Muslim convert not a threat, says judge

The high court today quashed a control order restricting the movements of a British convert to Islam on the grounds that there was “no reasonable suspicion” that he was planning to travel abroad to engage in terrorist activity.

Cerie Bullivant, 25, from Dagenham, Essex said he was pulled into “the depths of despair” after MI5 alleged that the order was necessary because of suspicions that he planned to travel to Iraq or Afghanistan.

But Mr Justice Collins, sitting at London’s high court, quashed the order, which had been imposed under anti-terrorism laws. He ruled: “There is no reasonable suspicion that establishes that.”

Lawyers for Bullivant had argued that the accusations were “baseless” and that he was the victim of an abuse of power.

Towards the end of last year, Bullivant attempted suicide while being detained in Belmarsh prison.

Guardian, 22 February 2008