Posted on 09/30/2005 4:55:46 PM PDT by BlackVeil
Fri 30 Sept 2005 WESTMINSTER EDITOR
THE effectiveness of the government's controversial "control orders" imposed on terrorist suspects has been called into question by the revelation that the Home Office is investigating widespread breaches of them.
At least seven of the suspected Islamic extremists subjected to control orders are believed to have broken their terms by meeting or attempting to meet other radicals, a court heard yesterday.
Among those accused of violating the orders is Abu Qatada, a cleric said to be linked to Osama bin Laden.
Qatada is now facing deportation to his native Jordan.
He was arrested last month pending a move to expel him from Britain, but will appeal against the move and yesterday applied for bail.
In a hearing of the Special Immigrant Appeals Commission (SIAC), the court that oversees the most sensitive terrorism cases, the Home Office yesterday opposed bail, arguing that Qatada had contributed to the climate in which the London suicide bombers operated.
For five months before his arrest, Qatada had been subject to a control order banning him from possessing or using either a mobile phone or computer able to connect to the internet. He was also ordered to observe a loose form of house arrest and not to meet anyone associated with hardline Muslim groups.
In legal arguments before SIAC yesterday, it was revealed that at the time of his arrest, Qatada was under investigation for breaking the rules of the order. Police had found in his home a mobile telephone - registered in the name of one of his five children - and a computer modem.
Home Office documents made available to the defence also said that Qatada had "associated or sought to associate with known extreme Islamists".
The contents of the Home Office papers were revealed by Ben Emmerson, appearing to request bail for Qatada, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman.
SIAC has previously described Qatada as a "truly dangerous individual" and his beliefs as a "perversion of Islam".
Opposing his application for bail for the Home Office, Lisa Giovanetti said: "It is the Secretary of State's case that this applicant and individuals like him have, by their teachings, been instrumental in creating a climate where young men like those who blew themselves up on 7 July consider this a legitimate action.
"We say the risk this applicant poses, should he abscond, is a very high one."
She added that the risk of absconding has been increased by a recent agreement between Britain and Jordan regarding the extradition of accused radicals.
In an attempt to get around British and European human rights laws, the so-called Memorandum of Understanding commits Jordan not to torture or mistreat suspects returned by Britain.
Qatada and others facing deportation have said they will appeal against expulsion.
Control orders were introduced in March after a marathon parliamentary battle between the government, the Conservatives and the House of Lords.
At the time, ministers argued the measures were the only way to safeguard Britain from the activities of Islamic extremists.
Several of the initial orders issued in March against men including Qatada were lifted when they were arrested last month.
Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, told MPs earlier this month that three control orders remain active, and revealed that one of the subjects of the orders is a British citizen.
David Davis, the Tory shadow home secretary, said yesterday's revelations further undermined the case for control orders.
"The government should be doing all it can to bring terror suspects straight into the criminal justice system so they can be charged and locked up in prison, rather than allowing them to live in our communities," he said.
It is very controversial that they are leaving him on the loose, and preparing to send him away to Jordan, where he will escape all scrutiny.
It seems very odd, to put it mildly, that after all this the accused is still running around freely, and arrangements are being made to send him to Jordan. What is to stop him, in Jordan, from skipping over the border to Iraq?
Yeah, that's insane - if he did any of the things he is acused of - like setting up an Al Quaida ring - he belongs in prison.
On the other thread we were discussing this, and people made the point that it is very like the "Cambridge Five" spies, and how Philby and all the rest were considered "untouchable."
It was a fake al Qaeda ring, under the control of M5. Unfortunately, it seems like M5 was under control of the fake al Qaeda ring. But they wouldn't want to blow their cover, so they covered it up.
There's always a risk with these 'assets'. Osama bin Laden has a"history" with the CIA - go figure.
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