The triple murder conviction of a Libyan man who had already been found guilty of a string of offences has brought the fact that the UK government has failed to deport 45 foreign nationals jailed for terrorism-related offences back into sharp focus.
Khairi Saadallah stabbed three people to death in a Reading park in 2020 and police later found evidence he had viewed extremist content on his phone. He had also come to the attention of security services and been given four prison sentences for violent offences.
Although there were plans for the failed asylum seeker to be deported, it was not legally possible because of the conflict in Libya. Family members of his victims have asked how Saadallah was free to commit the crimes despite evidence he had mental health problems and had come into contact with extremists in prison.
"The secretary of state needs to tell us why this guy wasn't put into some form of detention centre before they could deport him," said Gary Furlong, whose son James was murdered by Saadallah. "He was not safe to be released back on the streets."
Research by the Henry Jackson Society found 45 foreign nationals who have been jailed in the UK for Islamist-related terrorism offences have not been officially deported, including 18 with known links to currently or formerly proscribed groups.
The deportation of foreign criminals can be blocked if there are human rights concerns.
Experts have warned that the UK’s current policy towards deporting extremists threatens the public’s safety.
“The failure to deport foreign convicted terrorists poses a fundamental threat to British national security,” said Dr Rakib Ehsan, a researcher at the Henry Jackson Society.
“Many will be quite rightly appalled by the fact that non-British Islamists with links to proscribed organisations such as Islamic State and Al-Qaeda have been allowed to remain in the UK after serving a terror-related prison sentence.
“In the post-Brexit world, the UK must introduce a tougher border security arrangement by statute. For too long, the individual interests of foreign convicted terrorists have been prioritised over collective public safety,” he added.
In its research, the Henry Jackson Society found that of the 45 foreign nationals found guilty of terror-related crimes and who had not been deported, seven already had convictions before their main terrorism offence, while two went to training camps including one run by Al Qaeda in Pakistan.
The most common nationality of the foreign nationals involved is Libyan, followed by Algerian, Pakistani and Iraqi.
Of the 45, 18 had links to proscribed organisations such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, Al Muhajiroun, Al Shabab, and the Libyan Islamic Fight Group, which is no longer listed as a terrorist group.
The Henry Jackson Society also noted that a “concerning portion” of foreign nationals convicted of terror offences had an asylum background.
“The UK government needs to pursue innovative methods which help to better prioritise collective public safety, without fundamentally undermining the UK’s long-standing commitment to international legal obligations,” the researchers wrote in a recent report.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-cylinder%202.0L%20TSI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20clutch%207-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320HP%20%2F%20235kW%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20400Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20%2449%2C709%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo
Two stars
The biog
Age: 23
Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering
Favourite hobby: playing the piano
Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"
Family: Married and with a daughter
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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