Wanted terror suspect is 'Scotland Yard advisor on Muslim extremism'

A man wanted by Interpol for his links to an alleged terrorist organisation is an adviser to Scotland Yard on Muslim extremism.

Mohamed Ali Harrath has been the subject of the Interpol red notice since 1992 because of his alleged activities in Tunisia.

His home country has issued an arrest warrant for the 45-year-old, who is chief executive of the Islam Channel in the UK.

The Interpol website lists his offences as counterfeiting, forgery, crimes involving the use of weapons, explosives and terrorism.
Mr Harrath, who has lived in London for years, acts as an adviser to the Metropolitan police's Muslim Contact Unit on preventing terrorism.

The unit was established in January 2002 to work with London’s Muslim communities to develop a better understanding of the community impact of counter-terrorism policing.
Its work involves regular meetings with a wide range of individuals and groups to hear their concerns.

The unit's former head, Robert Lambert, wrote in a letter of support to Mr Harrath that he had made a 'key contribution to our efforts to defeat adverse influence of Al-Qaeda in the UK'.
It is understood that no one has ever produced evidence linking Mr Harrath to any terrorist activity.

His lawyers have sought to remove the red notice, which acts a flag to other countries but does not require any action.
Though Tunisia may have issued an arrest warrant, the UK has no extradition treaty with the country.

The British government refused a request by the Tunisian government in 1997 to have him extradited.

Tunisia claims that a group he co-founded called the Tunisian Islamic Front (FIT) wanted to establish 'an Islamic state by means of armed revolutionary violence.'
Mr Harrath admitted setting up the group but said it was a 'non-violent political party founded in 1986 to oppose the one-party state in Tunisia.'

He founded the Islam Channel in 2002 and the station now has 1.6 million viewers. Scotland Yard refused to comment on whether Mr Harrath acted as an adviser on the Muslim Contact Unit.
A spokesman said: ''The Metropolitan police works in partnership with many organisations, including media, as a means of engaging with a wide range of communities.

'We will continue to work with a wide range of organisations, groups and individuals representing a variety of views and opinions to stop people becoming or supporting violent extremists and support communities to reject violent extremism in all its forms.
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