Zulaikha Abdullah 1 2 Contents PAGE 1 Introduction 1 2 Who is Sheikh Raed and why the British fuss? 2 a. Career 2 i. The establishment and rise of the Islamic Movement 2 in Israel Ii. Politics and activism 5 Iii. Jerusalem 7 b. Harassment by Israeli authorities 8 3 Sheikh Raed’s visit 9 4 The media defamation campaign 10 5 The arrest & detention 12 6 The case against Sheikh Raed 15 a. The allegations 16 b. Legal hearings 22 i. The tribunal hearing 23 Ii. The bail appeal hearing 24 Iii. Permission to apply for judicial review hearing 25 Iv. The First-Tier Immigration Tribunal 26 7 The political fallout 29 i. Statements of support for Sheikh Raed from the 31 international community 8 Conclusion 36 9 Appendix 40 a. A response to accusations made against Sheikh Raed Salah, 40 Head of the Islamic Movement b. Transcript: Home Affairs Select Committee 5th July 43 © Middle East Monitor 2011 Title: The Sheikh Raed Salah Affair Published by Middle East Monitor 419-421 Crown House, North Circular Road, London, NW10 7PN T: 020 8838 0231 F: 020 8838 0705 E:
[email protected] W: www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk Facebook: Middle East Monitor Twitter: @MiddleEastMnt ISBN: 978-1-907433-10-8 FRONT COVER AND TYPESET By M.A Khalid Saifullah A.M | www.salaamhosting.co.uk 3 The Sheikh Raed Affair Zulaikha Abdullah On 25 June 2011, the celebrated Palestinian social, political and civil rights leader, Sheikh Raed Salah, arrived at London‟s Heathrow airport at the invitation of the independent media research and information organisation, the Middle East Monitor (MEMO).