|
Four suspected Algerian terrorist suspects who face deportation from Britain were granted bail on Thursday by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC).
The bailed men, known as A, G, H, and T, were granted bail pending the outcome of their appeals against detention under immigration laws.
SIAC Chairman Justice Ouseley said the key considerations in granting bail were whether the men would abscond and how they would react to the impending agreement between Britain and Algeriathat would allow for their deportation.
The 4 Algerians were among 10 foreign applicants who were detained in August as part of an anti-terrorist crackdown that followed the July London bombings, which killed 52 commuters and 4bombers.
Five of the applicants had their applications refused. They included the only one to be publicly identified, Abu Qatada, a Jordanian cleric once described as Osama bin Laden's "spiritual ambassador in Europe." And the case of a 10th man was adjourned.
Reacting the bail decision, Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said the government was "disappointed". During earlier hearings, the home office argued the men were involved in "creating the climate, the motivation and the opportunity that led to the events in July 2005."
Defending the SIAC decision, Justice Ouseley said he didn't consider that it should regard the incidents of July London bombings as evidence of a greater national security risk posed by these applicants than before.
Under international convention on human rights Britain should not send people back to their home countries where they may face inhuman treatment or execution.
The British government has been seeking assurances from several north African and Middle Eastern countries that individuals deported from the country on national security grounds would not be tortured or abused on their return.
Britain has signed agreements with Jordan and Libya which guarantee that foreign nationals deported from Britain will not be mistreated following the London bombings in July.
(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2005)
|
