Shocking defence of Jihadi John: Pressure group calls killer ‘kind, gentle and beautiful’

A CAMPAIGN group last night sparked fury after blaming MI5 for turning Jihadi John into a killer.

Jihadi John, his former home and the Cage spokesman Asim Qureshi, who has defended the killer REUTERS/GETTY/SWNS

Jihadi John, his former home and the Cage spokesman Asim Qureshi, who has defended the killer

Mohammed Emwazi, 26, was yesterday revealed to be the Islamic State fanatic suspected of beheading Western hostages.

Cage, a London-based pressure group, said he approached them in 2009 after “being detained, ­interrogated and recruited by MI5” while on a safari holiday in Tanzania.

Cage spokesman Asim Qureshi described Emwazi as “such a beautiful young man”.

Through tears he added that Emwazi was “extremely kind, extremely gentle and the most humble young person I ever knew”.

Mr Qureshi blamed the State for turning Emwazi into a cold-blooded murderer.

He asked: “When are we going to learn that when we treat people as if they are outsiders, they are going to feel like outsiders and they will look for belonging elsewhere?”

He claimed Britain’s national security policy had “only increased alienation” since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The extraordinary outburst drew widespread condemnation from the public and relatives of the victims.

Bethany Haines, daughter of ­British aid worker David Haines, who was beheaded by Jihadi John last September, said: “I think the families will feel closure and relief once there’s a bullet between his eyes.”

The family of American journalist Steven Sotloff, who was also beheaded by Islamic State militants last year, said they too wanted Jihadi John brought to justice.

When we treat people as if they are outsiders, they are going to feel like outsiders and they will look for belonging elsewhere?

Asim Qureshi, Cage spokesman

A spokesman said: “We want to sit in a courtroom, watch him sentenced and see him sent to a super-max prison.”

Other critics rounded on Cage, pointing out that while the group had always stayed on the right side of the law, it is closely aligned to terrorists.

Robin Simcox, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, a foreign policy think tank, said: “There seems to be a belief among some that this is a bona fide human rights group.

"But this is a group that has been tied not just to terrorism suspects but also to convicted terrorists.”

Mr Qureshi’s comments caused a storm on social media, with many accusing broadcasters Sky and the BBC of giving more than 50 minutes of uninterrupted coverage to “apologists for terror”.

Cage has courted controversy on numerous occasions during the past 10 years by seemingly standing up for alleged jihadis.

Mr Qureshi has also been filmed speaking at a rally for the controversial Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Legal expert Lord Carlile said: “I have concerns about the group.”

Jonathan Russell, of the anti-extremist Quilliam Foundation, said: “They seem to pick and choose whose human rights they stand up for.

“They are happy to condemn what happened at Guantanamo Bay, which is quite right, but they don’t seem able to condemn when four hostages are beheaded.”

Mr Russell said it was disturbing that the group had clearly been closely in-contact with Emwazi up until 2012, yet did nothing to ­dissuade him from embarking on horrific ­violence.

Supporters argue that Cage is working with the victims of mistreatment to expose what it sees as British government participation in the secret world of rendition and ­torture.

It has received substantial donations from charities, including £120,000 from the Anita Roddick Foundation and £305,000 from the Joseph Rowtree Trust.

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