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Who paid to free Abu Qatada? Kember, the Iraq hostage who didn’t thank his SAS rescuers
Marin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor09.05.08
A former British hostage held in Iraq today revealed that he helped pay the bail for jailed radical preacher Abu Qatada.
Norman Kember, a 77-year-old peace campaigner from Pinner, said he gave the money out of “kindness” in return for Qatada's help while he was being held by his kidnappers.
Mr Kember was saved by the SAS after four months in captivity at a cost of hundreds of thousands of
pounds. He was criticised after his release over claims — which he later denied — that he had failed to thank his SAS rescuers.
Extremist cleric Qatada is viewed by the Home Office as a serious danger to the public. Officials are trying to deport him to Jordan but yesterday he won an appeal against his detention
and will now be freed on bail under a 22 hour-a-day curfew.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and opposition parties have hit out at the ruling amid concern that the release of Qatada — once described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe —
will pose a threat to national security.
Today, however, Mr Kember said he felt that Qatada should be freed because the British authorities had failed to prosecute him.
He said that if Qatada, who has been in jail awaiting deportation since 2002, had been convicted then he should serve his sentence, but in the absence of a trial it was wrong to
continue to detain him.
“If you want to keep him in jail you have to have good reasons for doing it otherwise al Qaeda have you — if you don't follow your process of justice,” he said.
Mr Kember said he had given hundreds, rather than thousands, of pounds and had sent Qatada a copy of
his book, Hostage In Iraq. He added that he expected to be criticised.
He said that he hoped Qatada's release “would encourage a conversation with Muslims” and greater
understanding of the religion and urged more people to try to speak to the cleric to “understand what his position is and why he takes it”.
He added: “I always think we are in danger of demonising Islam and I think we have to have a more open discussion about these things. The Government obviously doesn't.”
Qatada, a Palestinian-Jordanian, was convicted in his absence in Jordan of terrorist offences in the 1990s. Judges last week blocked a government
bid to deport him back to Jordan because of the risk that evidence obtained by torture would be used to prosecute him, although the Home Office is mounting an appeal.
Mr Kember and three other men were kidnapped in Baghdad in November 2005 by a group calling
itself the Swords of Truth Brigade.
One of the hostages, American Tom Fox, was murdered by his captors. After his rescue, the head of the British Army, General Sir Mike Jackson, said he was “saddened” by Mr Kember's apparent lack of gratitude towards his SAS saviours.
Reader views (4)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
I suggest Quatada be sent back to Jordan despite the court ruling. How dare unelected judges place national security in jeopardy but trying to prevent the government doing its duty and deporting this individual. They should not be allowed to meddle like this. The law should be changed. If it's the wretched human rights act again then that should be scrapped.
As for Kember, is anyone surprised? He was returning a favour.
- Dr Nick Ashley, Huntingdon England
I think Sir Mike was extremely diplomatic in his choice of words.... I am incandescent at this old cretin - just goes to show that age does not always bring wisdom. The fact that he "expected to be criticised" reveals him to be a rather pathetic, attention-seeking eternal teenager. Nonetheless he has forfeited any sympathy. I hope the tabloids have him for breakfast.
- Arthur Z, Stamford Hill, London
He should join the terrorists at the prison camps. He is worst than a terrorist he is a worm. Rescued by the army after pitting his worthless life in danger, failing to acknowledge his rescuers and now openly supporting a known terrorist.
Put him in a cell with the other terrorists for life.
- A.Winsley, London. England
Why doesn't Mr Kember go back to Iraq and thank the people who kidnapped him, i'm sure they would be delighted to see him. Maybe they would like to all sit round and read his book together.
- Bob Baxter, London, England
