The witchunt against Abu Qatada simply reiterates the British Government's relationships with dictatorships - past and present

This week: the case of Abu Qatada, the Jordanian national accused of being one of the UK's most dangerous extremist preachers. With journalist Victoria Brittain

The witchunt against Abu Qatada simply reiterates the British Government's relationships with dictatorships - past and present

Yassine Ferchichi is a Tunisian national who fled persecution from his country of origin. He was arrested and sentenced in France on terrorism charges. His conviction was largely based on statements made by M’hamed Benyamina under torture in Algerian custody. In 2009, Yassine Ferchichi was deported to Senegal in opposition with a decision of the European Court of Human Rights. Since then, he has been living homeless without any legal document.

The following is a statement from a detainee who has been held under strict bail conditions (house arrest) without charge or trial for many years. The pain, anguish, and grief of his strict conditions are clear from his moving and poignant words, moreso at this time of Ramadan. He also outlines the bail conditions that he (and other SIAC detainees) are subjected to day after day, week after week, year after year. Reflect on his words, read the bail conditions and contemplate living such a life! How would you cope? Help HHUGS so we can help these men and provide them with a little relief and happiness. Donate today in this blessed month of Ramadan.

In 2008 Ibrahim Sharif, a British Citizen, was in Kenya. He had been in Kenya 2005 and 2006 without incident. However on Friday 8^th August 2008, after being picked up off the street, he was detained in Mombasa.

This week’s column has been what’s commonly referred to as a ‘slow burner’ but, I hope, for good reason. A few weeks ago, Professor Anthony Glees, a terrorism expert based at Buckingham University, myself and the Guardian’s Afua Hirsch took part in a debate on control orders on Channel 4′s flagship ‘10 O’clock live’ show, and although I felt it necessary to counter the “arguments” that were made by Pr Glees, I didn’t want to rush into a precipitated, hasty re-joinder.

Rabah Kadre is 38 years old and from Algeria.

Algerian citizen Detainee Z came to the UK in order to study for a Masters degree in Engineering.

D was arrested in 2001 and T in 2005.

An Algerian married to a UK national, Benaissa Taleb (or Detainee H) was granted refugee status in the UK after he moved here in 1993.

Mustafa Melki (known as Detainee P) is in his thirties, and from Algeria.

The 45 year old was sentenced to life imprisonment (in his absence) for alleged terrorist attacks dating back to 1998.