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Film makers face jail over terror suspect on Newsnight
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor19 Aug 2010
Two London film makers are facing the threat of prison after allegedly breaching court orders by highlighting the case of a terror suspect living under “virtual house arrest”.
Fred Grace and Gemma Atkinson, of Fat Rat Films, have been told that the Attorney General Dominic Grieve is considering authorising contempt of court proceedings against them for producing a BBC feature on the Jordanian national Hussain Saleh Hussain Alsamamara.
He was arrested in 2004 after having an asylum claim turned down and placed under strict immigration bail conditions, including a severe curfew, electronic tagging, a ban on using the internet. His detention was prompted by information from Jordanian intelligence that he had been in touch with the former al Qaeda commander in Iraq, Abu Musab Al Zarqawi.
Supporters say, however, that the restrictions on Mr Alsamamara — who denies the allegations against him — are excessive and wrongly based on secret evidence and his case was highlighted in a film produced by Mr Grace and Ms Atkinson and broadcast on BBC2's Newsnight.
By allowing the filming Mr Alsamamara breached one of his own bail conditions, but immigration appeals judge, Mr Justice Mitting has also asked the Attorney General to consider contempt of court proceedings.James Welch, of Liberty, said: “Fred and Gemma are facing punishment for doing their job.”
