived in Sheffield - denies criminal damage.

The trial continues.