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January 8, 2006
UK: Islamist Cleric, Abu Hamza, To Stand Trial
The Egyptian-born radical Muslim cleric, Abu Hamza (pictured), is to face trial tomorrow (Monday 9 Jan) in Britain, on 16 charges, state Reuters and CNN.
Abu Hamza al-Masri, whose real name is Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, is currently residing in Belmarsh prison, where he has been since May 2004. The UK is currently considering having him deported back to Egypt. He is also wanted by the United States on an extradition request, for his involvement with attempting to set up a terror training camp in Bly, Oregon. A court on Thursday ruled that Haroon Rashid Aswat, his accomplice in the Bly plans, can be extradited to the US.
Extradition measures to the US, who have lodged 11 charges against Abu Hamza, have been suspended while tomorrow's trial goes ahead.
The sixteen charges which Abu Hamza is facing include soliciting to murder non-Muslims, inciting racial hatred and possessing terrorist documentation. He is charged in 10 instances of soliciting murder, under section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act (1861). These "solicitations" took place at public meetings, and some of these involve soliciting murder of Jews.
He is charged in four instances under the Public Order Act 1986 for "using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior with the intention of stirring up racial hatred."
He is charged on one count of terrorism, under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. This concerns the alleged possession of a document containing information "of a kind to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".
With the high profile of the case, Hamza will be tried at Britain's highest criminal court, the Old Bailey, and the case is expected to last about three weeks. If found guilty, he could face life imprisonment.
Abu Hamza lost both his hands and his left eye in Afghanistan, while engaged in fighting against Soviet forces. He was involved with the notorious Finsbury Park Mosque, and when banned by the trustees from setting foot on the premises, he used to hold prayer sessions in the road near Finsbury Park station. I remember that the 106 bus route had to have part of its journey re-routed to avoid being held up by Hamza's cronies.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at January 8, 2006 8:21 PM
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