Nagra Plunkett and Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writers

Abdullah el-Faisal exits the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston yesterday after being interrogated for more than two hours. He was deported from Britain yesterday after serving half of a seven-year sentence for inciting terror in that country. - Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer

Abdullah el-Faisal, the St. James-born Muslim cleric implicated by the British government in the 2005 London transport bombings, returned to Jamaica yesterday at the Norman Manley International Airport, hours after he was ordered deported by British authorities.

Dressed in a grey shirt, dark track bottom and sneakers, el-Faisal was whisked away by relatives after he emerged from the airport lobby. The former Trevor Williams Forrest was processed for over two hours by police and immigration officials.

As he was shoved into a waiting car, el-Faisal said he was "very happy" to be back in his homeland after at least 27 years overseas.

El-Faisal, who immigrated to England in 1991, ran a mosque in Brixton. He was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2003. British authorities said, based on study-group tapes they seized, el-Faisal was attempting to recruit youths in the country for terrorist training.

Stirring up racial hatred

He was charged with incitement to murder and stirring up racial hatred.

British Home Secretary John Reid said yesterday that el-Faisal would not be permitted to return to the United Kingdom. "We will not tolerate those who seek to spread hate and fear in our communities," Reid said.

El-Faisal's sentence was cut to seven years on appeal. He became eligible for parole after

serving half his term, and was deported immediately following his release.

Fifty-two commuters and the four bombers died in the London bombings. The Home Office said 19-year-old Jermaine Lindsay, one of the bombers who was also born in Jamaica, was mentored by el-Faisal's teachings.

Yesterday, el-Faisal was reunited with his mother after 17 years.

"The last time I saw him was in 1990. I am glad the Lord spared my life to see him, because his father died and didn't get a chance to," said Merlin Forrest.

"All I'm glad about is that he is out of prison because no matter what it is not a nice place."

The widow of Point in St. James, who celebrates her 69th birthday on May 31, told The Gleaner that she has been waiting since April to see her son.

He arrived in Kingston yesterday after losing a deportation appeal in London this week.

According to Mrs. Forrest, she is still unclear as to the circumstances that led to el-Faisal being jailed in 2003, and later convicted of soliciting the murder of Jews, Americans and Hindus, and using threatening words to stir up racial hatred.

The Islamic Council of Jamaica will not be treating the deportation from the United Kingdom as a special moment, says president Mustafa Muhammad. Mr. Muhammad told The Gleaner yesterday that el-Faisal is "no (more) special than any other person who has been sent back to Jamaica".

He said: "The return of el-Faisal is a happy and sad moment for the (Islamic) Council (of Jamaica)," said Mr. Muhammad. "But we are relieved that he is released from prison and reunited with his parents that he has not seen for a long time."

El-Faisal reportedly converted to Islam at age 16, and moved to Guyana. After leaving Guyana, he went to Saudi Arabia where he is believed to have spent eight years.