LONDON, 21 July 2005 — The British government yesterday gave notice to foreign Islamic radicals living in Britain and abuse British hospitality to preach a message of hatred and support for terrorism. Some of them are in danger of being deported to their countries of origin following a landmark agreement signed yesterday between the UK and Jordan.

This follows increasing pressure in the wake of the London bombings from opposition parties, some sections of the media and the public, for those foreign clerics and nationals who preach hate and support for terrorism, to be summarily deported.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said that he was considering calling an international summit in London of those countries affected by terrorism both as victims and where terrorism cells are based. The aim is to “isolate and weaken” the terrorists. He praised the “decision and willingness on part of the Pakistani government to deal with the radical madrasas and religious schools. As we all know, their roots are very deep.”

Blair in his last Prime Minister’s Question Time in the House of Commons before the summer recess confirmed to a packed house that under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Jordan has assured London that if its nationals are deported to the country they would not be tortured or face the death penalty. This will pave the legal way to deport radical clerics such as Abu Qatada, who is already under a control order and was recently detained at Belmarsh Prison, awaiting extradition procedures to the US. Hitherto the UK has been unable to deport people under its human rights legislation to countries where they were in danger of being tortured or executed.

Blair told the House of Commons: “It is very important people understand, we are a tolerant and decent country, but the rights we give to people here should not be abused.”

He said that the UK is trying to sign similar MOUs with several countries. Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells is currently on a tour of North African states to secure the same type of assurances which the Jordanian government has agreed to. Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt are the target countries, whose radicals have found a haven in London.

However, such agreements with some countries such as Iran and Syria would be more problematic because of their perceived human rights record and support for groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

In that respect, the chances of radicals such as Syrian-born Omar Bakri Mohammed being deported to Syria are slim.

Earlier Home Secretary Charles Clarke in a statement to Parliament stressed that he has reviewed government powers to exclude people who have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK (permanent residence), and has decided to broaden these powers to exclude those who are intent on promoting terrorism. In the past these exclusions have been based on the grounds of national security, public order, and the UK’s relations with a particular country.

He confirmed that if the Qatar-based Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi should decide to accept an invitation to attend a conference in London, he “would consider banning Dr. Qaradawi” under these powers. Latest reports suggest that an invitation by the conference organizers has not been sent to Dr. Qaradawi. Whether this was held back deliberately is not clear.