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UK alert on claims over activists
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 17th April 2008
BRITISH security officials have been alerted to claims that Bahraini activists are using Britain as a platform from which to orchestrate unrest at home, it has emerged.
The Interior Ministry said last month that some people had been using the shelter of asylum to form cells, which threaten security in both countries.
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UK alert on claims over activists
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 17th April 2008
BRITISH security officials have been alerted to claims that Bahraini activists are using Britain as a platform from which to orchestrate unrest at home, it has emerged.
The Interior Ministry said last month that some people had been using the shelter of asylum to form cells, which threaten security in both countries.
It said vague British laws on political asylum were partly responsible for the problem and it was feared some people had forged “illegal contacts” with compatriots in Lebanon and Iran.
British Ambassador Jamie Bowden was called to a meeting with Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, at which they discussed the allegations.
Mr Bowden said at the time he was aware of Bahrain’s concerns but denied there was any rift between Bahraini and British officials.
Deputy British Ambassador Stephen Harrison said colleagues had taken the accusations seriously and had since informed security officials in the UK.
“The embassy did take up the concerns of the Interior Minister and reported them back to the UK, including to the Home Office,” he told the GDN.
“Should we become aware of any individual being involved in any form of criminal actions while in the UK, we will, of course, take action.”
Mr Harrison was unaware if any Bahrainis had been deported as a result of such activity or if the UK authorities had stepped up efforts to catch the alleged perpetrators.
However, he said even if anyone had been arrested or deported he would be unable to talk about it because legal proceedings would be in process.
Mr Harrison declined to speculate on whether there was any link between Shaikh Rashid’s concerns and the violence which led to the murder of policeman Majid Asghar Ali Kareem Baksh last week, saying it would be wrong to jump to conclusions without knowing the full facts of the case.
A UK Home Office spokeswoman declined to comment, saying it was a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, but officials there said the arrest or deportation of immigrants was not its responsibility.
Home Officials earlier said tough action would be taken against anyone found guilty of such offences.
“Someone who incites a crime as an asylum seeker would be treated in the same way as anyone else and possibly deported if found guilty, after going through the criminal justice system,” said a spokeswoman.
“The same goes for monitoring people who incite crime, we make no distinction between monitoring British or foreign nationals.”
Shaikh Rashid stressed that those who had sought asylum were not involved in political cases in Bahrain or wanted by the authorities.
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