Terror suspect’s wife demands evidence from Home Office
The wife of a suspected terrorist facing possible extradition to Algeria has called on the government to bring him to trial or free him.
The man, known only as “G”, is one of ten suspects whom the Home Office wants to deport.
The Algerian national was arrested following the July 7 bomb attacks in London and the government is now seeking an assurance from his home country that he will not be executed or tortured if deported there, the Press Association reports.
It is reported that Mr G was previously held in Belmarsh prison without charge for two years, before being released under a control order in April 2004 on mental health grounds.
An attempt by Home Secretary Charles Clarke to have him returned to jail in February 2005 failed when judges ruled that the government had not proved “to the necessary standard” that Mr G had breached his bail conditions.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mrs G said she did not believe her husband was involved in any form of terrorist activity and said her family’s life had been “destroyed” following his unexplained arrest.
“It is very easy for them to come and say he is involved in this. If they have the proof, they should bring him to justice. I will accept it if they find him guilty and bring him to court,” said Mrs G.
“You can’t keep people locked up in prison on secret evidence and they don’t even have the right to see what they are accused of.”
Mrs G added that she feared promises on behalf of the Algerian authorities not to mistreat her husband if he were returned to his homeland would prove worthless.
“They will take him and they will torture him like they’ve done to other people like this, that’s why I’m scared,” she said.
The Home Office said it did not comment on individual cases, but said in a statement that prosecution remained the government’s “preferred way of dealing with terrorists.”
“Priority will continue to be given to prosecuting wherever possible, subject to the over-riding need to protect highly sensitive sources and techniques,” said the department.
Under the Human Rights Act, the UK cannot deport anyone to a country where they may face torture, but officials have been in negotiation with ten countries, including Algeria, to gain guarantees that any deportees will not be persecuted.
