'Extremist' who was stripped of his British passport over trips to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan is battling Priti Patel for the right to work as a pizza delivery driver

  • Alleged extremist given permission for judicial review and could cost taxpayer 
  • He is seeking to overturn the Home Secretary’s ruling he has no working rights
  • Stripped of UK passport in 2014  for taking trips to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan 

By David Barrett Home Affairs Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

An alleged Islamist extremist with links to Al Qaeda has launched an extraordinary legal challenge after Priti Patel refused to let him work as a pizza delivery driver.

The Afghan national has been granted permission for a judicial review in a case that could cost the taxpayer thousands.

He is seeking to overturn the Home Secretary’s ruling that he does not have employment rights as a foreign national. 

Afghan national is seeking to overturn the Home Secretary’s ruling on employment rights

Afghan national is seeking to overturn the Home Secretary’s ruling on employment rights

The man, who can only be identified as ‘C6’ after the courts granted him anonymity, came to the UK in 2003 aged 14.

He settled in west London, gaining British citizenship in 2011.

But he was stripped of his British passport in 2014 after taking trips to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. 

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) looked at his history in 2015 and ruled that it was ‘very highly probable’ he was an extremist with links to a ‘small group of highly-experienced Al Qaeda militants’.

The judges said: ‘There is a strong case the appellant has engaged in terrorist-related activities. 

'It is highly probable he transported electronic equipment to Afghanistan for the use of terrorist associates.’

SIAC placed C6 under a range of restrictions, including a curfew and internet ban. The latest ruling, by Judge Stephen Smith, said: ‘The applicant has obtained an offer of work as a delivery driver for a pizza and chicken outlet.’

Miss Patel had decided C6 was ineligible to take up a role which is only open to UK residents under the Home Office’s ‘shortage occupation list’.

C6 has made two attempts to get permission from the Home Office to take the job, the judge went on, adding: ‘It is the ensuing refusal of that application that lies at the heart of these proceedings.’

Priti Patel refused to let him work as a pizza delivery driver because he was stripped of his British passport in 2014 after taking trips to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan

Priti Patel refused to let him work as a pizza delivery driver because he was stripped of his British passport in 2014 after taking trips to Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan

At an immigration tribunal, Judge Smith rejected arguments that C6’s human rights had been infringed. 

Dr Alan Mendoza, of counter-terrorism think-tank the Henry Jackson Society, said: ‘The Home Secretary’s job tackling terrorism is hard enough without spurious legal cases like this. 

'As much as this man might like to deliver pizza, the Home Secretary must be entitled to place reasonable blanket restrictions on suspected extremists.

‘It is becoming increasingly clear that new legislation is required to clamp down on lawyers who are simply after a slice of the legal aid budget.’

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The Government’s priority is the safety and security of the UK and the people who live here.

‘It would be inappropriate to comment further whilst legal proceedings are ongoing.’

Priti Patel

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