April 05, 2003

Muslim cleric citizenship revoked

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, today confirmed that he has written to radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza revoking his British citizenship.

Mr Blunkett said he had taken the action under the new Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act, which came into effect earlier this week.

The Act allows the Government to remove the UK citizenship of a holder of joint citizenship if it is believed their activities threaten the national interests of the country.
[...]
A spokesman for the one-eyed cleric [Why do so many of these b*stards only have one good eye?--Jen], who has been barred from preaching at the Finsbury Park mosque in north London, last night denied reports that Home Office papers stripping him of his citizenship had been delivered by motorbike courier yesterday.
[...]
But Mr Blunkett today indicated that security and intelligence information had persuaded him to sign papers for the first time under the new Act, which came into effect on Tuesday.

He told Today that the action against Hamza did not herald a series of expulsions of radical Islamists.[Too bad. They may change their minds very soon.--J.T.]
[...]
Mr Blunkett insisted that the action against Hamza was due to his having urged followers to attack British interests abroad, and not simply because he was an outspoken critic of the UK Government.

"We are not talking about a bigmouth shouting off," he said. "Irritating though that is, they have the right to do so."

He added: "The evidence that would have to be adduced if this man appeals and his lawyers decide to challenge us would be about the way in which people are encouraged to take part in jihad and are encouraged to fight us overseas..."
[...]
The Egyptian-born cleric has courted controversy for his outbursts against Britain, America and Jews.

During yesterday's 10-minute sermon, Hamza described George Bush as "the Ghengis Khan of this century" and Tony Blair as "his chambermaid".

"The Ghengis Khans of the west are Tony Blair and George Bush. We are just wondering when our blood is going to be shed," he told those gathered to listen.

Yet he's ranted freely for years about shedding the blood of the "infidels" with impunity...

He is wanted by the authorities in Yemen over suspected terrorism.

More good news!
Mr. Blunkett is being far too kind to Hamza, at least "on the record."
I'm sure there is no shortage of proof that Captain Hook has preached innumerable sermons about the violent overthrow by jihadi murder of the British government to set up an Islamic one of shari'a law.
I wonder which *lucky* country will get this guy...
What a shame that Britain did away with capital punishment!
And when Coalition forces conducted the raid of that Ansar Al-Islam camp last week in northern Iraq which turned up concrete links to not only Al Queda, but to the ricin terror plot in London, which had Abu Hamza smack dab in its center, I'm sure that Britain couldn't get rid of this sociopath soon enough!