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Home Office staff can join Islamic extremists

Last updated at 16:00pm on 13.12.06

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Home Office staff are free to be members of the Islamic extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, it was revealed yesterday.

Those working in the department responsible for immigration and homeland security do not even have to declare membership of the fanatical organisation, the Government admitted.

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This means Home Secretary John Reid has no idea how many of his staff hold the group's radical views and he has no means of monitoring their activities.

The revelation - in a written parliamentary answer - comes after Home Office IT manager Abid Javaid, 41, was found to be a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which supports a worldwide Islamic state run under hardline Sharia law.

Shadow Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "This is really shocking. It is a dereliction of duty for them not to find out how many more Hizb ut-Tahrir members are on the Home Office payroll."

Reader views (4)

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Here's a sample of the latest views published.

Fred, I know the nefarious tendrils of New Labour are of inordinate reach, but how have they managed to ruin Dubai in ten years? Please explain as I was planning on fleeing Britain to live in that world-renowned fount of democracy, pluralism and free-thinking, but am now having second thoughts having read your oh-so-eloquent post.

- Jamie, London

This group is not banned which is why people are allowed to be members and keep their jobs. Were it to be banned it would be a different matter. We do live in a democracy!

- Kath, London

This is New Labour management - useless. 10-years and they have ruined my country.

- Fred, Dubai

This is so reassuring. I will sleep well tonight, knowing that the very fabric of our country is already beautifully interwoven with anti-British extremists.

- Isabel, Woking, England