Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

Raed Salah takes on the Home Secretary and the press...

...and wins!

By Mehdi Hasan Published 10 April 2012 16:10

Sheikh Raed Salah is greeted by wellwishers. Photograph: Getty Images.

He was dubbed a "vile miltant extremist" and an "anti-Semitic preacher of hate" by the Daily Mail, a "hate preacher" by the Sun and an "'anti-Semitic' speaker" by the Jewish Chronicle. He was arrested and detained on the orders of the Home Secretary Theresa May while MPs and peers from across the political spectrum queued up to denounce him. The Community Security Trust (CST) "welcomed" his detention and provided a dossier of his alleged "hate speech" to the Home Office.

But over the long weekend, Sheikh Raed Salah, the Palestinian leader of the largest civil society body in Israel, who had been visiting the UK at the invitation of the London-based, pro-Palestinian group, Middle East Monitor (Memo), received a letter from the Upper Immigration Tribunal stating that the decision to detain him appeared to have been "entirely unnecessary" and that his appeal against it had succeeded "on all grounds".

From yesterday's Guardian:

The home secretary was "misled" when she moved to throw a leading Palestinian activist out of the UK, according to an immigration tribunal ruling that strongly criticised her decision and found in favour of his appeal against the government's attempts to deport him.

. . . [Salah] sought damages for unlawful detention, and the high court ruled that since he was not given "proper and sufficient reasons" for his arrest until the third day of his detention, he should receive damages for that period.

The ruling of the immigration tribunal, made known on Saturday, states that May "acted under a misapprehension as to the facts" and was "misled" in relation to a poem written by Salah. It also decided she took "irrelevant factors" into account in relation to indictments against Salah, and a conviction in Israel in 2003 over charges that his organisation funnelled funds to a banned charity in Gaza.

Asa Winstanley has a detailed write-up of the Salah story here and, in today's Telegraph, Mary Riddell observes:

In the latest reversal for Mrs May, a judge strongly criticised her attempt to deport a Palestinian activist, ruling that she was wrong about the danger posed by Sheikh Raed Salah. In a decision labelled "entirely unnecessary", she had been misled about his supposedly anti–Semitic poetry and planned to ban him on the basis of a fragment from an old sermon.

Few may be delighted by the sheikh's victory, but his case illustrates the right of every individual to protection against an overweening state. The balance between Parliament, the executive and the judiciary is vital and endlessly fragile. At times, judges veer towards the political arena; at others, politicians attempt, with the public urging them on, to usurp the role of judges. We are now at such a moment.

On the whole, however, the press - especially the right-wing newspapers! - have been rather quiet about the Salah decision which is strange given how much (negative) coverage they heaped upon him last summer. There hasn't been a peep from the Jewish Chronicle, nor from the Times or the Sun. An annoyed Express went with the headline:

Fury as preacher wins fight to stay in UK

The CST, meanwhile, having been criticised by the Guardian's David Hearst for its role in the affair ("the CST should. . . examine its conscience"), has issued a defensive statement on its website saying:

CST is disappointed that Salah’s exclusion has been overturned. . . Some of the media coverage (for example in the Guardian) has noted that CST provided several pieces of evidence to the Home Office regarding Salah’s previous statements and activities, and carries the implication that CST is reponsible for misleading the Home Secretary by providing her with inaccurate information.

This implication is something that CST utterly rejects, and which is not supported by the facts.

So what next? I'm told Salah is preparing to sue members of Her Majesty's press over their alleged smear tactics; Hearst writes of how "[l]ibel writs will now be pursued against those who fabricated and peddled" the "dodgy quotes" attributed to the preacher. This could all get very interesting - especially given the fact that Lord Leveson has heard evidence about media Islamophobia and any serious inquiry into "media ethics" surely has to take a position on the media's lazy and simplistic coverage (demonisation?) of Muslims and the use of "gotcha" quotes.

Doesn't it?

UPDATE:

Stephen Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, has informed me via Twitter that the JC website was closed for Passover, which is why there wasn't a "peep" out of the JC, online, in the immediate aftermath the ruling. However, the current print edition of the JC, out today, has extensive and in-depth coverage of the Salah case - including this bizarre, over-the-top leader in which the Guardian newspaper is accused of producing a "classic, shocking and immensely significant example of pure antisemitism". Hmm....

UPDATE 2:

I've been rung up by a guy (coward?) using a fake name, pretending to be a member of the public, who accused me of supporting Raed Salah's alleged "blood libel" and who has since written up his version of our phone conversation on a right-wing, Islamophobic blog. He seems to be as dumb and close-minded as some of the commenters below, so let me say this slowly, very slowly: just because I don't agree with the Home Secretary and the media's treatment of Salah, a man I've never met or spoken to, doesn't mean I automatically support everything Salah has said or done in the past. Does that make sense? Take your time.

To those below the line who claim I expressed "solidarity" with Salah, show me where I did so? Do you have a single quote to back up your claim? I say again, disagreeing with the state's treatment of an individual doesn't make you a supporter or apologist for that individual; it makes you a supporter and defender of due process, fair trials and human rights.

As for the "blood libel" row, let me say that it is one of the most disgusting, heinous and unforgivable of anti-Semitic smears in existence - which is probably why Salah has been so keen to deny having used it, though it does, I have to say, seem as if he did use it. The judge in the case, of course, didn't accept his denial. Interestingly, the respected if controversial Israeli historian Ilan Pappe supports Salah on this particular, contentious issue and it is worth pointing out that the Israeli government curiously decided not to prosecute him for those seemingly inflammatory comments at the time. Forgive me, therefore, if, for now, I sit on the fence on this one...

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Tags: Raed Salah Palestine Theresa May

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71 comments

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Wed, 2012-06-06 09:50 — Gherasim (not verified)

He'll (Mehdi) will say its all 'taken out of context' or 'mistranslated' - that is standard Islamist rebuttal to hate speech.

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Wed, 2012-06-06 09:50 — Gherasim (not verified)

He'll (Mehdi) will say its all 'taken out of context' or 'mistranslated' - that is standard Islamist rebuttal to hate speech.

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Tue, 2012-04-24 15:01 — adderita (not verified)

Fprget about theoretical blood libel. Palestinians continue to pay with their blood and real llives every day for Israeli brutality!!!

What has happened to the level of debate on this page. Right wing EDL nutjobs are out in force.

Fri, 2012-04-13 14:48 — Des Demona (not verified)

'I say again, disagreeing with the state's treatment of an individual doesn't make you a supporter or apologist for that individual; it makes you a supporter and defender of due process, fair trials and human rights.'

Sorry Mehdi but you're taking a bath on this one. Perhaps less knee jerk and more thought required?
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/mehdi-hasan/2009/10/wilders-party-free...

Not much about due process fair trials and human rights in that one? He doesn't say things you agree with, possibly things which could be inflamatory - like to some people laddo above whom you jump to defend did with the 'heinous' blood libel you admit he used.
You talk of double standards in your post on friendly and unfriendly dictators? Take a long hard look at yourself.

Fri, 2012-04-13 14:44 — Des Demona (not verified)

Sorry Mehdi but you're taking a bath on this one.

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/mehdi-hasan/2009/10/wilders-party-free...

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:39 — Satrander (not verified)

You need to take long hard look at your comments Desdemona which display supreme ignorance and arrogance. You seem to have embarked upon an ugly anti Mehdi campaign. I wonder why, since what you retort in return is mumbo jumbo nonsense.

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:37 — Satrander (not verified)

Tue, 2012-05-15 11:29 — Des Demona (not verified)

What? I'm ignorant and arrogant for pointing out Mehdi's double standards? His knee jerk reaction to defend one person on the purported grounds of free speech and a fair hearing bears little resemblence to his attitude to someone he doesn't agree with as I pointed out with his earlier article on Geert Wilders.
As far as I'm concerned both these idiots are as bad as each other but given Mehdi's backtracing and admission that a heinous blood libel was indeed used he defends his article on the guy's right to a fair hearing and free speech. This was not evident in the article on Wilders - I am simply noting Mehdi's evident hypocrisy. Perhaps you could point out how that is ignorant or arrogant?

Fri, 2012-04-13 09:01 — Jonny Mac

"He was dubbed a "vile miltant extremist" and an "anti-Semitic preacher of hate" by the Daily Mail, a "hate preacher" by the Sun and an "'anti-Semitic' speaker" by the Jewish Chronicle."

"As for the "blood libel" row, let me say that it is one of the most disgusting, heinous and unforgivable of anti-Semitic smears in existence...it does, I have to say, seem as if he did use it."

Sounds like the Mail, the Sun and the JC got it about right then, doesn't it?

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:41 — positivty (not verified)

Are you also going to condemn the vile racism which is endemic in the rogue state of Israel

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:41 — positivty (not verified)

Are you also going to condemn the vile racism which is endemic in the rogue state of Israel

Thu, 2012-04-12 19:24 — Poojk (not verified)

So is their any mooslim bigot this fool will not defend? Maybe notice the closed sign at the JC yer dumb ass? Ooohhh sorry old kaffir hassan does not both to investigate his journalism, next he'll be claiming Clinton was president in 2005....oh!

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:43 — positivty (not verified)

Is there no depths to which you will not stoop. Had the state of Israel not been created on stolen Palestinian land, we would not be having this conversation.

Thu, 2012-04-12 18:33 — Adamant (not verified)

"As for the "blood libel" row, let me say that it is one of the most disgusting, heinous and unforgivable of anti-Semitic smears in existence "

" though it does, I have to say, seem as if he did use it"

Yes, you do have to say it. Although it did take you a long time, didn't it?

Now you have admitted that Raed Salah used "one of the most disgusting, heinous and unforgivable of anti-Semitic smears in existence". Doesn't it then follow that, however you feel about a ban, Raed Salah is a nasty and vicious hate preacher?

So, given how you feel about the blood libel, surely the tone of this piece should be mournful. You should be explaining how sorry you are that Muslim organisations are promoting and championing this vile man, and how sorry you are that he was invited to the United Kingdom in the first place. Instead, you seem to be attacking the person who got you to admit that Raed Salah was a hate preacher!

Then there's the separate question of the ban.

You're not in favour of bans on Muslim hate preachers who incite hatred against Jews. But you are in favour of a ban on Geert Wilders who incites hatred against Jews. Is there some deep issue of principle that distinguishes the two cases? Or are you just happy to have hatred incited at Jews, but a bit jumpy at the prospect of Muslims being targeted?

Thu, 2012-04-12 21:47 — RememberTheDog (not verified)

Yes, Adamant, it's truly tragic that the leading left-wing organ in Britain should be employing as a senior editor a mouthpiece for a sectarian religeous communalist ideology, like Mehdi.

The Left runs into the sand, and what remains?

Thu, 2012-04-12 21:41 — RememberTheDog (not verified)

Mehdi Hasan is a knee-jerk defender of the nastiest people and politics extant today. He does it in the name of anti-Islamophobia, and othe template substitutes for critical intelligence.

He's highly articulate and quite intelligent, and very energetic. His ability to emote makes him a marketable product for TV producers looking to inject drama.

As a journalist he's pathetic. He came up with this effusion before he'd even looked at the case, as he admits.

This is what happens when the staggers appoints editors on the basis of the level of their anger, rather than that of the depth of their thought.

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:46 — positivty (not verified)

The babblr you have presented here is nothing short of crap. Do you not know how to conduct a lucid sensible argument. What you really want to say is that you along with your Zio Jewish friends will not tolerate any kind of support for a Palestinians. Those horrid invented people who simply will not just disappear off the face of this earth. That is what Israel wants to do wipe Palestinians off the face of the earth.

Thu, 2012-04-12 15:09 — protestor (not verified)

It scares me how archaically right wing so many people in this country have become. I salute the student protestors.192.168.1.1&192.168.0.1&mortgage calculator

Thu, 2012-04-12 10:58 — ProsperaChicksRule (not verified)

Kuffariphobia. Mad Mehdi syndrome. Harry's Place neologism.

Wed, 2012-04-11 23:29 — Ziggy (not verified)

Can I please refer dear readers and also Medhi back to an article that was written by Medhi called;

'Geert Wilders, Ukip and me'

It seems that hate preachers and bigots only take one shape, that is right wing of course.

Medhi can you explain to the dear readers why this Muslim extremist is allowed in but in your article from 2009 the christian right wing extremist shouldn't have been allowed in?

Wed, 2012-04-11 23:28 — Ziggy (not verified)

Can I please refer dear readers and also Medhi back to an article that was written by Medhi called;

'Geert Wilders, Ukip and me'

It seems that hate preachers and bigots only take one shape, that is right wing of course.

Medhi can you explain to the dear readers why this Muslim extremist is allowed in but in your article from 2009 the christian right wing extremist shouldn't have been allowed in?

Thu, 2012-04-12 14:51 — RememberTheDog (not verified)

Anybody come across this ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lCtH8aDvt0&feature=player_embedded

It puts everything that Mehdi has to say into a certain... perspective.

Thu, 2012-04-12 14:50 — RememberTheDog (not verified)

Anybody come across this ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lCtH8aDvt0&feature=player_embedded

It puts everything that Mehdi has to say into a certain... perspective.

Wed, 2012-04-11 22:18 — Julia Harris (not verified)

THE FAKESTINIANS COME CLEAN...

Hamas Minister of the Interior and of National Security Fathi Hammad Slams Egypt over Fuel Shortage in Gaza Strip, and Says: "Half of the Palestinians Are Egyptians and the Other Half Are Saudis"

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/3389.htm

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:51 — adder (not verified)

The Jewish nation are an invented people who have no unbroken historical link with Palestine. This myth about the Jews living in the Holy Land was used to justify the creation of the state of Israel. The Jewish tribes are originally African and it is to there Israelis should decamp

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:49 — positivty (not verified)

So there we have it, Julia peddling the usual bile and filth. JH is a complete assxxxxe who is stuck in the medieval dark ages. She still thinks that the Jewish race is the supreme race. Sooner or later Israel will fall when US taxpayers tire of funding this colonial adventure.!!

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:48 — positivty (not verified)

Thu, 2012-04-12 01:40 — Davidaslindsay (not verified)

Well, yes. Or to put it another way, the borders imposed on the Middle East at the end of the First World War bear little or no resemblance to the age-old reality on the ground. Who knew?

Israel, meanwhile, is flying in Russians who refuse to eat kosher food and who insist on taking their Israeli Defence Force oaths on the New Testament alone, Russian Nazis (seriously), East Africans who have invented a religion based on the Old Testament brought by Christian missionaries, Peruvian Indians, absolutely anyone at all. Even the Pashtun are now classified as a Lost Tribe with a view to airlifting them to Israel in future, since at least they are not Arabs.

But Muhammad is now the single most common name for newborn boys inside the pre-1967 borders, and such Jewish births as there still are, are largely and increasingly to ultra-Orthodox who so disdain the Zionist State that they will use physical force against its teenage conscripts of both sexes.

Zionism is demographically doomed. Those who never moved there, or who never had anything like enough children if they did move there, have only themselves to blame.

Wed, 2012-04-11 21:55 — Pookie (not verified)

Wed, 2012-04-11 21:54 — Pookie (not verified)

Wed, 2012-04-11 21:52 — Pookie (not verified)

Wed, 2012-04-11 18:08 — Dez (not verified)

If there is a tolouse type attack on jews in this country the likes of Mehdi and the Guardian will be in part responsible for their support for hate preachers

Wed, 2012-04-11 18:07 — Dez (not verified)

If there is a tolouse type attack on jews in this country the likes of Mehdi and the Guardian will be in part responsible for their support for hate preachers

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:55 — adder (not verified)