Moderate Muslim head of UK TV channel held on terror claims

From Jihad Watch:

PRETORIA, South Africa, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The head of Britain's popular Muslim television station was arrested in South Africa and faces deportation to Tunisia on terrorism claims, officials said.

Mohamed Ali Harrath, the force behind Britain's Islam Channel, was arrested Sunday in what some said was a security clampdown in South Africa in the months leading up to the 2010 World Cup soccer championship, The Times of London reported Tuesday.

The Times reported more than a year ago that Harrath, who advised Scotland Yard on Islamic extremism, was wanted by Interpol because of alleged terrorist activities in his homeland of Tunisia.

The broadcaster was convicted in absentia of criminal and terrorism-related offenses in Tunisia and sentenced to 56 years in prison....

The Islam Channel accused Tunisia Monday of using Interpol to harass Harrath, who has been on an Interpol Red Notice -- the highest watch level -- since 1992 at Tunisia's request. He was allowed into Britain in 1995 and accepted as a refugee....