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Abu Qatada 'issues jail edicts' Abu Qatada 'issues jail edicts'
(about 3 hours later)
Radical Islamic cleric Abu Qatada has been issuing messages to his followers from his British jail cell, according to anti-extremism researchers.Radical Islamic cleric Abu Qatada has been issuing messages to his followers from his British jail cell, according to anti-extremism researchers.
Statements said to be from the Jordanian have appeared recently on a number of extremist websites.Statements said to be from the Jordanian have appeared recently on a number of extremist websites.
The Quilliam Foundation think tank says the propaganda includes inciting hatred against the British government. The Quilliam Foundation think tank say Abu Qatada has released three letters from prison in four months.
But the Prison Service says Quilliam's claims that it has been incompetent are "completely unfounded".But the Prison Service says Quilliam's claims that it has been incompetent are "completely unfounded".
Abu Qatada was once dubbed Osama bin Laden's spiritual ambassador to Europe and recently lost a battle to stay in the UK.Abu Qatada was once dubbed Osama bin Laden's spiritual ambassador to Europe and recently lost a battle to stay in the UK.
He is asking the European Court of Human Rights to overturn a decision by the Law Lords to allow him to be returned to Jordan.He is asking the European Court of Human Rights to overturn a decision by the Law Lords to allow him to be returned to Jordan.
Abu Qatada is presently held in isolation at the high security Long Lartin Prison in Worcestershire.Abu Qatada is presently held in isolation at the high security Long Lartin Prison in Worcestershire.
But the Quilliam Foundation says statements have been appearing online under his name, circulating on both English and Arabic language websites.But the Quilliam Foundation says statements have been appearing online under his name, circulating on both English and Arabic language websites.
In the statements, the writer using the name Qatada congratulates al-Qaeda fighters, claims that the British government opposes Islam and says Muslims should never join the police or army in a non-Muslim country.In the statements, the writer using the name Qatada congratulates al-Qaeda fighters, claims that the British government opposes Islam and says Muslims should never join the police or army in a non-Muslim country.
The most recent posting appeared on a jihadist forum last month and details life inside a British maximum security prison.The most recent posting appeared on a jihadist forum last month and details life inside a British maximum security prison.
There is no direct proof that the statements were issued by Abu Qatada - but Quilliam says evidence links the posts to Islamist associates of Abu Qatada. The content of the messages is also consistent with Abu Qatada's previous statements.There is no direct proof that the statements were issued by Abu Qatada - but Quilliam says evidence links the posts to Islamist associates of Abu Qatada. The content of the messages is also consistent with Abu Qatada's previous statements.
'Inciting violence''Inciting violence'
James Brandon of the Quilliam Foundation said that the statements amounted to inciting violence because of where they were posted, the context of key phrases and their intended audience. Ed Husain of the Quilliam Foundation says it was possible that the leaks were occurring either through Abu Qatada's visitors, despite them being restricted, or possibly through his lawyers.
He accused the Prison Service and its extremism unit of having failed to stop Abu Qatada's sermonising. He said: "Time will tell how it's done, and that's why we're calling for an investigation by Jack Straw and others who are involved in this to get to the bottom of this, and ensure that we don't have this psychological warfare launched against Muslims and others across the world from British prisons."
"Abu Qatada is one of the world's most influential - and dangerous - jihadist clerics," said Mr Brandon.
"The very reason that Abu Qatada has been detained is because he has threatened public safety by inciting terrorism and violence. And yet the Prison Service appears powerless to prevent him from continuing to incite violence and hatred from behind bars."
But a spokesman for the Prison Service discounted the accusations - saying Abu Qatada was closely monitored as a Category A high risk inmate.But a spokesman for the Prison Service discounted the accusations - saying Abu Qatada was closely monitored as a Category A high risk inmate.
"In line with security measures to manage high risk Category A prisoners, this individual is strictly monitored and has absolutely no access to prisoners other than those in the small unit in which he is held, none of whom are considered vulnerable to radicalisation," said the spokesman."In line with security measures to manage high risk Category A prisoners, this individual is strictly monitored and has absolutely no access to prisoners other than those in the small unit in which he is held, none of whom are considered vulnerable to radicalisation," said the spokesman.
"All communications, including telephone calls, are strictly monitored and those not conducted in English are translated."All communications, including telephone calls, are strictly monitored and those not conducted in English are translated.
"This prisoner has absolutely no access to the internet, and cannot personally contribute to websites. However, we are unable to prevent third parties from publishing information which is, or claims to be, on other people's behalf or in their name.""This prisoner has absolutely no access to the internet, and cannot personally contribute to websites. However, we are unable to prevent third parties from publishing information which is, or claims to be, on other people's behalf or in their name."