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Government Should Keep Control Orders, Says New Think Tank Report
LONDON, Sep 10, 2010 (PR Newswire Europe via COMTEX) --
Control Orders: Strengthening National Security
- By Robin Simcox
On the ninth anniversary of 9/11, the threat from al-Qaeda
(AQ) inspired terrorism remains high. Control Orders: Strengthening National
Security, a new report from the Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC), presents
the most thorough ever review of suspected AQ and AQ-inspired terrorists
placed under control orders.
Government policy on control orders is in disarray. Several
members of the coalition government have called for them to be abandoned,
including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Attorney General Dominic Grieve
and Security Minister Baroness Neville Jones. However, the government was
forced to issue two control orders during its first week in power, after it
was ruled that two AQ operatives in Britain could not be deported to
Pakistan. The legislation is now under review.
The committed jihadists placed under control orders since 2005
shows that there is a strong security imperative for retaining them. The
CSC's new report argues that to abandon control orders without having a
better alternative in place would damage national security.
Those under control orders have included suspected members of
the transatlantic 'liquid bomb' cell; al-Qaeda operatives; convicted
terrorists; and recruits for jihad abroad.
Transatlantic 'liquid bomb' cell
Two Brits suspected of the terrorist cell planning to detonate
liquid bombs mid-flight. A High Court judge said one individual 'remains
prepared to be a martyr in an attack designed to take many lives'. Both were
believed to be connected to the plot's AQ fixer, Rashid Rauf.
Al-Qaeda associates
- Faraj Hassan al-Saadi - convicted in absentia in Italy on
terrorism charges and described as the 'European envoy' of Musab
al-Zarqawi, former head of AQ in Iraq. The Special Immigration Appeals
Commission ruled that his terrorist cell were 'recruiting for Al Qaeda,
raising money for terrorist activities'. Recently killed in a
motorcycle accident.
- Mahmoud Abu Rideh - described by the government in 2001 as
'an active supporter of various international terrorist groups',
including AQ. Referred to in correspondence between Osama bin Laden's
right hand man, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and al-Zarqawi. A member of Maktab
Al-Khitmet, the precursor organisation to AQ, which served as a
charitable front for Osama bin Laden.
- Abu Qatada - key AQ ideologue. Convicted in absentia in
Jordan of bombing offences and has been described as bin Laden's
'spiritual ambassador' in the UK.
Convicted terrorists
Four members of the proscribed Libyan Islamic Fighting Group
(LIFG) convicted in the UK in 2007. Three for terrorist fundraising; and one
for owning a terrorist document, and also convicted in absentia in Morocco of
terrorist offences relating to the 2003 Casablanca bombings.
Recruits for jihad abroad
A British recruiter absconded and is suspected of travelling
to Pakistan for terrorist purposes. One of those he helped radicalise remains
under a control order in the UK.
Robin Simcox, Research Fellow at the CSC and author of the
report, said:
"The threat from al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism remains high, and
those under control order have often been committed jihadists. Control orders
help contain this national security threat."
"Members of the government have called for the abolition of
control orders but offered no viable alternative."
"No-one is saying control orders are perfect, but they are the
best option available with the law as it stands. Not all terrorist threats
can be dealt with in the preferred manner of convictions in British courts."
The full report can be downloaded here:
http://www.socialcohesion.co.uk/uploads/1284023286control_orders.pdf.
The author is available for interview.
Note to editors:
1. Control orders allow the British government to impose a
series of restrictions on individuals preventing or limiting their
involvement in suspected terrorist activities. They are used on those who
cannot legally be deported or cannot be prosecuted because the evidence
against them was gained from secret intelligence and cannot be used in a
criminal court.
2. 26 out of a total of 45 placed under control order are
known to have entered the UK seeking asylum. At least nine were known to be
British citizens, and seven have absconded.
3. The Centre for Social Cohesion is an independent think tank.
Robin Simcox: +44(0)7538-248610
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