Guest blog by Tom Parkinson, CSC research intern:
The Daily Mail today reported that following the CSC's press release on Monday documenting a meeting between Abu Qatada and convicted Egyptian extremist Yasser al-Sirri, the Home Office is to review the former's bail conditions. Al-Sirri - who was identified by the Centre - is currently not included on a list of more than 20 extremists with Qatada is banned from associating.
Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a security adviser to the Prime Minister, said: "Yasser Al-Sirri is a dangerous individual. The fact he is allowed to associate with Abu Qatada makes a mockery of Qatada's bail conditions. 'The Home Office has got to stop its tinkering and ensure that proper checks and measures are in place to protect the public from extremists. That includes adding Al-Sirri to the list of those Qatada cannot associate with."
Al-Sirri, 46, is a former member of Egypt's Islamic Jihad. In 1993, the group attempted to assassinate the then Egyptian prime minister using a car bomb outside a girls' school. The attack failed, but a 12-year-old girl was killed in the blast.
Although Al-Sirri has never been convicted in a UK court, there is ample evidence to suggest he has been involved in radical Islamic movements since the early 1990s. Although Egypt has repeatedly called for his extradition, Britain has refused.
Home Office officials are now trying to establish whether Al-Sirri was considered and discounted from their list, or if there was an oversight.
The CSC's press release on Abu Qatada's meeting with Yassir al-Sirri is available here.
Another press release which provides quotes from some of Abu Qatada's speeches is also available here.
