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| Britain |
| Decision on GSPC leader due |
| 2005-02-07 |
| An international terror suspect who has been held under house arrest for more than nine months will today be accused of breaching his bail conditions. A special tribunal will decide whether the Algerian, known only as G, should be returned to Belmarsh prison. G is the only man held under the government's controversial anti-terror powers to so far be subjected to house arrest instead of jail. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) hearing could prove embarrassing for Home Secretary Charles Clarke. House arrest is a crucial part of his proposed new system of "control orders" to deal with foreign and British terror suspects. G is not allowed to meet anybody apart from his family, lawyers or doctors and is forbidden from using the telephone or a computer to prevent him associating with terrorists. A hearing was told last week that two men visited his home without permission despite the property being under 24-hour surveillance. Last July, Siac concluded that even though on bail G was still a threat to national security and that the bail conditions were "essential". A Home Office spokesman said: "It is down to the court to consider the case. However, it could lead to the detainee's return to detention. We believe it shows that breaches of bail will be dealt with appropriately." The 35-year-old, who is partially paralysed due to childhood polio, was let out of jail last April after his lawyers persuaded Siac that his mental health was being damaged by his imprisonment. Last Monday, Siac approved the release of another detainee, Abu Rideh, because of mental health fears. His bail conditions are yet to be agreed. The following day, the Home Secretary ordered the release of another detainee, known as C, but refused to explain the reasons behind his decision. G was born in Djelfa in central Algeria in March 1969. In a previous statement to Siac, he said he developed polio at the age of two which left him with a permanently weak and paralysed right leg so that he limps and has to wear a support. He arrived in the UK in August 1995 and claimed asylum — a claim which was rejected in September 1997. An appeal was dismissed in 1999. He married a French national, with whom he had a daughter in 2000. The couple applied for a residence permit in November 2000 because G's wife is an European national, and they were eventually granted a six month permit from June 2001. G was certified as an international terrorist by former Home Secretary David Blunkett on December 19, 2001, and detained. The certificate said G was a member of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), a banned organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000, which has links to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network. It also said his activities on behalf of the group and of extremist fighters in Chechnya included sponsoring young Muslims in the United Kingdom to go to Afghanistan to train for jihad. Siac concluded in October 2003: "The closed material confirms our view that there is indeed reasonable suspicion that (G) is an international terrorist ... and reasonable belief that his presence in the United Kingdom is a risk to national security. "We have no doubt that he has been involved in the production of false documentation, has facilitated young Muslims to travel to Afghanistan to train for jihad and has actively assisted terrorists who have links with al Qaida. We are satisfied too that he has actively assisted the GSPC." Siac allowed G to be released on bail on April 22, 2004, on strict conditions. But the panel said in July last year: "In granting bail, the commission did not revise its view as to the strength of the grounds for believing that he was an international terrorist and a threat to national security. The threat could be managed proportionately in his case in view of his severe mental illness. There might be circumstances in which he breaches the terms of his bail or for other reasons it was necessary to revoke it. "A number of his contacts remain at large including some who are regarded as actively involved in terrorist planning. There is nothing to suggest that his mental illness has diminished his commitment to the extremist Islamic cause; he has the experience and capacity to involve himself once more in extremist activity. The bail restraints on him are essential." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 Dammit he's out... Officials said the man, known only as "G", broke bail conditions by having two unauthorised visitors to his home. But Mr Justice Collins ruled that Charles Clarke had not proved "to the necessary standard" that there had been a breach. Just the neighbours popping round for a welcoming sherry? |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2005-02-07 9:22:09 AM |
| #1 He's back inside already... |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2005-02-07 4:18:15 AM |