Britain bars Muslim cleric
CBC News | August 11, 2005
Britain's Home Office on Friday barred Muslim cleric Omar Bakri from returning to the country after his arrest in Lebanon.
The cleric's presence in the U.K. was "not conducive to the public good," said Home Secretary Charles Clarke.
Bakri had faced possible incitement charges in Britain after praising the July 7 attacks on the London transit system. He's also known for calling the Sept. 11 attackers, the "magnificent 19."
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He left the U.K. last week on what he said was a personal trip to Lebanon to visit family.
Bakri was picked up in Beirut on Thursday afternoon and ordered released on Friday after a judge found there was no case against him and that he was not wanted for anything.
Reporter infiltrated group
A British reporter who infiltrated a group led by Bakri says there was a constant message of hate and violence.
Ali Hussain of the Times says Bakri praised the July 7 bombings and lectured young men in the group about their responsibility as Muslims to promote terror in non-believers.
Bakri told the group that if they were true believers, they wouldn't condemn the bombings, said Hussain. |
Muslim cleric Omar Bakri. |
Everyone in the group, including Bakri and his lieutenants have only contempt for moderates like the Muslim Council of Britain which condemns violence, said Hussain.
"They'd say things like you shouldn't adhere to British law because by doing that you're not necessarily adhering to the law of Allah," said Hussain.
