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Britain
Lebanese Arrest Bakri (and he thought he had it bad in Britain!)
2005-08-11
Security forces have arrested Omar Bakri, the Islamic cleric being investigated in Britain on terror-related charges, officials said Thursday. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak about the case, refused to say when or where Bakri was arrested.
we can say no more™
The local Future TV channel reported that Bakri was arrested Thursday afternoon as he left its building in the west Beirut district of Raouche after giving an interview.
the differences in consequenses of "giving an interview" in a western country vs in a middle eastern country will soon become apparent
The station said Bakri was told that the General Security department wants to question him about "information regarding his entry into Lebanon."
hopefully this "questioning" will incorporate car batteries, wet sponges and pliers"
Bakri, who earned a reputation for extremism during his 20 years in Britain, announced Tuesday that he was in Lebanon. The cleric said he was visiting relatives but planned to return to Britain within six weeks. Bakri founded the now-disbanded radical Islamic group al-Muhajiroun, which came under scrutiny in Britain, particularly after some of its members praised the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Bakri is from Syria, but his wife's family is Lebanese and he has citizenship in both Syria and Lebanon.
"I have rights!!!"
Posted by:PlanetDan

#13  Hey, don't look here!
Posted by: Hidden Dog   2005-08-11 21:26  

#12  Ima conflcited about that guy PR. That was one good looking Afghan.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-08-11 17:34  

#11  Shipman,

Ask this guy. He created snuppy.

Posted by: Poison Reverse   2005-08-11 17:01  

#10  I'd be happy for the Lebanese version of Hillarycare to conduct any and all scientific experiments operations on this sack of shit
Posted by: Frank G   2005-08-11 16:36  

#9  Things are murky at this stage, not plain enough for me and mine. Time will tell. Perhaps he needs a fine cannine companion.

/filling in for Lucky
Posted by: Shipman   2005-08-11 14:56  

#8  Bit of an update. This appears not to be your brightest move, Omar. Enjoy it in Lebanon. Looks like you'll be there for awhile...

Last night Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said that he would refuse a request that had been received from the cleric to return to Britain for a heart operation on the NHS.
The cleric claimed to have an appointment at a London hospital for an operation to widen an artery which would cost up to £8,000 if he had to have private treatment. He said: "I have every right to come back. Britain is my home. My family are there and I have done nothing wrong."
Officials believe that Mr Bakri Mohammed is trying to test the Home Office’s promised immigration rules. His followers said yesterday that they might challenge any ban on medical grounds.
Senior officials said that the Home Secretary could exercise leniency if it were a life-or-death matter, but a routine operation was unlikely to be grounds for lifting any ban.
One said: "His heart condition was not serious enough to prevent him flying to Beirut last weekend and I am sure they have very fine hospitals in Lebanon where this procedure could be done".
Mr Bakri Mohammed, who has collected up to £300,000 in various benefits during his 19 years in Britain, had been given leave to remain indefinitely after claiming that his life would be in danger if he returned to the Middle East.


Must be why he vacations there...
Posted by: tu3031   2005-08-11 12:30  

#7  The same Lebanese who kicked out the Syrians a few months ago? The same Lebanese who like what they saw in Iraq (then - when they voted)? Those guys?

I love it when a plan (seems to) come together!
Posted by: Bobby   2005-08-11 12:13  

#6  Lebanese
Posted by: bk   2005-08-11 11:49  

#5  good for the lebonese
Posted by: bk   2005-08-11 11:48  

#4  I've never seen a lebanese jail, but I'd say it makes a British jail look like club med. Bet he is rethinking his flight from justice about now.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2005-08-11 11:15  

#3  Well, so much for heart surgery with anesthesia.

"local Future TV channel"
I love the name. Although, local channels in the US no longer have a future.
Posted by: Poison Reverse   2005-08-11 11:02  

#2  I'm moving to England. I won't pose a security threat. I just want to be on the dole, so I can get 6 weeks vacation at once. I only get 4 weeks( no more than two in a row) after working here 9 years. With no hope of more.
Posted by: plainslow   2005-08-11 09:48  

#1  King Tubby Hookhand Cleric, Preacher of Hatred and Lover of the Trew Faith (ie the western welfare state DOLE) to the Lebanese - "Why don't they love me?!"
Posted by: MunkarKat   2005-08-11 09:46  

00:00