Britain fears issuing passports to terror suspects

London, April 6 (IANS) Britain could find itself compelled to issue passports to suspected foreigners unless secret court hearings were allowed, a media report said Friday.

Home Secretary Theresa May and Justice Secretary Ken Clarke said Thursday that it was vital to stop dangerous extremists applying for citizenship here, The Sun reported.

In a joint letter to Tory MPs, the home secretary said the authorities say some applications are rejected because top-secret intelligence reveals the person is a threat to security. But if the terror suspect appeals, this highly-sensitive evidence cannot then be revealed in open court.

May told the MPS: "This means the government is unable to fight the case and may have to allow citizenship to an individual believed (to be) engaged in terrorism-related activity."

But if secret hearings were allowed, the judge could look at the intelligence behind closed doors.

Defending the government's plans to monitor emails, texts and Skype phone calls, saying it was vital to deal "with crime gangs, paedophile rings and terrorist groups", the letter also said: "We must not allow the internet to become an unpoliced space, with criminals free to go about their business with abandon."

--Indo-Asian News service

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