Faithless
08-07-2005, 10:48 PM
Terror treason charge considered (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4130454.stm)
Last Updated: Monday, 8 August 2005, 04:30 GMT 05:30 UK
Police and lawyers are to consider whether Islamist radicals who support terrorism may face treason charges.
The Crown Prosecution Service's head of anti-terrorism will meet Scotland Yard officers in the next few days.
Lord Goldsmith and the Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald have discussed action against three people, the Attorney General's office has said.
Omar Bakri Mohammed, Abu Izzadeen and Abu Uzair are all expected to come under scrutiny.
'No decision'
The spokeswoman for the Attorney-General's Office said it was not clear at this stage whether there was enough evidence to bring charges.
The crime of betraying one's country has long been regarded as one of the most serious of offences.
Treason carries a penalty of life imprisonment, but the death penalty for the offence was only abolished in 1998.
Officials will be looking at broadcast and published comments as well as speeches and sermons made by the trip to followers.
"No decision on charges has been made yet. The CPS will be looking at it to see if any offences have been committed," she said.
Possible charges which will be considered include the common law offences of treason and incitement to treason.
Omar Bakri Mohammed is a London-based cleric for the al-Muhajiroun group.
On Friday while announcing new measures to clamp down on extremism, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that this group's successor organisation, the Saviour Sect, would be outlawed.
Mr Bakri caused controversy when he said he would not inform police if he knew Muslims were planning a bomb attack in the UK.
He also expressed support for Muslims who attacked British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"For Muslims there, they have a duty to fight occupiers, whether they are British soldiers or American soldiers," he told Channel 4 News.
'Smell the coffee'
British-born Abu Izzadeen, a spokesman for the group al-Ghurabaa (the Strangers) has declined to condemn the 7 July London bombings.
He told BBC2's Newsnight the bombings were "mujahideen activity" which would make people "wake up and smell the coffee".
Abu Uzair, a former member of al-Muhajiroun, told the same programme that the September 11 attacks in the US were "magnificent".
He said Muslims had previously accepted a "covenant of security" which meant they should not resort to violence in the UK because they were not under threat there.
"We don't live in peace with you any more, which means the covenant of security no longer exists," he said.
Britain proposes tough new anti-terror measures (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050805T220000-0500_85534_OBS_BRITAIN_PROPOSES_TOUGH_NEW_ANTI_TER ROR_MEASURES.asp)
Foreigners and groups inciting hatred could be deported
AP
Saturday, August 06, 2005
LONDON, England (AP) - Prime Minister Tony Blair proposed strict new anti-terror measures yesterday that would allow Britain to expel foreigners who preach hatred, close down extremist mosques and bar entry to Muslim radicals.
"The rules of the game are changing" following the bomb attacks that killed 56 people last month, he said.
The proposals, which also target extremist websites and bookshops, are aimed primarily at excluding from Britain radical Islamic clerics accused of whipping up hatred and violence among vulnerable, disenfranchised Muslim men.
"We are angry. We are angry about extremism and about what they are doing to our country, angry about their abuse of our good nature," said Blair. "We welcome people here who share our values and our way of life. But don't meddle in extremism because if you meddle in it. you are going back out again."
The July 7 suicide bombing attacks on London's transit system and the failed July 21 attacks stunned Britons, and raised fresh concern about the freedoms that Britain offers to individuals and groups known for extremist activities. Blair said the focus of the anti-terror proposals was on foreigners because authorities believe "the ideological drive and push is coming from the outside".
But some members of Britain's 1.8 million-strong Muslim community expressed concern that moderate Muslims would be subjected to new prejudices and restrictions.
...
Last Updated: Monday, 8 August 2005, 04:30 GMT 05:30 UK
Police and lawyers are to consider whether Islamist radicals who support terrorism may face treason charges.
The Crown Prosecution Service's head of anti-terrorism will meet Scotland Yard officers in the next few days.
Lord Goldsmith and the Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald have discussed action against three people, the Attorney General's office has said.
Omar Bakri Mohammed, Abu Izzadeen and Abu Uzair are all expected to come under scrutiny.
'No decision'
The spokeswoman for the Attorney-General's Office said it was not clear at this stage whether there was enough evidence to bring charges.
The crime of betraying one's country has long been regarded as one of the most serious of offences.
Treason carries a penalty of life imprisonment, but the death penalty for the offence was only abolished in 1998.
Officials will be looking at broadcast and published comments as well as speeches and sermons made by the trip to followers.
"No decision on charges has been made yet. The CPS will be looking at it to see if any offences have been committed," she said.
Possible charges which will be considered include the common law offences of treason and incitement to treason.
Omar Bakri Mohammed is a London-based cleric for the al-Muhajiroun group.
On Friday while announcing new measures to clamp down on extremism, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that this group's successor organisation, the Saviour Sect, would be outlawed.
Mr Bakri caused controversy when he said he would not inform police if he knew Muslims were planning a bomb attack in the UK.
He also expressed support for Muslims who attacked British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"For Muslims there, they have a duty to fight occupiers, whether they are British soldiers or American soldiers," he told Channel 4 News.
'Smell the coffee'
British-born Abu Izzadeen, a spokesman for the group al-Ghurabaa (the Strangers) has declined to condemn the 7 July London bombings.
He told BBC2's Newsnight the bombings were "mujahideen activity" which would make people "wake up and smell the coffee".
Abu Uzair, a former member of al-Muhajiroun, told the same programme that the September 11 attacks in the US were "magnificent".
He said Muslims had previously accepted a "covenant of security" which meant they should not resort to violence in the UK because they were not under threat there.
"We don't live in peace with you any more, which means the covenant of security no longer exists," he said.
Britain proposes tough new anti-terror measures (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050805T220000-0500_85534_OBS_BRITAIN_PROPOSES_TOUGH_NEW_ANTI_TER ROR_MEASURES.asp)
Foreigners and groups inciting hatred could be deported
AP
Saturday, August 06, 2005
LONDON, England (AP) - Prime Minister Tony Blair proposed strict new anti-terror measures yesterday that would allow Britain to expel foreigners who preach hatred, close down extremist mosques and bar entry to Muslim radicals.
"The rules of the game are changing" following the bomb attacks that killed 56 people last month, he said.
The proposals, which also target extremist websites and bookshops, are aimed primarily at excluding from Britain radical Islamic clerics accused of whipping up hatred and violence among vulnerable, disenfranchised Muslim men.
"We are angry. We are angry about extremism and about what they are doing to our country, angry about their abuse of our good nature," said Blair. "We welcome people here who share our values and our way of life. But don't meddle in extremism because if you meddle in it. you are going back out again."
The July 7 suicide bombing attacks on London's transit system and the failed July 21 attacks stunned Britons, and raised fresh concern about the freedoms that Britain offers to individuals and groups known for extremist activities. Blair said the focus of the anti-terror proposals was on foreigners because authorities believe "the ideological drive and push is coming from the outside".
But some members of Britain's 1.8 million-strong Muslim community expressed concern that moderate Muslims would be subjected to new prejudices and restrictions.
...