Abu Hamza al-Masri

Abu Hamza al-Masri
An early picture of Abu Hamza al-Masri, prior to losing an eye in an explosion
Born	Mustafa Kamel Mustafa (Arabic: مصطفى كامل مصطفى‎) 15 April 1958 (1958-04-15) (age 53) Alexandria, Egypt
Residence	Belmarsh Prison, London, England, UK
Religion	Sunni Islam

Abu Hamza al-Masri (Arabic: أبو حمزة المصري, Abū Ḥamzah al-Maṣrī) (born 15 April 1958, Alexandria) is an Egyptian Sunni activist known for his preaching of a violent and politicised interpretation of Islam, also known as militant Islamism or jihadism. He is currently in prison in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Abu Hamza al-Masri was born in Alexandria, Egypt as Mustafa Kamel Mustafa in 1958, the son of a middle class army officer. In 1979, he entered the UK on a student visa.^[1]

His initial reaction to life in Britain was to describe it as "a paradise, where you could do anything you wanted".^[2] He studied civil engineering at Brighton Polytechnic.^[3]

On 16 May 1980, he married Valerie Traverso, a Roman Catholic convert to Islam,^[4] and had a son, Mohammed Mustafa Kamel, whom Masri later separated from his mother when the boy was four years old. His son did not see his mother again for another twelve years.^[5] He acquired British citizenship following three years of marriage and acquired a job as a bouncer for a peep show in Soho.^[5] In 1984, he divorced his wife. Supporters suggest that this occurred because he found out she had failed to divorce her previous husband until 1982. However, his former wife has blamed the divorce on Masri having an affair with a prostitute.

Valerie, 51 (in 2007, when this citation was published on The Sun), said: “I can confirm that one of the reasons our marriage broke up was my husband’s infidelity with a prostitute. [...] He would come in late and I didn’t know where he was going. [...] I told him things had gone too far and I was leaving. He was responding by saying he would change and would dedicate himself to Islam.”^[5]

According to the Sun newspaper, this version of events was supported by a former friend of Masri.

A former pal told how Masri had a fling with a hooker behind his first wife’s back and said: “He certainly had an eye for the women.” Masri, now 53 and with hooks for hands and only one eye, was working part-time as a nightclub bouncer in London’s West End. The pal said: “He hardly drank and didn’t smoke, but he certainly had an eye for the women even though he was married. “While I knew him he had a fling with one of the prostitutes who came into the club. "He told me his wife eventually found out and he had to confess what he'd been up to.^[5]

In 1984, he remarried, to a woman named Nadjet, with whom he has seven children.^[6]

In the early 1990s, Masri lived in Bosnia, with a forged identity document, where he fought alongside Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) against Serbs and Croats during the Bosnian War.^[7][8]

He now uses a distinctive hook prosthesis as his right hand – which on 21 January 2003 would spark the front page headline "SLING YOUR HOOK" from The Sun newspaper, urging him to leave Britain.^[9]

In the 1999 "bomb plot" trial of eight Britons and two Algerians in Yemen, Masri's eldest son, Mohammed Mustafa Kamel (at the time 17 years old), was sentenced to three years in prison and his stepson, Mohsin Ghalain, to seven years. The prosecution alleged that Masri had sent the men to Yemen to carry out terrorist attacks.^[10][11]

Religious life

Masri, formerly the imam of Finsbury Park Mosque, runs "Supporters of Sharia", a radical group that believed in a strict interpretation of Islamic law. In 2003, he addressed a rally in central London called by the Islamic al-Muhajiroun, where members spoke of their support for Islamist goals like the creation of a caliphate and destroying democracy.

On 4 February 2003 (after being suspended since April 2002), Masri was dismissed from his position at the Finsbury Park mosque by the Charity Commission,^[12][13] the government department that regulates charities in England and Wales. After his ejection from the mosque, he preached outside the gates until May 2004, when he was arrested at the start of US extradition proceedings against him (see below).^[14]

Masri has publicly expressed support for Islamist goals like creating a caliphate,^[15] and for Osama bin Laden. He wrote a paper entitled El Ansar (The Victor) in which he expressed support for the actions of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria, but he later rejected them when they started killing civilians.^[16]

He is an associate of Abdullah el-Faisal, a Jamaican Muslim convert cleric who preached in the UK until he was imprisoned for urging his followers to murder Jews, Hindus, Christians and Americans, subsequently being deported to Jamaica in 2007.^[17]

Extradition to US

On 27 May 2004, Masri was detained on remand by British authorities and appeared before magistrates at the start of a process to try and extradite him under the Extradition Act 2003 to the United States, where he had been named in an indictment of supporting James Ujaama in an attempt to establish a terrorist training camp in late 1999 and early 2000 near Bly, Oregon and providing aid to al-Qaeda.^[18] Ujaama is a US citizen who had met Masri in England in 1999 and was indicted in the US for providing aid to al-Qaeda, attempting to establish the terrorist training camp, and for running a web site advocating global violent jihad.^[19] Masri was in Britain throughout the relevant period.

However, as a member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom is party to an agreement whereby extradition must be refused to any country which has the death penalty and where the suspect is to be tried in a capital case.^[20] This will not prevent his extradition to the United States, but it will prevent any court from imposing a sentence of death, should he be found guilty. British courts initially permitted his extradition to the US on 15 November 2007,^[21][22] however he appealed against his extradition to the European Court of Human Rights, Europe's highest court. In the meantime, Masri was sentenced to a seven-year prison sentence on his conviction on various offences for which he was arrested after the start of the US extradition proceedings (see below). By November 2009 he would normally have been eligible for release.^[23]

On 8 July 2010 the European Court of Human Rights indefinitely blocked Masri's extradition to the United States to face terrorism charges until the court was satisfied that Masri wouldn't be treated inhumanely.^[24] The court based its judgement on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which applies to British law. It is an absolute prohibition for a signatory to the ECHR to remove anyone to a place where they would be subject to inhumane or degrading treatment.^[25]

In past cases, the ECHR has prevented the UK from deporting suspected foreign terrorists to places where they might be executed or tortured. In Masri's case this has been extended to refusing extradition to a country where he might be jailed for life and where the prison regime is judged to be too harsh. The ruling would apply to any extradition to the US unless American authorities can guarantee in advance that the suspect will not be incarcerated in a so-called supermax prison. The court said there should be further legal argument on whether life without parole would be a breach of human rights. The court asked for fresh submissions on whether Masri (who is serving a terrorist-related prison term in Britain) and other suspects awaiting extradition would face inhumane treatment in the US if they are sent there to stand trial. Yemen also requested Masri's extradition in May 2004.^[26]

On 19 October 2010, a decision on whether Masri will keep his British passport will hinge on whether he has lost his Egyptian citizenship, a tribunal has heard.^[27] It was announced on 5 November 2010 that Masri would keep his British passport.

Arrests and convictions for UK offences

On 26 August 2004, Masri was arrested by British police under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 which covers the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. He was de-arrested on 31 August 2004 (not released, he remained on remand for the US extradition case).^[28] Almost two months later, on 19 October 2004, he was charged with 16 crimes under the provisions of various British statutes, including encouraging the murder of non-Muslims, and intent to stir up racial hatred.^[29] The trial commenced on 5 July 2005 but was adjourned, and resumed on 9 January 2006. On 7 February 2006, he was found guilty on eleven charges and not guilty on four:

• Guilty of six charges of soliciting to murder under the Offences against the Person Act 1861; not guilty on three further such charges.
• Guilty of three charges related to "using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with the intention of stirring up racial hatred" under the Public Order Act 1986, not guilty on one further such charge.
• Guilty of one further charge of owning recordings related to "stirring up racial hatred".
• Guilty of one charge of possessing "terrorist encyclopaedia" under the Terrorism Act 2000, s58. The charges under the Terrorism Act of 2000 related to his possession of the Encyclopedia of Afghan Jihad and an Al Qaeda Handbook, and to propaganda materials produced by Masri.^[30]

He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. He has already been in jail since May 2004. In sentencing, Mr Justice Hughes said Masri had "helped to create an atmosphere in which to kill has become regarded by some as not only a legitimate course but a moral and religious duty in pursuit of perceived justice".^[31]

On 18 January 2007, Lord Justice Hughes made the order for the recovery of the full costs of the defence of the race-hate charges, estimated in excess of 1 million pounds. This judgement was based on his view that "the story I have been told today (by Masri) is simply not true" that he [Masri] had no share in a £220,000 house in Greenford, west London. Masri had claimed it belonged to his sister. The court also found that Masri was contributing £9000 a year for private education for his children.^[32]

Although Masri would normally have completed his sentence and be freed, he is still being held on remand in Belmarsh Prison whilst the US seeks to extradite him (see above).^[23]

Quotations

Masri claims that the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster was a sign from God:

These missions would increase the number of satellites for military purposes. It would increase the slavery of governance of other countries by America. It is a punishment from God. Muslims see it that way. It is a trinity of evil because it carried Americans, an Israeli and a Hindu, a trinity of evil against Islam. The fact that the motor of the craft fell on Palestine [a town in Texas] – all these are messages from God. It is a strong message, for the Israeli, to be taken up there to space and he spoke about the Holocaust, to try to make religious advancement from it and gain some moral high ground, hence you have seen this message over Palestine.

"Killing of the kafir (non-believer) for any reason you can say it is OK, even if there is no reason for it." He called on his followers to poison, ambush and kill non-believers and added: "You must have a stand with your heart, with your tongue, with your money, with your hand, with your sword, with your Kalashnikov. Don't ask shall I do this, just do it."^[33]

Of licensors for alcohol sellers, he said: "Make sure that the person who gave him the licence for that wine shop doesn't exist any more on the Earth. Finish him up. Give him dawa (inviting non-Muslims to accept the truth of Islam). If he doesn't respect dawa, kill him."^[34]

He suggested that people coined the term suicide attack to put others off it. "It is not called suicide – this is called shahada, martyring, because if the only way to hurt the enemies of Islam except by taking your life for that, then it is allowed ... [T]he person who hinders Allah's rule, this man must be eliminated".

In January 2006, while on trial, he accused the Jewish people of being "blasphemous, treacherous and dirty" and explained that this was "why Hitler was sent into the world".^[35] He also called for "a world dominated by a caliph, sitting in the White House".^[33] Whilst under cross-examination, Hamza claimed the Jews control the Foreign Office, the media and the money supply in Britain and the US.^[36]

Profile

Abu Hamza al-Masri was featured in the Daily Mail and The Sun, which often called for his deportation, up to his eventual conviction. He was nicknamed "The Hook" and "Captain Hook" by some British tabloid newspapers because of the hook on his right hand.^[5][37] Such tabloid coverage of figures like Masri, Omar Bakri Muhammad and Anjem Choudary have been blamed by groups like Islamophobia Watch, iEngage,^[38] Muslim Association of Britain and others of presenting a distorted image of normal Muslims in Great Britain.

Masri was briefly interviewed by John Safran in the comedy documentary John Safran vs God regarding fatwas.

On 28 May 2009, three of al-Masri's sons were sentenced to imprisonment by Southwark Crown Court for a two-year fraud involving stolen cars. Hamza Kamel, aged 22 and Mohamed Mostafa, aged 27 (both from Acton, London) ran the scam operation with Masri's stepson Mohssin Ghailam, aged 28. Four other men were jailed on related charges.^[39] In July 2010 in was reported that another son, Yasser Kamel aged 20, was sentenced to 12 months in youth detention after pleading guilty to one count of violent disorder at anti-Israel protests in January 2009.^[40]

The TaxPayers' Alliance estimates father-of-eight Hamza has so far cost Britain £2.75 million in welfare payments, council housing, NHS and prison bills, trials and legal appeals.^[41]

See also

• Mohammed Haydar Zammar
• Encyclopedia of Afghan Jihad
• Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt
• Abu Izzadeen
• Anjem Choudary
• Abu Uzair
• Hassan Butt
• Andrew Ibrahim
• Sulayman Keeler
• Khalid Kelly
• Omar Bakri Muhammad

References

1. ^ Brooks, Libby (Thursday 1 May 2003). "5 tough questions about asylum-part 2". The Guardian (London). http://society.guardian.co.uk/asylumseekers/story/0,7991,946966,00.html. Retrieved 18 March 2009. 
2. ^ BBC
3. ^ Lawson, Tracy (21 January 2003). "As a fundamentalist cleric reviled and revered for his preaches of hate". The Scotsman. http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1081&id=77202003. Retrieved 18 March 2009. 
4. ^ "Hamza's ex-wife life threatened". BBC News – Online international version (BBC). Wednesday, 8 February 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4694218.stm. Retrieved 18 March 2009. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d e} Hughes, Simon (17 May 2007). "Hook and a hooker". The Sun (London). http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article37149.ece. 
6. ^ Profile: Abu Hamza
7. ^ Nun, Jan (8 February 2006). "U.K.: Muslim Extremist Preacher Gets Seven Years In Jail". Radio Free Europe. http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/02/585e69f9-0847-4e76-9750-14d31a46bd81.html. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
8. ^ Naughton, Philippe (7 February 2006). "Profile: Abu Hamza". Times Online edition (London: The Times). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article728227.ece. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
9. ^ [1]
10. ^ "Britons convicted of Yemen bomb plot". BBC News. 9 August 1999. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/415096.stm. 
11. ^ Abu Hamza and the Islamic Army
12. ^ "Mosque raid findings revealed". BBC News. 7 February 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4689816.stm. 
13. ^ Casciani, Dominic; Sakr, Sharif (7 February 2006). "The battle for the mosque". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4639074.stm. 
14. ^ Casciani, Dominic (27 May 2004). "Profile: Abu Hamza al-Masri". BBC News online (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3752517.stm. Retrieved 22 March 2009. 
15. ^ Oneill, Sean (13 January 2006). "Abu Hamzas video call to arms". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article787810.ece. 
16. ^ "The Algerian Question", Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed, Yale University Press, John Phillips and Martin Evans, 2007, p. 222
17. ^ Dictionary of terrorism, p. 145, John Richard Thackrah, Routledge, 2004, ISBN 0415298202, 9780415298209, accessed 9 January 2009
18. ^ "Abu Hamza arrested in London on terrorism charges files in the United States."
19. ^ "From community activist to alleged terror conspirator". CNN. 29 August 2002. http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/08/29/ujaama.background/index.html. 
20. ^ Hayes, Ben. "The new UK-US Extradition Treaty". Statewatch analysis (Statewatch) (17). ISSN 1756-851X. http://www.statewatch.org/news/2003/jul/analy18.pdf. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
21. ^ Abu Hamza could face extradition
22. ^ Abu Hamza will be sent packing to America straight after serving his jail sentence in Britain
23. ^ ^{a b} "Hate preacher Abu Hamza secretly gives lectures on Islam ... through the water pipes of his prison cell
24. ^ Dodd, Vikram (8 July 2010). "Abu Hamza extradition to US blocked by European court". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/08/abu-hamza-human-rights-ruling. 
25. ^ "Abu Hamza extradition to US blocked on human rights grounds". The Daily Telegraph (London). 8 July 2010. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/philipjohnston/100046585/abu-hamza-extradition-to-us-blocked-on-human-rights-grounds. 
26. ^ "Yemen seeks Abu Hamza's extradition.(UPI Top Stories)". UPI NewsTrack. 29 May 2004. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7075492_ITM. 
27. ^ "Tribunal to rule on Abu Hamza's British citizenship". London: Telegraph. 19 October 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8072894/Tribunal-to-rule-on-Abu-Hamzas-British-citizenship.html. 
28. ^ "Muslim cleric Hamza de-arrested". BBC News online (BBC). 31 August 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3616524.stm. Retrieved 22 March 2009. 
29. ^ Cleric faces trial on 16 charges CNN
30. ^ "Abu Hamza trial: Islamic cleric had terror handbook, court told", The Guardian, London, 12 January 2006.
31. ^ "'Preacher of hate' jailed in Britain"
32. ^ "Abu Hamza must pay £1m for trial". BBC News online (BBC). 18 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6276209.stm. Retrieved 22 March 2009. 
33. ^ ^{a b} "Hamza's sermons". London: Telegraph Newspapers. 8 February 2006. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/08/nhamz408.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/02/08/ixnewstop.html. Retrieved 22 March 2009. 
34. ^ Press Association (7 February 2006). "The preachings of Abu Hamza". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/feb/07/terrorism.world. Retrieved 22 March 2009. 
35. ^ "Hamza 'urged followers to murder'". BBC News online (BBC). 11 January 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4602054.stm. Retrieved 22 March 2009. 
36. ^ "Media controlled by Jews – Hamza". BBC News online (BBC). 24 January 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4643720.stm. Retrieved 22 March 2009. 
37. ^ Get Him Out of Here The Sun.
38. ^ [2]
39. ^ "Mohammed Chiadmi, 31, from Maida Vale, his brother Abdul Chiadmi, 22, from Ladbroke Grove, Khalid Jebari, 22, from Pimlico, and Hamza Mrimou, 27, from Fulham, admitted fraud, handling stolen goods and money laundering." "Abu Hamza's car scam sons jailed". BBC News Online (BBC). 28 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8071736.stm. Retrieved 28 May 2009. 
40. ^ Son of hate preacher Abu Hamza jailed for attacking police at London demonstration, Daily Mail, 1 July 2010.
41. ^ Taxpayers' Alliance estimates on al-Masri's cost to the British taxpayer

External links

• BBC Abu Hamza al-Masri profile
• Hook and a hooker, The Sun
• Archived Hamza organisation site from archive.org (Takes a few moments to be retrieved from archive.)

Persondata
Name	Almasri, Abu Hamza
Alternative names	Mustafa, Mustafa Kamel
Short description	Egyptian-born British Islamist terrorist
Date of birth	15 April 1958
Place of birth	Alexandria, Egypt
Date of death
Place of death