May 27, 2008

Britain to Deport Scholar Who Downloaded Al Qaeda Guide at U.S. Government Web Site

An Algerian academic is awaiting deportation from Britain after he was arrested for downloading and printing out an Al Qaeda handbook from a U.S. government Web site, The Independent, a British newspaper, reported.

Hicham Yezza, a 30-year-old former Ph.D. student who is now a staff member at the University of Nottingham, was detained for six days and questioned along with Rizwaan Sabir, a student who was writing about the American approach to Al Qaeda in Iraq, a militant group blamed for many attacks on U.S.-led forces there.

“Sabir’s supporters say he downloaded and sent the Al Qaeda training document to Yezza, an acquaintance, because he didn’t want to pay the printing fee,” the Associated Press reported. “Someone then alerted police, who swooped in and arrested them both on May 14.”

Both men were released without charge after it was determined that the document was freely available from the U.S. government. But Mr. Yezza, who has lived in Britain for 13 years, was soon rearrested, served with a deportation notice, and taken to a deportation center.

Academics at Nottingham have raised serious questions about just how deeply British authorities have penetrated campuses and what that means for academic freedom at British universities.

“If I was researching the subject, very likely I would have looked at this myself,” said Bettina Renz, Mr. Sabir’s academic adviser, according to the Associated Press. “The severity of the reaction is just mind-boggling to me, to be honest.”

Others have also raised concerns about just how swiftly the order to deport Mr. Yezza was issued by the Home Office.

“I can see no reason for an emergency deportation of Mr. Hicham [Yezza] other than to cover the embarrassment of police and intelligence services,” a Labour member of Parliament, Alan Simpson, wrote in a letter to Liam Byrne, Britain’s borders and immigration minister. —Andrew Mills

Comments

1. Mr. Yezza is not the first person to be sacrificed by an idiotic administration to cover its embarrassment at its own incompetence. Nor will he be the last.

   The hardest lesson for those in government to learn, and some never do, is that government exists to serve the people, not the people to serve the government. Power need not be absolute in order to corrupt absolutely. Indeed, it is sometimes the possessors of the most trivial amount of power who are consumed by it the fastest.

   — Dan    May 27, 03:26 PM    #

2. Let’s see, the guy is being deported for downloading something from a US government website? Perhaps the US government representatives should also be deported from the UK for including the handbook on their site.

   — Jon    May 27, 03:52 PM    #

3. “At least go public and state that you, as academics, are against terrorist violence.”

   And CEO’s, and Republicans, and priests, etc. have to (somehow) publicly state that as well. And while everyone is at it, they have to publicly renounce all other things that are bad. That includes a renouncement of stealing, lying, killing, divorce, telling white lies, and anything else.

   Not that anyone would actually have a reason to care, not like there is anything else to do.

   Why don’t you go public and state that you love America? But it has to be on my terms, of course, according to my time table. I’m always free to define “loving America” after the fact if it suits my political purposes. And your public statement that you love America has to help push through tax cuts for the top 1%.

   — me    May 27, 03:55 PM    #

4. I, for one, welcome the overzealous “protection” that the nanny government dishes out. When the jack-booted thugs come for me, I’ll go cheerfully because I know it’s all for my own good.

   — J    May 27, 03:57 PM    #

5. What a bunch of jerks jim dorn J and agent racist morons who know nothing and beleive everything they are fed by the neo-cons I hope you are deported to somewhere that has a regime that will torture you like the good old fascist USA

   — concerned    May 27, 04:02 PM    #

6. The first question that comes to mind simple is —- Why was the document in question freely available? And, that too from the U.S. Govt.

   The next thing that is puzzling me is that it took six days for the authorities to verify that the document was freely available?

   Then comes the fact that they were both released —- followed by the fact that the one downloading the document is free.—- And, the deportation of Mr. Hicham Yezza, is being based on a technical violation of the immigration laws.

   Additionally, let me add the following from the International Herald Tribune (May 25, 2008):

   Sabir and Yezza’s supporters plan a free-speech demonstration Wednesday during which staff will read excerpts from the manual in front of the university library, according to Alf Nilsen, a professor at Nottingham’s School of Politics and International Relations.

   He said the arrests were a violation of human rights and academic freedoms. “I do think this particular incident actually illustrates the potentially draconian consequences of anti-terror legislation,” he said.

   Human rights groups have complained that Britain’s anti-terrorism laws — which bar the possession of “material useful for terrorism” — could criminalize researchers or even just the merely curious. Authorities here have previously foundered at least once before in an attempt to prosecute pupils based on their reading material.

   Given the above —- It will be interesting to see what action the authorities would take?

   — zahid    May 27, 04:10 PM    #

7. Jim, I’m in the middle of revising a textbook that includes a section on logical fallacies. Thanks for providing an example I was looking for, although I’m having some trouble deciding which of a couple it might best fit. At least Agent 99’s “bunch of pansies” is cleanly ad hominum. In any case, about 110,000 students nationwide will benefit from your generosity, starting in fall 2009.

   — Fahrenheit 451    May 27, 04:14 PM    #

8. Hey Jim – you did catch that it was a document downloaded from a US government website right? The British government has criminalized downloading information freely available from the US Government. This was information that the US government, the Bush administration (the most secretive in US history) felt was worth posting and making freely available. Ponder that for a moment. What if another country, say Iran, incarcerated people for downloading information the US government felt innocuous enough to freely distribute through the web? What would your response to that be?

   — a different J    May 27, 04:55 PM    #

9. Another example of government working with blinders on. No judgment is involved, just knee-jerk reaction. Does anyone wonder why the “Patriot Act” makes us nervous?

   — Al    May 27, 05:31 PM    #

10. It’s quite possible the deportee’s papers weren’t in order or something. You’re making a cause and effect relationship not based on the facts in evidence.

    — Old Etonian    May 27, 05:42 PM    #

11. I’m sure Franz Kafka and George Orwell are laughing in their graves. Didn’t they try to warn us about the automatons who will mock your love of freedom in order to save you from yourself? Automatons who will see no contradictions in persecuting people based upon absurd violations of equally absurd laws? Automatons who will mock, hate, and kill without reflection, simply because their leader tells them to? Automatons willing to stick their face in a meat grinder to show solidarity with all the rest of the automatons who have stuck their face in a meat grinder?

    — marcii    May 27, 06:47 PM    #

12. Back to the basics —- How will the government react when the staff from Nottingham’s School of Politics and International Relations read’s excerpts from the manual in front of the university library on wednesday —- according to Alf Nilsen, a professor at Nottingham’s School of Politics and International Relations —- as reported in the International Herald Tribune (May 25 Issue).

    — zahid    May 27, 06:49 PM    #

13. I’m a loyal American expat living abroad Australia and am currently writing my PhD dissertation. One of my chapters looks at American exceptionalism juxtaposed against Political Islam. The source in question is exactly the type of sources that I am using for this chapter. I’m currently living abroad in another country. I hope I wont be deported for downloading this file for my dissertation research!!! :-(

    — cathedralfolk    May 27, 08:09 PM    #

14. What US government website has the Al Qeada manuel on it? Can this be categorized as entrapment?

    — Wondering    May 27, 08:17 PM    #

15. usdoj.gov/ag/manualpart1_1.pdf

    to wondering #18: for a more complete version-claimed to have been derived from fbi.gov
    see:
    www.disastercenter.com/terror/

    — Jon    May 27, 08:28 PM    #

16. The University has a responsibility to ensure all staff and students receive an accurate account of recent events. During the course of the police enquiries we were restricted by law about what could be shared. and the University did not at any stage name either of the people involved, nor did it reach any conclusions about their actions before police investigations concluded.

    Given statements being made externally, and in response to some emails and blog postings, we wish to make the following sequence of events clear:

    A member of staff conducting everyday university business discovered that an individual within the School’s administrative team – who is not an academic and not a registered student – was in possession of the ‘al Qaeda Training Manual.’ In any circumstances and in any organisation (including our University) discovery of such material -being held for non-academic purposes by a clerical member of staff – would prompt reasonable anxiety.

    Given the University’s public duty and its duty of care to staff, and students, this material was quite properly brought to the attention of the Registrar by the member of staff’s Head of School.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and senior management of the University decided the police were the only appropriate investigating authority to determine why this material was being held by a non-academic member of staff.

    Despite numerous assertions to the contrary in recent emails and statements to the press issued by individuals both within and outside the institution, the police inquiry was measured, thorough and low key. From the outset the police described it as a low-level operation, but one judged necessary in law. There was no armed police involvement.

    The first arrest made by police involved a student (from another School in a different Faculty) who attended the scene and was, in their view, impeding their inquiries. This student, it was later established, had sent a copy of the ‘al Qaeda Training Manual’ to the member of clerical staff in question. When the latter was eventually traced by the police, he too was arrested.

    The police spent six days investigating this matter. They had to examine substantial quantities of information and also establish the nature and scope of the relationships and sequence of events. The University had no formal power to speed up or end this process. The investigations concluded with police satisfied they understood why this material had been sent to a clerical member of staff. Both individuals were then released without charge.

    The administrative member of staff was immediately re-arrested in connection with immigration laws. As an overseas national he has failed to produce evidence of his eligibility to work in the United Kingdom. The University is no different from other employers and is prevented in law from employing foreign nationals who do not have permission to work here. The institution has contacted him, and his defence team, to request any information which contradicts evidence that he was working at the University whilst ineligible for employment. The University is continuing to liaise with the immigration authorities and making efforts to maintain contact with the individual.

    Much has been said on the matter of academic freedom, and whether recent events are in conflict with it. The University has always fully embraced the principle and continues to do so. The University is already addressing issues raised by these events through the ongoing work of the Research Committee.

    All members of the University can be reassured that we take very seriously our duty to ensure students and staff are free to study and work in a safe, secure and tolerant environment. Anyone who wishes to express a view is encouraged to email registrars@nottingham.ac.uk.

    — NottinghamUni    May 28, 05:09 AM    #

17. British government took appropriate action in this matter. More governments should do the same thing.

    — kvc    May 28, 08:35 AM    #

18. This is the right thing to do. If these crazies are allowed the freedom they do not have in their country and religion they so cherished and willing to die for, they will not only abuse the freedom here but also use it to harm the country they live in. They should be sent to Iran for justice under Islam and let them praise the Islamic Republic for good deeds. It is not arbitrary and capricious on the part of the government, and also British government is not an idiotic administration to cover its embarrassment at its own incompetence. Everyone should ask these crazies …. if they so hate the west why are they still in the west…. I will encourage them to go back to their country and practice their so called hate-filled religion, where dictators and religious zealots rule their lives with iron fists.

    — John Adams    May 28, 09:12 AM    #

19. Those that would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.

    — Benjamin Franklin    May 28, 09:28 AM    #

20. RE: 22. I’m not sure we have enough information to conclude that any “crazies,” as you have it, were involved. The information was publicly available. Simply obtaining or distributing to another information freely available should not result in deportation in the absence of other evidence of wrongdoing (as may be the case here if immigration papers were not in order) or danger. As noted more than once above, there are legitimate (non-violent and non-threatening) reasons to want to read this manual.

    — EAC    May 28, 09:37 AM    #

21. the statement by the university explains the situation in part, but as a US citizen who was once employed by a UK university and who had to jump through all sorts of hoops to get a work permit, my question is: how did this guy get his job without the proper credentials?

    — US-UK    May 28, 09:40 AM    #

22. I just don’t get it? Why is Mr. Yezza being deported because he downloaded a freely available document from a U.S. government web site? Is there more to this story? What did he do wrong?

    — Tommy    May 28, 11:12 AM    #

23. Tommy,

    Did you read #20?

    — FB    May 28, 11:44 AM    #

24. So, based on the statement from the university, we arrest everyone FIRST when they are suspected of improper behavior, right? And then later when we determine they weren’t really doing anything, we let them go. Orwell would be proud.

    — Al    May 28, 11:53 AM    #

25. Farenheit 451: how pleased I am to know that at least one paragraph of truth and common sense will be before 110,000 students this Fall. Know that whatever derogatory introduction might precede my comment, students will undoubtedly see the truth in it. Your classroom influence is, fortunately, limited to their parroting and regurgitating your quips to secure a grade. After that, they make their own sense of what is going on. And you thought they awaited your every word…sucker.

    — Jim    May 28, 01:07 PM    #

26. I’m guessing researchers who aren’t brown people with scary names will still be able to download documents from US government websites without being deported, so really there’s nothing to see here. Move along.

    — Ba'al    May 28, 01:31 PM    #

27. I am guessing it will be especially difficult for the Authorities when President Obama makes his first state visit to Britain. Heads will explode.

    — Ba'al    May 28, 01:33 PM    #

28. Question for everyone: The article’s link (Associated Press) takes one to the news as reported in the International Herald Tribune —- in which it is stated that:

    “Sabir and Yezza’s supporters plan a free-speech demonstration Wednesday during which staff will read excerpts from the manual in front of the university library, according to Alf Nilsen, a professor at Nottingham’s School of Politics and International Relations.”

    Does anyone know that if it took place today? And, what action the authorities took vis-vis the same?

    Additionally:

    The University’s explanation (#20) in my opine does not compute on several counts.

    Apropos, a member of the clerical staff —- who, also happened to be a former Ph.D. student has a document that raises concern —— the part of the Statement (#20) states: “A member of staff conducting everyday university business discovered that an individual within the School’s administrative team – who is not an academic and not a registered student – was in possession of the ‘al Qaeda Training Manual.’ “

    Wonder what “everyday business” means —- “going through other peoples stuff?”

    Now that you have found the stuff, don’t you begin by —- logical questions, some what like:

    Q. Why do you have this stuff?

    A. I am doing some research and thought it will be useful.

    Q. You are a member of the clerical staff, and irrespective of the fact that you were a Ph.D. student, you are not permitted to do any research. And, how did you get this stuff anyway?

    A. From the internet —- it is freely available from the U.S. government website,

    Q. And you expect us to take you at your word that the U.S. govt. would hand-out such stuff?

    A. Well it is true, you can check.

    Q. You expect us to check? We know better, and even if you are correct, how do we account for the fact that as a clerical staff member, you are not supposed to take freely available stuff from the U.S. govt. website? So, we are turning it over to the police. Who…

    Now to the deportation issue:

    The University states that he was a member of the clerical staff —- so was he hired with no documentation verification, or was he hired based on forged/false documentation?

    Wasn’t supposed to be working —- does not explain how he got the work in the first place. Stating that you are ascertaing information from the legal team of the potential deportee in my opine sounds like hogwash —- the statement: “As an overseas national he has failed to produce evidence of his eligibility to work in the United Kingdom. The University is no different from other employers and is prevented in law from employing foreign nationals who do not have permission to work here.” —- simply put means either false/forged documents were provided, or the University failed to do its job and hired him without checking —- so which is it? OR, is it a case of the documents are undergoing verification —- and since such verification is a lot slower than the internet verification, it will take a few months before we really know anything?

    — zahid    May 28, 01:57 PM    #

29. This appears to me to be a perfect example of educational administration over-reaction and CYA (cover your a**). Zahid brings up some very good points that, if addressed, would bring clarity to a very convoluted situation.

    — Marie Nubia-Feliciano, M.S.    May 28, 07:09 PM    #

30. Addition to earlier Comments #‘s: 10, 16, & 32.

    The BBC News Online, Education Guardian and other news sources have reported that a demonstration was held on Wednesday (outside the Trent Building —- University’s Main Campus), to protest the proposed deportation (www.bbc.com) —- Additionally, the BBC report also indicates that the 1500 page document in question was “needed” as part of research for a dissertation by Mr. Sabir.

    The Education Guardian (EducationGuardian.co.uk) in its news release by Anthea Lipsett (May 28) stated that the Lecturers had voted in support of —- stopping Mr. Yezza’s fast track deportation.

    For, additional details go the websites —- www.bbc.com and EducationGuardian.co.uk

    At this juncture I stand by my original opine —- the University’s explanation does not compute (See Comment #32)

    — zahid    May 29, 09:58 AM    #

31. To All:

    The Deportation has been suspended —- See Today’s Chronicle (June 2, Afternoon Edition), for Update.

    — zahid    Jun 2, 04:21 PM    #

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