David Cameron risks creating more would-be jihadists because of his “cack-handed” review of the Muslim Brotherhood, who were deposed in Egypt last year, a former director of public prosecutions has warned.
Lord Macdonald of River Glaven QC said the investigation in to what was a democratically elected party sent out mixed messages to young Muslims. In an extraordinary outburst, he warned the move was a “double standard” that could play a “full part in the disillusionment and chaos seen in places like Iraq”.
He described the organisation as “democratic victims of violent military overthrow” and accused Mr Cameron of casting them as a threat while building bridges with the generals who deposed them. Writing in the Telegraph, he warned: “And when the objects of such calculation happen to be democrats who are also Muslim, you’d better wear a hard hat when you go preaching parliamentary values in parts of East London or Bradford.”
Mr Cameron ordered a review of the “philosophy and activities” of the Muslim Brotherhood in April, which will include an assessment by MI5 and MI6 on its potential terrorism links. The group legitimately won power in Egypt but was then deposed in a military coup last year. The review, which is due to report by the end of Parliament’s summer recess, is being conducted by Sir John Jenkins, the British ambassador in Riyadh.
The European Court of Human Rights has upheld a French law banning the wearing of the full-face veil, the niqab.