Long toenails and flip-flop fears keep Abu Hamza out of court

[emad]

The Times
By Sean O’Neill



A DISPUTE over the length of his toenails kept Abu Hamza al-Masri, the radical Islamist cleric, from appearing at the Old Bailey yesterday.

The Egyptian-born preacher who has no arms and uses a hooked prosthetic limb, wanted to wear flip-flops rather than shoes for the short walk from his cell to the videolink suite at Belmarsh prison.

But the prison’s duty governor refused the footwear request on health and safety grounds and called two doctors to examine Abu Hamza’s feet.

They concluded that his toenails were normal but despite that, Abu Hamza, who faces 16 charges including soliciting to murder, refused to leave his cell.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,172-1426014,00.html

[amazona]

1. well THAT"S appetizing! NT

.

[atommom]

2. Perhaps I'm missing the point here, but couldn't they just

trim his toenails for him so he could wear shoes? Or just let him wear the damn flip-flops, for heaven's sake .... :eyes:

[emad]

3. Might violate his human rights....

[atommom]

4. Good point. I'm sure they're concerned about those... ;)

[emad]

5. Maybe leading human rights lawyer Cherry Bush can represent

him in this matter?