Visit to jailed Hamza ‘was a stunt’
A DECISION to hear evidence from hate preacher Abu Hamza was branded a publicity stunt yesterday.
Members of the commons Home Affairs select committee visited the hook-handed cleric in November.
Hamza, 53, is being held in maximum security Belmarsh prison in Woolwich, south-east London, for inciting murder and race hate in 2006.
The committee interviewed him to gather evidence for their report on the roots of radicalisation.
But a conservative MP, who preferred not to be named, said he was “very surprised” they sought the views of such a
divisive figure.
He suggested its chairman Keith Vaz was simply using Hamza to raise their profile.
“It may just have been a way to get publicity,” he said.
Members of the commons Home Affairs select committee visited the hook-handed cleric in November
Another Tory MP, Patrick Mercer, argued that while there was nothing to be gained from hearing Hamza, he may be useful for gathering low-level intelligence on extremist activities.