Extradition (From The Northern Echo)

Extradition

12:10pm Tuesday 21st February 2012 in Letters

COLIN MORTIMER says that Abu Qatada should be deported to Jordan without delay (HAS, Feb 15).

I disagree. Abu Qatada has been described as an extremely dangerous man, a terrorist who belongs in jail, and a serious threat to Britain’s national security. It is alleged that he has praised the 9/11 bombers, preached sermons in which he approved the killing of Jews, including Jewish children, and said that Americans are no better than Jews, and should be attacked wherever they are.

If all this is true, it should be enough to put him behind bars for a very long time. He should be tried in this country for soliciting murder, inciting racial hatred, and/or a number of offences covered by UK antiterrorism legislation.

However, if there is no evidence against him that would stand up in court, it is right that he should be freed. Either way, it is a disgrace that he has been imprisoned without charge for almost six years. He should have been tried or released a long time ago.

Pete Winstanley Durham.