Mouloud: Yes, in January 2006 I was released from Long Lartin and put under these draconian conditions. I wasn’t allowed to have a mobile phone or even a landline initially. I wasn’t even allowed to use a phone box. They said that I couldn’t use any communications equipment. I was eventually allowed to have a landline but that had to be paid for by myself. As I was living on £40 a week income support, a few people helped me with the bill. My lawyer had to contact BT and their engineer had to be cleared by the Home Office. Some engineers refused to come as they would have to give their passport details and have a visit from the Home Office.

If I wanted to write a letter – even within the UK – I had to tell the Home Office who the letter was for, what was its contents, when would I be sending it etc. A copy would have to be given to them. I couldn’t have a pre-arranged meeting with anyone either, so would have to rely on bumping into people randomly on the street.

Al-Istiqamah: How often were you allowed out of your home for each day?

Mouloud: I had six hours of freedom a day, during which I had to sign at a local police station between 12:00-3:00PM everyday. I had a map of one mile square randomly drawn by the judge. I had an electronic tag on my ankle. I had to call the tagging company twice a day, before and after going out. A monitoring unit was also placed inside my home.

Al-Istiqamah: Was your call done by voice recognition?

Mouloud: No, with me I spoke to an operator. For other brothers whom voice recognition was used on, it caused a lot of problems. They would have a password to say, and if they couldn’t understand what was said by these brothers, the police would immediately come to their houses.

Al-Istiqamah: What about visitors?

Mouloud: I couldn’t have anyone visit me at my home, unless they were cleared by the Home Office first.

Al-Istiqamah: Is that easily done?

Mouloud: It isn’t, as is a very long process that takes about three months, and people are scared to be investigated and vetted by the Home Office.

Al-Istiqamah: Mouloud, despite being a 'terrorist', you were still given a limited map of the local area and had access to public transport?

Mouloud: Yes, I have a very large shopping centre near me. I couldn’t use the public transport, but they were within reach. Practically speaking, I could have gone anywhere I wanted and done something, if I was a threat to national security. A pack of lies…

Al-Istiqamah: Did the tag on your ankle have a GPS (Global Positioning System)?

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