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British IS bomber 'didn't deserve compensation' British IS bomber 'didn't deserve compensation'
(35 minutes later)
A British IS fighter who carried out a suicide attack in Iraq should never have received a penny in compensation, a former independent reviewer of UK terrorism legislation has said.A British IS fighter who carried out a suicide attack in Iraq should never have received a penny in compensation, a former independent reviewer of UK terrorism legislation has said.
Jamal al-Harith reportedly received £1m from the British government after being freed from Guantanamo Bay in 2004.Jamal al-Harith reportedly received £1m from the British government after being freed from Guantanamo Bay in 2004.
Lord Carlile said the payment was wrong as al-Harith was "plainly a terrorist".Lord Carlile said the payment was wrong as al-Harith was "plainly a terrorist".
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended his government's decision to free him from Guantanamo.Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended his government's decision to free him from Guantanamo.
Al-Harith, who was 50 and from Manchester, was originally known as Ronald Fiddler.Al-Harith, who was 50 and from Manchester, was originally known as Ronald Fiddler.
He took the name Jamal al-Harith when he converted to Islam, but was known most recently by the nom-de-guerre Abu-Zakariya al-Britani, given to him by so-called Islamic State.He took the name Jamal al-Harith when he converted to Islam, but was known most recently by the nom-de-guerre Abu-Zakariya al-Britani, given to him by so-called Islamic State.
Who are Britain’s jihadists?Who are Britain’s jihadists?
Al-Harith was seized by American forces in Pakistan in 2001, before being sent to Guantanamo Bay - a US prison in Cuba for terrorist suspects.Al-Harith was seized by American forces in Pakistan in 2001, before being sent to Guantanamo Bay - a US prison in Cuba for terrorist suspects.
US interrogators found he provided useful information about the Taliban's methods, and he was released after two years.US interrogators found he provided useful information about the Taliban's methods, and he was released after two years.
He later joined IS and blew himself up at an Iraqi army base in Mosul this week.He later joined IS and blew himself up at an Iraqi army base in Mosul this week.
Lord Carlile - who reviewed terror laws from 2001 to 2011 - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It [the compensation] should never have been paid.Lord Carlile - who reviewed terror laws from 2001 to 2011 - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It [the compensation] should never have been paid.
"There was absolutely no merit in paying him a penny, because plainly he was a terrorist.""There was absolutely no merit in paying him a penny, because plainly he was a terrorist."
He said he believed the settlement was paid to avoid disclosure in court of security service activities.He said he believed the settlement was paid to avoid disclosure in court of security service activities.
"The government was quite right not to want to disclose those files, but plainly there is an anomaly between the United Kingdom where the threat of disclosure of such files led to the payment of compensation, and the United States where this man brought a legal action which failed."
A Downing Street spokesman declined to answer questions about the reported payout, on the grounds it was an intelligence matter.A Downing Street spokesman declined to answer questions about the reported payout, on the grounds it was an intelligence matter.
But Mr Blair released a statement accusing the Daily Mail of "utter hypocrisy" after it ran a story about al-Harith on Wednesday headlined: "Still Think He Wasn't A Danger, Mr Blair? Fury at Labour government's £1m compensation for innocent Brit".But Mr Blair released a statement accusing the Daily Mail of "utter hypocrisy" after it ran a story about al-Harith on Wednesday headlined: "Still Think He Wasn't A Danger, Mr Blair? Fury at Labour government's £1m compensation for innocent Brit".
He said the man's release in 2004 had "followed a Parliamentary and massive media campaign led by the Daily Mail... and strongly supported by the then Conservative Opposition".He said the man's release in 2004 had "followed a Parliamentary and massive media campaign led by the Daily Mail... and strongly supported by the then Conservative Opposition".
The former PM continued: "He was not paid compensation by my government. The compensation was agreed in 2010 by the [coalition] government... The former PM continued: "He was not paid compensation by my government. The compensation was agreed in 2010 by the [coalition] government..."
"The fact is that this was always a very difficult situation where any government would have to balance proper concern for civil liberties with desire to protect our security, and we were likely to be attacked whatever course we took. Lord Blunkett, who was home secretary at the time of al-Harith's release, said he had never campaigned for his return, but "fully accepted that the situation of British citizens held without trial there, was unsustainable and legally and morally indefensible".
"The reason it did take a long time for their release was precisely the anxiety over their true affiliations." "I believe that the government in 2004 acted responsibly and that public controversy at the time was about remaining detainees and whether enough was being done to obtain their release, and not about the wisdom of providing balanced reassurance," he said.
A senior Labour source told the Press Association detention camps like Guantanamo had been "a significant recruiter for terrorism". Lord Blunkett added that those returning from Guantanamo Bay were kept under surveillance and monitored by the security services.