It now calls on the British Government to release Qatada who has been been detained for the last seven years without charge (and in and out of detention and control orders for 10 years). It also calls on the British Government to either charge and try him in this country, if they have any evidence against him, or to release him to his family forthwith. 

Moazzam Begg of Cageprisoners said: 

“Abu Qatada has already served a 10 year sentence for offences that have not even been defined - without due process or trial.It is outrageous that in 21st century a person can be imprisoned for a decade without trial.This travesty is clearly only happening against Muslims."

Cageprisoners also calls on the Government to re-think its strategy regarding Muslim dissidents and activists and detention without trial.

Asim Qureshi Executive Director of Cageprisoners commented:

“The Muslim world is changing, many of the regimes that have pressured the British Government to detain activists here are history, or on the way out.  We call for fresh thinking and a new approach to dealing with the Muslim community and political activists both here and overseas. Our Government must not adopt the policies of dictators in the Muslim world towards dissidents.”

End

Notes:

1. Abu Qatada is an Islamic scholar of Palestinian origin and a Jordanian national. His real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman.

2. He came to the UK in 1993 and was recognised as a refugee in 1994, and granted leave to remain there.

3. While his subsequent application for indefinite leave to remain was pending, he was detained in October 2002 under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act.

4. When that act was repealed in March 2005, he was released on bail and made subject to a control order under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. While his appeal against the control order was still pending, in August 2005 he was served with a notice of intention to deport him to Jordan. Qatada appealed against that decision.

5. During the 10 years of alternating incarceration and control orders Abu Qatada has never been charged with or tried for a crime in the UK.

For more information contact:

CagePrisoners Ltd

27 Old Gloucester Street

London

WC1N 3XX

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Website:            www.cageprisoners.com