It began on n Sunday, March 8 – International Women’s Day. Newly-elected MP for Gorton and Denton Hannah Spencer was speaking at a rally in Piccadilly Gardens.
An anti-hate event organised by Greater Manchester Together Alliance became violent. Scuffles broke out between opposing demonstrators.
Videos of the unrest were shared online. Footage appeared to show Salford council worker Ameen Hadi in attendance at the event, and in amongst the chaotic scenes.
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After her speech, the Green Party MP was pursued by allegedly far right YouTube “auditors” as she left.
Ameen Hadi who has been suspended by Salford Council and arrested by GMP
Following the incident, Hadi, a prominent anti-racism campaigner, was sent home from work. He was later arrested on suspicion of assault by Greater Manchester Police – which Mr Hadi strongly denies.
He has been suspended from his council job as a youth worker since March, and remains on bail. But now, the Manchester Evening News understands the council has “reviewed” the case and will be commencing a new investigation from scratch.
‘Accused of something that I have not done’
Following ugly scenes on Piccadilly Gardens, some posts on social media have accused Mr Hadi of attacking another person at the event. But Mr Hadi believes he has been targeted by a ‘far-right campaign’ and ‘accused of something that he has not done.’
Far right groups and individuals, including Tommy Robinson, sent a deluge of complaints to the UNISON branch office and to Salford Council demanding that Mr Hadi be sacked.
Mr Hadi returned to work on the Monday after the incident but by then the council had been inundated with complaints urging them to take action against him. He was suspended on March 11 and arrested on March 12.
On March 31, the council decided Mr Hadi had a case to answer and may have “behaved in a way that may call into question his suitability to work with children”.
But a Salford City Council spokesperson said this week: “It is not usual council policy to comment on individual staffing matters. However, it is important to set out the following for clarity: we can confirm that we have reviewed this matter.
“The decision of March 31 has been set aside, and we will be re-running the process from the start. This will therefore address the concerns regarding the issues that have been raised. It is not appropriate for the council to comment further on this matter when there are ongoing matters under consideration.”
City Mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett, embraces Ameen Hadi at a rally organised to support him outside Swinton Civic Centre.
The Manchester Evening News understands that the council’s decision to “set aside” its initial action came after solicitors acting for Mr Hadi indicated they would seek a judicial review.
Mr Hadi has held several positions in the Salford City UNISON branch over the last two decades. He is also the Chair of North West TUC Black Workers’ Committee and the Trade Union officer for Greater Manchester Stand Up to Racism.
His supporters say he is a passionate campaigner for equality and has spoken out nationally and locally against all forms of racism and fascism.
Campaigners fighting for the investigation into Mr Hadi to be dropped say he is the victim of a malicious far right smear campaign orchestrated after far right activist Tommy Robinson named Mr Hadi in a social media post.
The Manchester Evening News understands that police officers in Piccadilly Gardens in the immediate aftermath of the clashes advised Mr Hadi to leave the area which he did.
MP Hannah Spencer was given a police escort from Piccadilly Gardens after clashes at an anti-far right event.(Image: Gary Roberts Photography)
But the Labour-run council suspended Mr Hadi in the wake of several complaints about him. The matter was then referred to the Salford Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, by a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who manages allegations of harm or misconduct made against professionals or volunteers working with children, as Mr Hadi works for children’s services.
Salford Safeguarding then referred the matter formally to Greater Manchester Police. As a result Mr Hadi was arrested at his home at 9am the day after and body searched in front of his neighbours in the street.
He was taken to North Manchester Divisional HQ where he gave a formal statement and was bailed with a condition that he does not go near parts of Manchester city centre.
The council’s suspension of Mr Hadi stemmed from allegations he may have “behaved in a way that may call into question his suitability to work with children.” He works with children aged 10 to 26.
Mr Hadi’s solicitors claim “there remains genuine doubt as to how Mr Hadi’s ‘suitability’ was called into question by his efforts to defend himself”.
The alleged assault is being investigated separately by GMP.
Campaigners calling for Mr Hadi to be reinstated claim Salford City Council has now withdrawn its Safeguarding decision relating to him.
MPs, including Salford MP Rebecca Long Bailey, councillors, senior figures in the trade union movement, as well as community organisations and many trade union branches across the UK, have supported the campaign to defend him. Three thousand people have now signed a petition backing his campaign. and Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, spoke in support of him on the town hall steps.
In a statement his campaigner said: “On Monday June 19, Salford City Council were forced to rescind their erroneous safeguarding decision, communicated to Ameen on April 20th. This claimed that Ameen posed a transferable risk to young people he worked with – without any facts to support such an assertion.
MP Hannah Spencer speaking at the rally on March 8th before scuffles broke out. (Image: Gary Roberts Photography)
“A Subject Access Request revealed a number of significant errors in the approach adopted by the Council. It was grossly unfair of Salford Council to make a finding of “transferable risk to young people on the basis of lack of insight” when Ameen continues to maintain his innocence, on the grounds of self defence, relating to the incident in Piccadilly Gardens.
“No argument was put forward to explain how the Council arrived at their conclusion. Ameen has worked for Salford City Council for over 26 years and, since 1994, has been a qualified Social Worker and Youth and Community Worker. He is known for the inclusive practice he has employed throughout his career and he has an unblemished work record.
“Ameen was attacked on March 8th when attending a peaceful, anti-racist Unity rally called by the TOGETHER Alliance. Since then, he has been subjected to a malicious and racist campaign by the Far Right, including Tommy Robinson, to get him sacked.”
His supporters are now demanding Mr Hadi’s suspension is lifted and he is allowed to return to work. Mr Hadi, 59, said: “They have called it ‘setting aside’ but in effect they have quashed their original decision. Now they are starting the process again with a whole new different team. They are going through all the information again. I am extremely happy that the decision has ben set aside.”
Greater Manchester Police confirmed Mr Hadi remained on police bail.
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