Osama ‘ambassador’ faces deportation

July 21. — A Muslim cleric who has been described as Osama bin Laden’s “spiritual ambassador in Europe” faces deportation to Jordan under a crackdown on Islamic extremists in the wake of the London bombings.

Mr Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, announced today that he is taking new powers to deport or exclude from Britain people who who incite others to commit terrorist acts by preaching, running websites or writing inflammatory articles.

Jordanian-born Abu Qatada, who fled to Britain claiming persecution, was held in Belmarsh Prison without charge after the 9/11 attacks in America and is currently the subject of a control order. Tapes of his sermons were found in a Hamburg flat used by some of the 9/11 hijackers and he is believed to have inspired the shoe bomber Richard Reid. He has been convicted of terrorism in his absence in Jordan and several European countries are believed to be trying to extradite him.

The government will try to deport Qatada under an agreement struck with Jordan which guarantees that deportees would not be mistreated in the country.

The process could take years as he could still challenge his removal in the British courts. But yesterday’s agreement reduces the prospects of the court’s ruling that deportation could breach the European Convention on Human Rights.

A second Jordanian man previously held at Belmarsh, Abu Rideh, could also face deportation after the deal is formally signed shortly.

However, the agreement will not affect other high-profile Muslim extremists accused of inciting terrorism such as Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, who has blamed the London bombings on the British people because they re-elected Mr Tony Blair on May. Dubbed “the Tottenham Ayatollah”, he was granted exceptional leave to remain in Britain. But he has joint Syrian and Lebanese nationality and no similar agreement exists with these countries.

The memo of understanding with Jordan is the first of its kind struck by Britain but ministers hope to conclude similar agreements with countries such as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia so that up to 20 known Muslim extremists could eventually be deported. In practice, they are more likely to be prosecuted under a new law to be pushed through before Christmas, which will outlaw indirectly inciting others to carry out a terrorist act.

This could be used against people who support suicide bombings in Israel as well as those who defend the London attacks but would not be retrospective.

Also today, Mr Tony Blair announced plans to host an international conference for countries affected by Islamic extremism.

The British Prime Minister said he was considering calling an international conference on rooting out Muslim extremism, and Islamic leaders proposed a wide-ranging probe of the suicide bombers’ motives.

The proposed international conference, Mr Blair said, would focus on the possibilities of taking “concerted action right across the world to try to root out this type extremist teaching”. He said 26 countries had been attacked by the Al-Qaida and associated groups, “so there is obviously a huge well of support and understanding for the problems that we have faced in this country just recently”.

In Lahore, a senior intelligence official said: “We have an important man in our custody. I am not in aposition to disclose his name right now, but the maximum that I can tell you is that he has some direct links with the London attacks.” The official declined to say when the man was arrested or elaborate on his alleged links with the London bombings. Pakistani police had earlier reported detaining seven people.

In a related development, British Islamic leaders today called for a judicial inquiry into what motivated the London suicide bombers. “The scale of disenchantment amongst Muslim youth is very clear to see,” said Mr Inayat Bungalwala of the Muslim Council of Britain. “Various factors are at play: underachievement in education; a high rate of unemployment; discrimination in the workplace; social exclusion, and also the government’s own policies, especially in Iraq,” Mr Bungalwala said.

“The process of how we get four homegrown suicide bombers must be understood and that is why we are calling for an inquiry,” the Muslim leader added. — The Independent (With inputs from agencies)

“The process of how we get four homegrown suicide bombers must be understood and that is why we are calling for an inquiry,” the Muslim leader added. — The Independent

Why do they think it always relates to a "socialization problem? They don't assimilate in British society, even if they were born in it.

“Various factors are at play: underachievement in education; a high rate of unemployment; discrimination in the workplace; social exclusion, and also the government’s own policies, especially in Iraq,”

They have a lot of complaints and/or excuses but "one of the London bombers, Shehzad Tanweer, boasted of wanting to die in a revenge attack over the way Muslims are treated." and "He recalled how Tanweer argued with family and friends about the need for violent retaliation over US abuse of Muslim prisoners in Guantanamo Bay."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1448036/posts?page=29#29

Nothing like a good kick in the ass to get the liberal hand-wringers almost crying for vengence. They were oh-so-understandable in October, 2001. If they really understood how moronic and useless they were, they would all sign up for oblivion on the next Halie-Bop Comet.

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