CAGE – a group formed by former Guantanamo Bay detainees which claims to be a human rights organisation – has stepped back from a clear opportunity to disown comments made by their research director earlier this year, in which he called Mohammed Emwazi, better known as the ISIS executioner Jihadi John, a "beautiful", "kind" and "humble" man.

In a pained evidence session in front of the British Parliament's Home Affairs Committee yesterday, Dr Adnan Siddiqui, director of CAGE drew harsh criticism from the committee for offering up vague and contradictory answers to direct questions, and stated: "I accept that the concept of jihad is an important concept."