Unlawfully held Palestinian activist is entitled to damages, court rules

A PALESTINIAN activist detained on the orders of Home Secretary Theresa May is entitled to damages after being unlawfully held for two days, a High Court judge has ruled.

Sheikh Raed Salah, 52, leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, entered the UK on 25 June – despite being banned – for a series of meetings and public engagements, including at the Houses of Parliament.

Three days later, he was detained at his west London hotel, handcuffed and taken to Paddington Green police station and held for a total of 21 days.

Mr Justice Nicol, sitting at the High Court in London, yesterday ruled that he was not given “proper and sufficient reasons” for his arrest on the 28th – “nor was he given them until some time on the 30th”. He was entitled to damages for wrongful detention during that period.

The Home Secretary served a deportation notice on the father of eight on the grounds that his presence in the United Kingdom was “not conducive to the public good”.

Mrs May defended her action recently, saying she wanted to stop those who “encourage extremism” before it escalated to violence.

Mr Salah was eventually given bail on 18 July. The amount of damages he will receive for the two days he was wrongly held have yet to be assessed.

Neil Sheldon, appearing for the Home Secretary, argued that Mrs May had acted reasonably and been legally entitled to order Mr Salah’s detention pending deportation.