Press Statement

Issue date: 11 November 2011

Raed Salah wins permission to appeal against Home Secretary's deportation decision

On 7th November 2011 an Immigration Judge granted Sheikh Raed Salah permission to appeal the ruling of the First-tier (Immigration) Tribunal. Sheikh Salah has been granted permission to appeal on all 6 grounds submitted to the Judge.

Sheikh Salah, a former democratically elected Mayor of Umm al-Fahm in Israel, was subject to an Exclusion Order issued against him by the Home Secretary earlier this year. He had been invited to the UK to address members of Parliament in respect of the Arab Spring and what it meant for Palestinians. The Home Secretary had failed to notify Sheikh Salah that he had been excluded and as a result he travelled to the UK unaware of the order. The Home Office has confirmed that were issues in relation to border controls in the summer of 2011. It is accepted by the Home Secretary that Sheikh Salah was not aware of the Exclusion Order and was not prevented from entering the UK when he arrived at Heathrow Airport.

Despite being allowed unimpeded into the UK, Sheikh Salah was arrested on 28th June 2011 as a result of alleged 'immigration offences' and detained at HMP Bedford. Sheikh Salah was granted bail by a High Court Judge shortly after issuing Judicial Review proceedings in respect of that detention. Following the Judicial Review hearing the Court ruled that Sheikh Salah had been unlawfully detained during the initial part of his detention. Sheikh Salah remains on bail pending determination of his Appeal against deportation.

Sheikh Salah's solicitor, Tayab Ali, stated:

"The Secretary of State relied on a single partisan organisation when making her decision to exclude and deport Sheikh Salah. Her reliance on that single source and failure to consult others was improper when making such an important decision which interferes with fundamental British rights.

Being granted permission to appeal on all grounds is highly significant. It is clear that the Home Secretary has repeatedly exercised poor judgment. The Home Secretary has consistently failed to show what evidence of actual harm might exist that would justify a government preventing Sheikh Salah from addressing legislators, policy makers and the British people.

The Home Secretary has also failed to present any evidence that Sheikh Salah's previous visits to Britain have caused any detriment to public order or community relations".

Sheikh Salah has requested that his appeal is heard by senior Immigration Judges as quickly as possible.

ENDS

Notes:

Sheikh Raed Salah is the leader of the Islamic Movement of Israel and a respected spokesperson for Palestinian Rights.

ITN Solicitors are a leading Criminal and Human Rights law firm based in London. Further details are available at: www.itnsolicitors.com

Contacts at ITN Solicitors (020 8522 7707)
Tayab Ali: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Simon Natas: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it