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Freed Iraq hostage Norman Kember under fire over bail offer to free firebrand preacher Abu Qatada
Last updated at 01:37am on 11.05.08
Norman Kember: The former hostage
The 77-year-old peace campaigner - rescued by the SAS two years ago after being kidnapped by extremists in Iraq - offered to put up a few hundred pounds as part of a bail surety for Abu Qatada.
He was approached by the legal team working for Qatada, known as Osama Bin Laden's "ambassador in Europe".
Mr Kember agreed to pledge the cash ahead of a hearing on Thursday in which the cleric was told he could be released with a 22-hour curfew.
He said it was an act of kindness in return for a video appeal Qatada had made for the peace campaigner's release in 2005.
But yesterday it emerged that the court had not requested any financial bond, and nor was it given any weight by the High Court judge who agreed to Qatada's release.
Critics said it appeared to have been a "stunt". It was Mr Kember's second brush with controversy following claims - which he later denied - that he had failed to thank the SAS troops who rescued him in March 2006.
Conservative MP Patrick Mercer, who served as a security adviser to Gordon Brown, said: "Here is a man rescued by servants of the crown in circumstances of great gallantry, but said not to have thanked those who saved him.
"Now he is seeking to aid and abet in the release of one of our enemies. I find this very difficult to understand."
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Released: Abu Qatada has been released from jail by the Special Immigration Appeals Panel
Asked to explain his motives, Mr Kember said he hadn't spoken to Qatada but had been contacted by his solicitors.
He refused to state how much he had put up. He said he didn't know if Qatada was safe to walk the streets, but added that the Government needed to produce evidence of his guilt before it could jail him.
Qatada was granted bail by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission after the Government failed to secure his deportation to Jordan, where he is wanted for planning terrorist atrocities.
The exact terms of the father-of-five's release will be hammered out next week.
Reader views (5)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
Surely if he is wanted in Jordan, his country of citizenship, and they can produce evidence in a British court of his guilt then he should be deported. Under what conditions has he been given refugee status? Even as a refugee surely he is still subject to International law? It makes me sick that anybody else would have to work themselves to the bone to get £1,000 a week after tax.
- Mark Curtis, London
What a shame giving victory to al Qaeda. It's outrageous.
- Fab Bro, london, uk
While Kember is feeling so generous perhaps he can repay back the £1000 a month the guy's been ponsing off us!
what a weak, pathetic man.
- Jonny, London
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