The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

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Furore over anti-terror case

05.06.08 Benedicte Page

John Pateman, head of Lincolnshire libraries, has called on CILIP and the MLA to oppose the deportation of a Nottingham University worker arrested last month for printing out an al-Qaida training manual. Clerical worker Hicham Yezza is in detention and facing possible deportation to his native Algeria.

The furore comes as the library world debates the MLA's consultation document on managing controversial stock. In a letter to both The Bookseller and Update, the CILIP magazine, Pateman said Yezza's action had been taken in the context of assisting a postgraduate student with his legitimate studies, adding that the case "highlights the disturbing tendency to criminalise the act of simply looking at 'extremist' literature without examining the context". "No doubt this draconian act will serve as a warning to library staff," he told The Bookseller.

In an internal statement, Nottingham University said Yezza's possession of the al-Qaida training manual had prompted "reasonable anxiety" and that the police inquiry had been "measured, thorough and low key". It added: "Much has been said on the matter of academic freedom, and whether recent events are in conflict with it. The University has always embraced the principle and continues to do so."

Guy Daines, head of policy at CILIP, said the body had not yet had a chance to consider the case. "I don't think the library was directly involved but it does raise the general principle of access to information and it's something we need to look at," he said.

Benedicte Page libraries MLA CILIP