Blunkett faces tough fight to deport extremist cleric

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A legal battle to deport the extremist Muslim cleric Abu Hamza, who has been stripped of his British citizenship, could go on for years.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, issued papers for the 44-year-old preacher's deportation on Saturday night.

Abu Hamza al-Masri, who is accused of encouraging extremists to take up terrorist training, is the first person to be affected by a new law that allows people with dual nationality to be stripped of British citizenship if they act in a way that is judged "seriously prejudicial" to Britain's "vital interests".

But the lawyer representing the radical cleric, who vocally supported Islamic fundamentalism and claimed the 11 September attacks were a Jewish plot, has vowed to fight the attempt to remove Mr Masri to Egypt, where he was born. This could include going to the European Court of Human Rights and pleading a breach of human rights.

Legal experts say the case could drag on for years, while the Home Office believes it could be resolved in months.

Muddassar Arani, Mr Masri's lawyer, argued that her client could not be deported to Egypt because he does not hold dual citizenship. He has only a British passport. But Home Office lawyers are understood to have advised Mr Blunkett that because Mr Hamza was born in Egypt he is entitled to citizenship and could, therefore, be deported.

Mr Blunkett and the British legal system is likely to come under attack if the case is not resolved quickly.

Bill Morris, the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, questioned Mr Blunkett's role in the case and said that a "draconian measure" such as deciding to revoke someone's citizenship should be left to the courts.

The cleric, who used to preach at the Finsbury Park mosque in north London before he was banned, has sparked controversy over his comments attacking Britain, the United States and Jews.

A source close to Mr Masri said yesterday: "He is quite calm about it all. We have been expecting this, but we also hoped David Blunkett would see sense. This is racist, Islamophobic legislation."

The Home Secretary, who is using the new Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act, said on Saturday: "We are not starting a hunt for people with dual citizenship. We are not talking about a big mouth shouting off. Irritating though that is, they have the right to do so. If you encourage, support, advise, help people to take up training, if you facilitate them, then of course that takes you right over the boundary."

Mr Masri has 10 days to appeal and his case will go before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, a Home Office tribunal. He could then have his case heard at the Court of Appeal. If unsuccessful there, he might appeal to the House of Lords, after which he could take his case to Europe.