Life under a control order
This morning: an exclusive interview with someone living under a control order. Control orders were introduced by the government in anti-terrorism legislation in 2005. They gave ministers the power to place terrorism suspects, who they say can't be prosecuted in the courts, under close supervision. The reason the suspects can't be prosecuted in the courts could be because the evidence against them has been collected by methods that could inlcude bugging - and so are inadmissible - or because using it could reveal intelligence sources.
Last month nine Law Lords ruled it was unfair that three terrorism suspects should be kept in the dark about the allegations against them. The ruling has called into question the future of control orders.
I've just finished recording an interview with a man known as AR - he's been living in Greater Manchester on a control order since April 2008. He's accused of being a senior member of a terrorist organisation called the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group which has links with Al Qaeda and opposes the Gadafi regime in Libya. The conditions of his control order mean he cannot leave his house between 8.30 at night and 8.30 in the morning. He can't use the internet. He can only call essential telephone numbers agreed with the police. He cannot go further than a 3 mile boundary around his house - and all his home visits are restricted to one guest at a time.
This is the judgement from Judge Justice Mitting in November 2008 when AR appealed to the High Court arguing that his control order breached the right to a fair trial.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~07~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Perhaps this man could find an Islamic country that he would prefer to live in because I don't think he should be here at all. He has been here for 5 years, speaks no English, is costing us a fortune and is of no use to us whatsoever. He came from China in 2004 and claimed asylum and seems to have done nothing but cause problems since his arrival.
Complain about this comment
Are we supposed to feel sorry for this man complaining about losing some of his freedom , while 15 of our soldiers have lost their freedom and lives in the last fortnight.
They were killed in Afghanistan by the Taliban. This sort of interview makes me sick.
Complain about this comment
agree with the above two comments
i am sick to death of hearing these whingers moan on and on about how bad their life is and how mean we all are
go home!
Complain about this comment
i dont trust anything this goverment and our secret services tell us if the evidence is there to charge and prosecute people under control orders then lets see it and get these individuals before a court of law if not let them go about there business like the rest of us thats why we live in a democracy
Complain about this comment
get this man AND his whinging legal eagle out of the country now.
We are all sick to death of hearing this rubbish
Complain about this comment
Victoria,
AR is not the only one caught out by the 'switch' in diplomatic relations with Libya. Its not so long ago that Libya was considered a "rogue state" and during the Thatcher/Major years we cheered and encouraged those opposing the Qaddafi government, and offered them political asylum.
Suddenly, Libya becomes an 'aligned' state. Now those same people we supported, are seen differently - as political dissidents, and named by Libya as such.
These people haven't changed. They are victims of the 'switch' in diplomatic relations.
Complain about this comment
I've now switched off the radio as this is not good for my BP which is going through the roof.
The reason he doesn't want to go back to Libya is because he thinks he won't get a fair trial; yet is moaning about what mosque he's attending here; it's a Pakistani mosque not an Arab one etc.
Words fail me.
Complain about this comment
its good to see AR exposeing our goverment and secret services where is the evidence sure us the proof in a court of law and let him have his day in court that is what the ruole of law is all about i dont want to hear lies and spin i want to know what is the truth ifthe man is guilty lock him up its not rocket science
Complain about this comment
I think the only thing that this has exposed jimmy-dean is that we are far too soft a touch in this country. He shouldn't be here, deport him.
Complain about this comment
He has been here since 2005, time to have three kids but hasn't bothered learning English. We can't afford him, or his expensive lawyer, let him go elsewhere. He is obviously on benefits, please send him home. Annia
Complain about this comment
Victoria read out one message from here. Message no 6.
Complain about this comment
zelda where is the proof and evidence that this man is guilty of anything?
Complain about this comment
AR is not a British citizen so why do we allow them to use our country and resources for their own political gain to fight their war against their country. They are a drain on our resources which could be better used by our police in fighting crime or by help provide resources for our brilliant troops fighting a real war.
Get rid of him now!
Complain about this comment
At 10:42am on 13 Jul 2009, zeldalicious wrote:
Victoria read out one message from here. Message no 6.
hmmm just hmmmmmm
Complain about this comment
were we not told recently on five live by gordon brown and the previous police chief who resigned that there was a big bomb plot by some pakistani students only for them to release them and let them go on there way and be deported why if they were guilty they should have been made to serve a sentance and then sent back to pakistan but once again it was goverment spin and lies that was discussed in great depth on five live and other bbc outlets but once they were released nobody mentioned it on five live or is intrested in it its double standards and hypocrisy
Complain about this comment
did victoria just say douglas murray is director of the centre for social cohesion lol
Complain about this comment
As usuall it seems that Ms Derbyshire,normally quite a combative interviewer,has been nobbled by the pc brigade at the beeb,no probing questions no attempt at playing devils advocate,if this man wasnt a muslim im sure the questions would have been a little more searching,instead he was just given a platform to gripe and moan about this country.This country that has recognised his right to asylum and is at the moment losing teenage soldiers in the fight against global islamic terrorism.Why has this man not bothered to learn English,its not as though he has'nt had time on his hands,its probably because he has no intentions of intergrating into society a trait that is typical of so many muslim imigrants into thiis Great country of ours.
Complain about this comment
Britain is not a free holding station for people disaffected with their own countries. Our country is overcrowded and oversubsribed. Send them home before they have more children and more benefits.
Actually if benefits were stopped no one would want to come and the parasitic lawyers would also leave. Annia
Complain about this comment
Got it. Vicky is after a job on Panorama when she leaves this dire programme. She wouldn't hack it though as she wouldn't know how to set about incisive questioning unless it was "what did you have for breakfast?".
Complain about this comment
Well done Victoria on giving this man ( AR ) and the listeners another masterclass in the art of the typically BBC politically correct and sympathic interview.
It leaves you and the BBC's credibilty on impartiality in tatters and on that very subject why did you only read out one pro comment on your blog for this moaning chap living on benefits, when it is quite clear the consensus of opinion is quite the reverse from what I have just read from the above ?
It beggars belief.
Complain about this comment
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Oh please, to compere being tagged in the UK with Burma is stupid to say the least. The wretched man has a roof over the head of him his wife and children, they are being fed and have a mealy mouthed lawyer, all paid for by the British taxpayer.He can leave Britain any time he wants to, and the sooner the better. I just wish that he could take the civil rights lawyers and bleeding hearts with him.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS