The phenomenal on-line success Daily Mail newspaper revealed this week that the Jordanian Islamist militant, known variously as the ‘hate cleric’, Omar Mahmoud Othman, and Abu Qatada al-Filistini, has upgraded to a bigger house in London which is effectively being paid for by the British tax payer. This move up the property ladder comes after his prison release last month, and apparently makes him the 'happiest man in England'.
The newspaper shared that Abu Qatada told relatives inside Jordan that, “He was the happiest man in England, after moving to a more expensive house.” Also included was that his wife and 5 children were pleased with the move as well. Because, bigger is better for a family of 7 and “compared to the old house, their new house has more rooms, a bigger garden and modern appliances”.
An odd predilection for a Salafi, who ought to shun modern ways of living, for a simpler existence as that followed by the earliest Muslims.
Don't ask, don't get
Says the Mail, Abu Qatada (aged 51) who was once described as being the right hand man of former Al Qaeda Chief Osama Bin Laden in Europe, asked to be moved to a new house just a week after being released from Long Lartin prison in February.
The newspaper quoted Ibrahim Othman, Abu Qatada’s brother, stating that his brother boasted of the expanded Qatada family nest, “informing them that he got a better and nicer place than the previous one, since the British released him from jail. He added that he and his family were fully enjoying the new house, because it had more rooms and a bigger garden.”
Ibrahim (32 years old), elaborated that his brother Abu Qatada, “unable to work, is getting financial aid from the British government; the new house is more expensive. He could not otherwise earn a living to cover the rent.”
Sixty police officers and Internal Security Services MI5, are surveilling Abu Qatada around the clock, at his new home in Wembley, northwest London. He spent six years in Jail, before being released on conditional bail last month.
The Special Immigrations Appeals Commission ruled that Abu Qatada was to be released on bail after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that, Abu Qatada could not be returned to Jordan, fearing that he would be tortured.
The court decided to release Abu Qatada on a bail of draconian restrictions which include a 22-hour curfew, leaving him forbidden from leaving the house for more than an hour twice a day. He is not allowed to attend prayers in mosques, or to issue any kind of public statements, or to meet people specified by the ministry of home affairs. He is also not allowed to use a cell phone or connect to the internet. A tall order in today's net-hooked living, no doubt.
