'Abu Qatada has not only shared his views with fellow conspirators, he has actually trumpeted them.'
That Qatada has not been prosecuted under criminal and conspiracy laws makes a mockery of our legal system
Much of the media, with no shortage of encouragement from Tory MPs eager to use the case to bash the European court of human rights, seem to be engaged in a feeding frenzy over Abu Qatada. As the government pursues its desperate attempt to deport him to Jordan (and persuade the authorities to agree any trial there will not use evidence obtained by torture) one fundamental question remains unanswered. If he is such a dangerous and influential man, who spreads al-Qaida poison throughout the world and is a serious threat to Britain's national security, why has he not been charged under any one of the plethora of anti-terrorist laws introduced by the Labour government?Incitement to terrorism overseas has been a criminal offence here since 2000. "The criminal law as it stands is enough. We have masses of legislation that deals with terrorism," the former head of MI5, Eliza Manningham-Buller, remarked 10 years later, in 2010, adding that calls for fresh legislation should be resisted. It is suggested in some secret corners of Whitehall that there is insufficient evidence to convict Qatada at a trial. Qatada never planned to plant bombs himself, it is said. His role was that of a radical preacher – to influence by words, not deeds. Read the rest on:
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