Injunction halts deportation of Algerian terrorism suspect
Nicola Anderson talks to a young Muslim woman about how she became deradicalised after being a jihadi wife
AN Algerian man who was recently arrested by gardaí on suspicion of being involved in terrorism has secured a temporary High Court order preventing his deportation from the State.
The man, who has been living in Ireland since 2012, has challenged the deportation made against him over fears he may be tortured and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment in Algeria, due to his “imputed political opinion”. This would be contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights, it is claimed.
The man was tried and acquitted of a terrorist offence in Algeria in 2009. In recent weeks he was arrested and detained by gardaí in Dublin, before being released.
The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, denies he has any “connection or interest in terrorist activities” and says he is a “peace-loving person”. He is currently in custody on foot of the deportation order. Yesterday lawyers acting for the man sought permission to challenge a decision made by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald in April to issue a deportation order.
The man wants the deportation order quashed on several grounds including the decision is irrational, and that irrelevant considerations were taken into account by the minister.
It was also argued that the minister did not properly examine the risks that might be faced by the man upon his return to Algeria. He also sought an injunction preventing his deportation on the basis he fears he will be tortured if returned to Algeria. His action is against the minister and the State.
Mr Justice Tony O’Connor in his ruling dismissed the application to challenge the minister’s decision.
The judge said while a good argument had been made on the man’s behalf by his legal team a “sufficient argument” that would “allow the case go forward” had not been made out.
However the judge said he
was prepared to allow the man to appeal his decision to the Court of Appeal.
The judge granted the man a temporary injunction preventing the State from deporting him. The injunction is to remain in place until next Friday.
In his application the man claimed he worked for an Algerian charity, whose head supported al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb in Algeria.
Arising out of his former boss’s activities the man says he was arrested, detained and tortured by Algerian authorities.
Following his release he claims he was approached by terrorists wanting him to join. He also claims that the Algerian secret service also approached him and asked him to work for it as a spy. When he refused to do so he claimed the secret service harassed him. The man’s application for asylum was refused in 2013.
He then made an application for subsidiary protection, which was deemed withdrawn after he failed to turn up for an interview with the authorities.
Counsel said it was accepted that the man had “not behaved well” while in Ireland.
The man had been involved in a marriage to an EU citizen which was found to be a sham.
Arising out of the marriage he had obtained certain residency rights, which were subsequently revoked by the State.
The man, in a sworn state- ment to the court, said the fact he was tried for terrorism offences in Algeria coupled with the fact he was arrested in Ireland would draw the attention of the Algerian authorities to him.
UP UNTIL three days ago, Aaliya wore the full Muslim garb including the niqab which covers the entire face, apart from the eyes.
It was her imam, her spiritual guide, who told her it was not necessary to wear it.
But once again, the young Irish woman who converted to Islam at the age of 18 found it necessary to cover her face as she revealed the presence of a far greater presence of radical Islam in Ireland than was previously estimated.
The call to prayer rang out at the Al Mustafa Islamic Centre in Blanchardstown mosque in Dublin and in a neat row, the roomful of men of all ages rhythmically bent and rose.
Then, Shaykh Dr Muhammad Umar al-Qadri told the congregation there was to be “the most important press conference ever given” by Muslims in Ireland.
Anybody was welcome to stay, he added, before a shy young Irish woman was ushered to the top of the room. She sat for a moment before it became clear that it would be necessary to disguise her and a headscarf was expertly pinned by Maisa, a young Syrian woman currently living in Mosney.
Only then Aaliya was comfortable enough to speak freely.
Brought up “between homes” in the south-west area, she was “very confused,” she revealed.
At the age of 18, she became attracted to Islam because of the 9/11 terrorism attacks and converted.
“I was fascinated by it,” she explained, adding that at one stage, Osama Bin Laden was the screen saver on her mobile phone.
She moved to London for work and study and at the age of 23, met a young man through a girl she knew, who became her fiancé and became radicalised.
She met the two London Bridge terrorists Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane on at least 20 occasions both here and in the UK, she said.
She also met hate preacher Anjem Choudary at a house in Santry, Dublin, two-and-ahalf years ago.
She claimed that at least 150 Muslim extremists are currently living in Ireland – some in Dublin but also many in Limerick and also in rural areas such as Clare and Tipperary because rent is cheaper there and landlords tend not to look for a PPS number. She claimed Ireland was viewed as a “soft touch” by UK radicals – who easily travel between here via the North and do not have to show any documents.
Such radicals “laugh” at Ireland, she claimed, because they see us as being “backward and behind the times” in the assessment of the threat.
Her fiancé told her that her role as a jihadi wife would be to bear children who would grow up to be fighters for the cause.
Her fiancé was involved in a €2.3m online bank scam in the UK but never served time.
During her time in the house in London, she said she was told little of any conversations between jihadis, never saw weapons or heard of no plot. However, she began to question the radical version of the Muslim faith after her fiancé laughed at an attack in the United States.
She was deradicalised by an Imam in Barking, London – and said she was shocked when he told her that the true teaching of Islam is that anyone who takes the life of
one person is the same as killing the whole of mankind.
She claims she still bears the scars after being beaten heavily by her fiancé when, in September 2016, she told him that she was leaving.
Aaliya believes the man is currently living in the Leeds area of the UK but says he disappeared and she no longer has any contact with him. She is now living in Dublin and continues to practise her moderate Muslim faith.
Imam Shaykh Umar has called on the Government to urgently act in stamping out radical Islam in this country, with legislation for an independent body to govern Islamic teaching here. He said he encouraged young people in his community to join the Gardaí but they were not easily persuaded.
“The children of immigrants want to become doctors or engineers,” he explained. “Also at home, the police don’t have a good reputation – they are corrupt.”
He believes it will take a generation or two for young Muslim people to join the Gardaí.