If Prime Minister David Cameron is “completely fed up” about Abu Qatada (see here), how does he think the rest of his tax-paying society feel?

To say that most of us are angry to incredulous proportions about the Qatada situation would be something of an understatement. I’m no racist (see here) but, to negate the usual cries of racism or intolerance that abound when topics like this are raised; the vast majority of those who follow the Prophet Mohamed are also in agreement with our distaste of the man…

This individual has a hand in much of the blood that has been shed in the Islamic world – and the Islamic world alone. This individual beautifies his actions in the name of the religion, however he does not do that openly. It is done by indirect means…

…This is the ideology of takfir, the excommunication of governments, and then by extension whole societies that was given a fresh revival in the works of Sayyid Qutb, the root of all contemporary takfiri and jihadi groups. This then leads to the justification of the killing of innocent men, women and children…(islamagainstextremism.com)

Nick Robinson of the BBC, who is probably far more au fait with all the legal and political intricacies of this case than I, points out in his blog; both the last Labour Government and now the Coalition have been fighting Abu Qatada for 11 years or more. Some estimate suggest, this debacle has cost the tax-payers of this country more than a million pounds. But what are the options?

According Nick there are now only three viable ways for the Government to proceed with the matter:

1. Charge Abu Qatada under British law – BUT (so far) there is insufficient evidence to do so.
2. Appeal against this week’s ruling – they’ll try but success is (clearly) far from guaranteed.
3. Or the most likely, lobby Jordan to change its law again – in an effort to reassure the British courts.

Whatever happens now, and we need to be realistic about the outcomes however; worryingly it does appear that Richard Littlejohn may be right?

Britain will remain a safe haven for terrorists, murderers and rapists from all over the world. The pernicious “yuman rites” industry will continue to prevent us from kicking out foreign criminals, no matter how heinous their record…(Richard Littlejohn – The Daily Mail)

Like many others and for what it is worth; I find it utterly disgusting that those who seek to undermine our freedoms and impose their will and beliefs upon us, also seek protection from that which they despise so vehemently.

That said, can it ever be right for politicians to act outside of the law to achieve a popular result? In a democratic society, with laws that were (hopefully) arrived at in a democratic manner, I think not.

Nick Robinson was also probably correct when he summed up his blog post by saying;

Cheerleaders for human rights legislation say this proves that it can even change laws in the middle east…(Nick Robinson)

I partly agree, it’s just a pity it has to take so bloody long!

Related articles

• Cameron ‘fed up’ over Abu Qatada (bbc.co.uk)
• Abu Qatada case is reason to change human rights laws, says Justice Secretary (telegraph.co.uk)
• Abu Qatada – A Misguided, Bloodthirsty Takfiri (islamagainstextemism.com)
• Abu Qatada: home secretary faces long battle to overturn deportation ruling (guardian.co.uk)