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Britain

Ricin suspect fighting terror removal

2006-04-26

A terror suspect once arrested in connection with a possible ricin plot against Britain has launched an appeal against a government bid to deport him. The Algerian, known only as Y, was cleared last year of conspiring to use ricin but the government maintains he is a threat to national security. Y says sending him back to Algeria would breach his human rights.

Poisoning people with ricin would seem to be a violation of human rights as well, but that thought prob'ly didn't occur to him.

But claims he would be in danger were not backed up, the Home Office told the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

"Him? In danger in Algeria? Pshaw! Now, danger from the SAS is a different matter, mind you ..."

Ian Burnett QC, for the home secretary, told a London hearing Y had "extensive Islamic extremist connections". He said Y was in fact the leader of the UK branch of the DHDS - an Algerian terrorist group which aims to unite disparate Islamic extremist groups - this is denied by Y.

"Lies! All lies!"

He may have trained in Afghanistan and had been found to have "significant numbers" of false documents, the tribunal was told. He had "close links" with north London's Finsbury Park mosque, where he was often trusted with the keys and did the photocopying, the government lawyers claimed.

Campaigners argue that this is the first appeal against deportation to a country where it is accepted that a person would be at risk of torture or death.

And it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Under human rights laws suspects cannot be deported to countries where they may face abuse.

But Mr Burnett told the hearing there were no substantial grounds for believing that Y would be at risk of torture on his return to Algeria and that the appeal should be dismissed.

Not that they'll throw a parade for him, either ...

It comes a day after Amnesty International published a report highlighting a series of torture techniques used by Algeria's military intelligence service, the DRS.

Britain is seeking to sign a "memorandum of understanding" with Algeria, aiming to guarantee that anyone returned there would not be ill-treated. The level of risk Y would face if deported is "very low", Mr Burnett said.

"How low?"
"Very low!"

Y was alerted that a deportation order was being sought against him on 15 September, 2005. Along with four other potential Algerian deportees, his terms of conditional bail were varied in January to allow him to visit the Algerian consulate to talk to the authorities about a voluntary return.

"So guys, you think I can come home and keep my fingernails?"
"Two chances, slim and none."
"uurk."

Another four Algerians have since withdrawn their appeals and are set to return voluntarily to their homeland, the tribunal was told.

Y arrived in Britain on a false French passport in March 2000. He claimed asylum, showed his genuine passport and was granted indefinite leave to stay in June 2001. Despite his denials of being a senior figure in the DHDS movement, his arrest in January 2003 over the alleged ricin plot was quickly reported back to the DHDS command in Algeria, Mr Burnett told the hearing. False documents and a DHDS audiotape were found at Y's home and his fingerprints were on documents at the heart of the terrorist ricin plot, Mr Burnett added.

Y, who was cleared on conspiracy along with three others at the Old Bailey, claims his fingerprints were found through "innocent association" because of his job at the mosque.

"I wuz just cleaning up the office, see, and these papes were on the floor, see ..."

Posted by:Dan Darling

#4 Y 2 B or not Y 2 B (any longer)

Posted by: Captain America 2006-04-26 12:56

#3 hey, Algeria's part of th UN. Surely he would be safe among such a human-rights-honoring group that includes Algeria, Iran, Sudan, Cuba, China. He should be deported. His argument makes no sense, right?

Posted by: Frank G 2006-04-26 11:38

#2 Y not?

Posted by: Seafarious 2006-04-26 10:39

#1 Y

Posted by: Captain America 2006-04-26 10:21

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