Downing Street Says » Dr Yusuf Al-Qaradawi

Asked if he would agree that it was an ‘utter farce’ that the British authorities could do nothing to keep Dr Yusuf Al-Qaradawi out of the UK, the PMOS said that the abhorrence which people might feel as a result of comments which were made did not change the Government’s obligation to act within the law, as Governments of all hues had done in the past. We recognised that this could create tensions, but it was necessary if freedom of expression was a fundamental belief. As we had underlined yesterday, Dr Al-Qaradawi’s comments and actions would be constantly monitored during his visit to the UK to ensure that he kept within the boundaries of the law on incitement. Put to him that the US believed in freedom of expression and yet they had not allowed Dr Al-Qaradawi in, the PMOS said that the US had different laws. In the UK, if you were going to act against someone, you had to do so on the explicit advice of the security services and law enforcement agencies. No advice had been received suggesting that Dr Al-Qaradawi posed a threat to this country’s security. Put to him by the Evening Standard that in the past we had kept out people whose presence had not been thought conducive to the country’s good and that in this particular case it would seem that the security services had been caught ‘napping’, the PMOS said that it was important to act according to the actual law, rather than what the Evening Standard might wish it to be. The power to exclude could either be used only for national security reasons or if there was a threat to public order. In both cases, the Home Secretary would have to be advised by either the security forces or the police that they had serious security concerns. In this particular case, they had not done so. Hence the judgement that had been taken to allow Dr Al-Qaradawi into the UK.

5 Comments »

What "security services"? Is this supposed to mean MI6 and/or the SIS? If so, are they not "intelligence services"? The fact that the "security" services had not received or passed on any dodgy info about the good doctor means absolutely nothing in itself; their record on information gathering and disemmination isn’t exactly an inspiring one over the past 2 or 3 years – after all, we illegally invaded another sovereign country on the basis of their "advice". Double standards and double speak once again by the government; whatever suits their needs at any given time. Pathetic.
Comment by PapaLazzzaru — 8 Jul 2004 on 6:24 pm | Link
Is that true? I thought the "advice" was downloaded from the Internet, rather than coming from MI6/SIS.
Comment by Chris Lightfoot — 8 Jul 2004 on 7:34 pm | Link
Could well have been; it would have been more accurate that way…
Comment by PapaLazzzaru — 9 Jul 2004 on 1:06 am | Link
i have quistion about its true sayin that dr yusif marid young girl whith out accepting shee?
Comment by burhanbalaky — 6 Jun 2005 on 10:47 am | Link
When considering such applications the Home Secretary should, of course, ‘seek’ advice from his advisors. There’s no indication that he has done so.

There is merely a statement that these public servants had not ‘provided’ advice – not quite the same thing.

As to governments being obliged to act within the law – well, yes, this is yet another statement of the bleeding obvious. But let’s not be too silly. This is a government which has at all times attempted to manipulate and dissemble, acting (just) within the letter – but certainly not the spirit – of the law.
Comment by Chuck Unsworth — 6 Jun 2005 on 11:36 am | Link

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» Thursday, July 8, 2004

Dr Yusuf Al-Qaradawi

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