An immigration officer accused of having links to Iraqi terrorists was suspended on full pay for five years after the Home Office sacked him for being a risk to national security.
The Arabic interpreter, who helped Special Branch interview terror suspects, had his security clearance removed a month after returning from a year-long sabbatical in his native Yemen
The 44-year-old claims he was only suspected of associating with terrorists due to his race and Muslim religion and is suing the Home Office for discrimination and unfair dismissal.
Action: The 44-year-old man, who cannot be named, was suspended and then sacked after he returned from a year's sabbatical in his native Yeman, pictured
During his employment tribunal, the controversial 'closed material procedures' that allows cases to be heard almost entirely in private was applied.
Although not a first, employment tribunals that apply this level of secrecy are very rare and usually settled outside of court to stop sensitive intelligence being discussed in public.
The Daily Mail has led the criticism for the Government's proposed so-called 'secret justice' system that will let judges approve minister's requests for closed hearings in all civil cases apart from inquests.
In these proceedings, the former immigration official has not been made aware of the evidence against him as the Home Office argued it would risk national security.
Known only as 'Mr W', he has not even been told of the name of the terrorist group or individuals he was alleged to have associated with.
Mr W was told his security clearance was withdrawn from his estimated £28,000-a-year post because he had been 'identified as an associate of a network of suspected Islamist extremists who were assessed to be supporting the insurgency in Iraq'.
The Home Office added even an innocent link puts Mr W in a 'vulnerable position'.
Large parts of the legal hearing at the Central London Employment Tribunal have been held behind closed doors without Mr W, his legal team or the press and public allowed in court.
Instead of his chosen lawyer, he is represented by an Attorney-General appointed special advocate, Stephen Cragg, who has clearance to see the secret material but forbidden from discussing the evidence with Mr W.
Due to the sensitivity of the material, the Home Office barristers did not ask Mr W anything under cross-examination and the department's witnesses said four times during proceedings they could not answer questions put to them in open court.
Mr W joined the Home Office in 1999 - the same year he was granted British citizenship.
In his last role as an assistant Immigration Officer at Gatwick Airport, the father-of-three could routinely check secret information and occasionally had access to top-secret information.
His clearance was initially downgraded to the lowest level but after further information about an abuse of position, which was not disclosed, it was fully revoked.
Mr W was suspended on full pay in January 2005 and at a meeting with Home Office officials strongly denied 'association with any terrorist.'
He was sacked in 2010 when an external appeal was completed and found not in his favour.
He said: 'I was not told at the meeting or subsequently of the identity or identities of the person with whom I am alleged to have associated with.
'If I was told of such a person, I would have been able to explain such contact and prove my innocence, if indeed there was such contact.'
'Whilst in Yemen I met a number of people but I do not recall anyone who was fanatical or seemed of that type or who I thought was suspicious.
'None of my family in Yemen or the UK immediate or extended is remotely interested in politics or terrorism. I am certain of that.
'While going about my normal business, for example attending a Mosque, I suppose I may be statistically more likely to come into contact, without knowing it, with a supporter of the insurgency in Iraq.
'I consider myself loyal to the United Kingdom and to the Home Office.'
Mr W told the tribunal last week that despite the allegations police had never interviewed him nor had security services asked him to assist any investigations.
But former Home Office Head of Department Security David McDonagh said Mr W's links with suspected terrorists would put national security at risk if he allowed him to continue to work in department.
But former Home Office Head of Department Security David McDonagh said Mr W's links with suspected terrorists would put national security at risk if he allowed him to continue to work in department.
He told the court some of Mr W's colleagues expressed concerns that he was 'excessively' looking at the Al Jazeera news website at work.
He said: 'My decision to withdraw the Security Check clearance and my subsequent decision to withdraw all levels of security clearance were based solely on the risk that Mr W posed to national security.'
The Home Office denies discriminating against Mr W's race and religion and is contesting his claim of unfair dismissal.
The tribunal has concluded and reserved judgement until a later date.
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