Sheikh Raed Salah, a leader of the Israel Islamic Association, was awarded compensatory payment by a British court after he was arrested a number of months ago.

Justice Andrew Nicol ruled the sheikh was the victim of wrongful detention on June 28, 2011, and as such, he is entitled to damages. Interior Minister Theresa May ordered his detention based on an order prohibiting from entering the UK. Salah, who remains on bail, must still go to an immigration tribunal to lodge an appeal against his deportation.

Salah was scheduled to take part in a ten-day speaking tour in England, which was to include a meeting at the House of Commons. Salah was released on bail on July 18th.

Ibrahim Sarsur, a United Arab List member of the Knesset condemned the arrest, telling the Guardian newspaper, “Sheikh Salah is one of the leading figures in the Arab Israeli community. He travelled to the UK legitimately, and he had no knowledge of any ban on his entering the UK, so we are surprised and disappointed by this illegitimate procedure”.

“We know that Israel is not happy with anyone that opposes its policies, but we see Britain as the most democratic place in the world and the birthplace of democracy. Britain should deal with delicate matters of the Middle East with delicacy and not act as a collaborator with the Israeli government,” he added.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)