Immigration Solicitors

Border officials who were suspended for links to terrorist suspects are suing the Home Office in the European Court of Human Rights because evidence in the case is being kept secret from them.

Kashif Tariq, 34, was suspended because of his cousin’s involvement in an airline bomb plot; while Bilal Gulamhussein lost his job over allegations he had links to Islamic insurgents fighting British troops in Iraq.

Lawyers for the UK Government heard evidence in the cases in secret courts and refused to allow the men access to the evidence on the grounds of national security, the Mail online reports.

Mr Tariq was excluded from an employment tribunal because the evidence was treated as secret – and a challenge he made to this policy failed after a judge declared the hearings within the law.

Mr Tariq had worked in Portsmouth for the Home Office team removing illegal immigrants from the UK. Both Mr Tariq’s brother and cousin were arrested in 2006 for suspected terrorist activities, but only his cousin was found guilty and was subsequently jailed for being involved with a planned attack on a transatlantic flight using a liquid bomb.

Although Mr Tariq’s brother was cleared of charges, it was felt Mr Tariq could not continue in his post, in case he became a tool for terrorists as a result of of his position in the Immigration Service.

Mr Tariq tried to claim damages against the Home Office when he eventually lost his job.

Mr Gulamhussein, 46, worked in administration in the Immigration Service for six years before he was suspended for alleged association “with individuals suspected of involvement and support for terrorism overseas, in particular the insurgency in Iraq”.

He appealed against his suspension from the Immigration Service, but his appeal failed and his employment was later terminated.

The Home Office has declined to comment on the case – which is now heading to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasburg.

The legal teams representing the two men said that secret courts should be made fairer.

Conservative MP Dominic Raab – formerly a lawyer for the Foreign Office – called the impending Court of Human Rights case “…a perverse waste of UK taxpayers’ money”.

Mr Raab said that both men had already “enjoyed a series of appeals under the British justice system”.

Mr Tariq and Mr Gulamhussein are claiming that their rights to a fair hearing were breached.

Duncan Lewis – Immigration Solicitors and Employment Solicitors

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For expert advice on immigration or employment law, contact Duncan Lewis solicitors on 020 7923 4020.