Posted by NEWS on 29/5/2004, 19:54:53, in reply to "The Arrest of Abu Hamza" Britains Press today hailed the arrest of firebrand ulama Abu Hamza al-Masri but questioned the liberalism of a British legal system which seemed incapable of action before the United States requested his extradition. "The answer lies, ironically, with the facet of British life that the evil ulama professes to despise our legal system's scrupulous fairness in its adherence to the principles of justice," it added. Hamza, 46, was arrested here yesterday after the United States requested his extradition to face 11 terrorism charges, mainly related to a kidnapping in Yemen in 1998. It is alleged that he provided a satellite telephone to the group which carried out the hostage taking, receiving three calls from the phone at his home. Egyptian-born Hamza known for his distinctive steel hooked hand as well as for praising al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was quizzed by British police in 1999 in connection with the incident, but no charges were laid. "The sooner Captain Hook (Hamza) is off British soil, the better," said the Sun.. "Abu Hamza has been a disgusting stain on this country for too long," said the newspaper, arguing that Home Secretary David Blunkett had tried everything in his power "to boot him out" The rigidity of Britain's legal system had been exposed by the case, which was "a test of British liberalism", said The Times. "To those who despise our liberal values, Abu Hamza has become a symbol that they may attack those values with impunity," it said. His arrest "begs serious questions about why Britain has been so dilatory in prosecuting Abu Hamza". AFP
LONDON: British media question liberalism after Abu Hamza's arrest
AFP
"How come the US can nail Hamza... when we can't?" asked the Daily Express.
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