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Tagged on a stroll to shops, hate preacher freed from jail
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor10.07.08
Fresh concerns over the release of the extremist cleric Abu Qatada were raised today after he was pictured walking down a London street three years after the 7/7 bombings.
The 47-year-old - described as "Osama bin Laden's right hand man in Europe" - was controversially freed on bail last month after judges ruled that he could not be deported because of human rights laws.
Ministers argue that he remains a danger and in a bid to protect the public, he was placed under strict bail restrictions including a 22-hour curfew and a ban on using mobiles, computers or the internet.
Today's photograph, which is the first to show the greying cleric since his release, is likely, however, increase public dismay about his release.
It was taken on 7 July, hours after families and friends of the 2005 London bomb victims had taken part in a memorial to remember the 52 people killed in the attack and the many others who were injured.
Although he is under virtual house arrest, the preacher appeared happy and relaxed as he strolled to shops close to the £800,000 London home he shares with his wife and children. Exact details of the location where the Qatada family are living on benefits of an estimated £50,000 a year are protected by court orders.
At one point the fanatical preacher, who was 20 stone but slimmed down on prison food, joked with a woman about his brown prayer beads, before laughing and beaming in response to her comments.
He also repeatedly stroked his bushy grey beard before returning home carrying a six-pack of Diet Coke and toilet rolls.
The father of five has claimed incapacity benefit for a bad back but on Monday he was wearing a green rucksack in case he needed to carry extra supplies. Just above a battered white training shoe on his right foot, partially concealed by a sock, was an electronic tag that he must wear as part of bail conditions imposed by the Special Immigration Appeals Tribunal.
Under these curbs, Qatada is allowed to leave his rented four-bedroom semi for one hour a day after 10am and another hour from 2pm. Other restrictions include not having any contact, directly or indirectly, with a list of terrorists including Bin Laden.
Qatada - described in court as "a truly dangerous individual" - was freed three weeks ago when the Court of Appeal ruled he could not be deported to his home country of Jordan because evidence used against him there might have been obtained by torture - a breach of his human rights.
Reader views (4)
Excuse me, but who is responsible for these photos -and the press-release which went along with it?
- Paul Wolkus, London, UK
I think we're all within our rights to withhold our taxes if they're being used to fund our enemies, such as Abu Qatada.
This ridiculous state of affairs is down to New Labours "Human Rights" legislation, yet we all now live in a surveillance society and the real threats cannot be deported or intervened as 'enemy aliens'.
- Sean, London UK
I strongly object to these people abusing our hospitality not least of which is the huge amounts of money they are paid in benefits. Where else in this world can you live like this? Isn't it about time our politicians took some positive steps to put an end to this. I don't pay my taxes to feed Al-Queda's right hand man in Europe, nor his family whom I'm sure share his views.
- Peter, London UK
It is a national disgrace that this person is allowed to live in Britain at the expense of the taxpayers. Then again I suppose it's more important for the Home Office to deny entry to Martha Stewart. She must be a terrible danger to British society!
- Robert Collins, Philadelphia, USA
