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Britain
20 Abu Hamza-style preachers still radicalizing British youth
2006-02-15
UP TO 20 more imams who preach the same messages of hate as Abu Hamza could still be trying to recruit young Muslims in universities and prisons, the GovernmentÂ’s terror watchdog warned MPs yesterday.

Lord Carlile of Berriew told the Home Affairs Select Committee that not enough had been done to check the credentials of imams arriving from abroad to take up posts in Britain. His warning came as ministers pleaded with rebel MPs to back the Terrorism Bill tonight. It would ban the glorification of terrorism, which they insist is the only way to prosecute demonstrators who carry banners praising the 7/7 bombers.

Amendments passed to the Bill by the House of Lords last month came before the recent protests in London in which Muslim extremists called for murder and a new wave of suicide attacks after the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Peers removed clauses making the glorification of terrorism a new offence, arguing that they went too far.

There was public anger that no demonstrator was arrested, although a paroled man dressed as a suicide bomber was recalled to prison. Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, will avoid any direct reference to the protesters in todayÂ’s debate. TonightÂ’s vote may be tight. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are opposed to making glorification a crime, and twenty-seven Labour MPs rebelled the last time the issue was debated, reducing the GovernmentÂ’s majority to one.

Downing Street insisted that there would be no concessions. “We want to send a clear signal that we are doing everything we can to counter terrorism,” a spokesman said.

Lord Carlile admitted yesterday that there were no precise numbers on how many preachers of hate are still operating in this country. His warning comes just days after an imam at a West Yorkshire mosque where some of the July 7 bombers worshipped reportedly hailed their terror attack as a good act in a conversation with an undercover reporter. Hamid Ali, the spiritual leader of the Al-Madina Masjid mosque in Beeston, allegedly claimed that the bombings on the London Underground and a double-deck bus, which killed 52 rush-hour travellers, forced people to take notice when peaceful meetings and conferences made no impact.

Lord Carlile said this month after studying secret Home Office documents that there was a “real and present danger” of more suicide attacks. In the aftermath of the jailing of Abu Hamza last week, he told MPs: “My worry is that they are in places such as colleges and custodial institutions where there are larger numbers than elsewhere of impressionable young men.”

Some prisons sacked their imams after they were discovered to be distributing extremist literature to young inmates.

The Muslim Council of Britain said last night that it was anxious to meet Lord Carlile to exhange information about extremist preachers.

Arguing for police to get more than 14 days to question terror suspects, Lord Carlile said that he knew of one group who escaped prosecution because the deadline expired before detectives could gather the evidence they needed.
Posted by:Dan Darling

#11  Brits still got a better Navy than Islamostan. So we'll see.
Posted by: Seafarious   2006-02-15 16:48  

#10  The Blair government made a good faith attempt to devise expulsion legislation that matched what the French and Germans have. But he was shot down, mostly by members of his own party. The Brits will pay for this squanderage of thoughtful public safety work. Is it Rule Britania or Rule Islamia?
Posted by: Spaviting Glavise6090   2006-02-15 16:42  

#9  The Muslim Council of Britain said last night that it was anxious to meet Lord Carlile to exhange information about extremist preachers.

No never! Wonderful chaps! Used to give their mothers flowers and all that ...
Posted by: Zenster   2006-02-15 16:15  

#8  UP TO 20 more imams who preach the same messages of hate as Abu Hamza could still be trying to recruit young Muslims in universities and prisons, the GovernmentÂ’s terror watchdog warned MPs yesterday.

"Could be"? How about laucnhing an undercover operation to determine if they are indeed doing just that?

Sakes.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2006-02-15 15:47  

#7  gromguru, I was just in Israel for 12 days. I just think that country is wonderful. But if you want reality disfunctional people, you should visit the San Francisco Bay area where I live. Moonbat city!
Posted by: remoteman   2006-02-15 15:07  

#6  What can you really expect from a government that appoints an Islamic adviser who is banned from France?
Posted by: Two Purple Lines   2006-02-15 12:08  

#5  "The Muslim Council of Britain said last night that it was anxious to meet Lord Carlile to exhange information about extremist preachers."

Yes, so that they can ensure that the 'Imams' can be protected. The Taqiya 5th column of Muslims in the UK. Why , oh why, is the British government so naive as to think that being 'nicey,nicey' with these 5th columnists is going to make anyhing better. Its just more appeasement of the Islamic facists.
Posted by: Howard   2006-02-15 11:39  

#4  But the blinders are still there, and no sign of them falling off.

I used to think that my countrymen (Israelis) are the most reality disfunctional people in the World. So, I guess, EUrope is good for something.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-02-15 10:14  

#3  "British youths

A problem cannot be solved, until it's properly formulated."

So true. But the blinders are still there, and no sign of them falling off.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-02-15 10:08  

#2  20 Abu Hamza-style preachers still radicalizing British youth

A problem cannot be solved, until it's properly formulated.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-02-15 10:06  

#1  not enough had been done to check the credentials of imams arriving from abroad to take up posts in Britain

oh, they've been checked all right - just not by Britain.
Posted by: 2b   2006-02-15 09:59  

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