If he had timed it better, he could have gone shopping with Abu Qatada. A dismal update on this story. “Hate preacher wins human rights payout… even though he shouldn’t be here at all,” by Chris Greenwood and James Slack for the Daily Mail, October 1 (thanks to Twostellas):
A banned extremist who made a mockery of Britain’s border controls is now likely to pocket £5,000 in compensation because immigration officials could not speak his language.
The High Court ruled yesterday that Sheikh Raed Salah, described as a “˜virulent anti-Semite” in the Commons, could claim compensation for unlawful detention by immigration officers.
They had seized the pro-Palestine hardliner — who should never have been allowed into Britain in the first place — to have him deported.
But immigration staff failed to explain to him “˜in a language he could understand” precisely why he was being detained — a technical breach of the rules. The preacher cannot speak English and officials failed properly to translate what was happening, the court ruled.
As a result — even though the Home Secretary had legal powers to hold him — he was unlawfully detained for 34.5 hours, until proper explanations were given to him about what was happening in Arabic.
So, can an American arrange this free room and board and compensation? If they speak lots of “English” English? I’ve got my eye on some things in the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog…
At one stage, an immigration officer had tried to use an “˜app” on his iPhone to give instructions to the extremist.
But he did not give Salah, 52, all the information required to make his detention lawful, Mr Justice Nicol decided.
Salah can now formally apply for taxpayer-funded compensation. The likely pay-out is between £4,000 and £5,000 — or about £150 for every hour he was held.
Michael Weiss, of the Henry Jackson Society think-tank, said the case was an “˜embarrassment” for UK Border Agency officials.
“˜I find it scandalous that someone like this is getting damages and is being paid with British taxpayers” money,” he said….