Who? Shahrokh Mireskandari, assistant solicitor at Dean & Dean in London.

Why is he in the news? Acts for a senior Iranian cleric who is considering launching a legal action against the Metropolitan Police for allegedly failing properly to investigate his alleged kidnapping in Knightsbridge. The Met has agreed to an internal investigation, but Mr Mireskandari is also planning a legal action, claiming that the police did not investigate fully because his client was a Muslim. A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said the Met had fully investigated the allegations of kidnap and taken them very seriously, and the papers were currently with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as a result. The Met is 'examining the issues that have been raised' concerning its treatment of the Middle Eastern community.


Background: Business degree in the US followed by a doctorate in law and masters in international law. Studied the legal practice course at London Guildhall University, followed by articles at what is now Dean & Dean in London, qualifying in 2000.


Route to the case: Was acting in a matrimonial case in which the cleric had come to the UK to give evidence when he was allegedly kidnapped.


Thoughts on the case: 'The way this man has been treated is appalling. It is in the public interest to have the police bring to justice any perpetrator who commits a violent crime, as in this case. After six months of investigating, the police have now sent the case to the CPS for advice. We feel that this is a clear-cut case which should have been dealt with immediately with vigour and diligence, in which case arrests might have been imminent. We have had junior and leading counsel's view on this case, and they are amazed that no arrests have been made to date. This is a period of time where the government is fighting terrorism and looks towards the Middle Eastern community for help. I believe it is the duty of everyone to help the government and the appropriate agencies in every way possible to fight any type of crime including terrorism. But when the Middle Eastern community is treated in this manner by the police, then how do they expect that community to trust, co-operate and assist them?'


Dealing with the media: 'We have had many calls from other media as well as the BBC and many Middle Eastern newspapers. I think that it is in the public interest to bring this to the attention of everyone. Something has to be done and police officers and/or policy makers have to be held accountable for the manner in which the police behave.'