Sir
The hysterical manner in which politicians and the media have reacted to the decision to grant Abu Qatada bail provides a very concerning indicator of how accustomed Britain has become to the suspension of the rule of law.
Irrespective of the allegations against Abu Qatada, he is an individual, who to this day, has never been charged in the UK with any criminal offence, terrorism or otherwise. Nevertheless, based on intelligence (as opposed to evidence) which he is prohibited from challenging in open court, Abu Qatada has spent almost a decade either in detention in a maximum security prison or under house arrest and control orders.
Under our existing legislation, we have been able to successfully prosecute individuals for possessing "extremist" literature, for selling "terrorist publications" and for "encouraging terrorism". If Abu Qatada is so dangerous and poses such a grave risk to the safety of the people of Britain through his hateful sermons, then why not prosecute him in a court of law in line with the principles of due process?
It is a sad sign of how this country's standards of justice have fallen, that almost 800 years after the signing of Magna Carta, a medieval Charter famously described by Lord Denning as the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot, Britain is outraged by a decision to place a man, never charged with any offence, under 22 hours a day house arrest.
Yours
Fahad Ansari
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