That’s the problem with human rights being extended to jackals.
BREAKING NEWS: Bin Laden’s ‘right-hand man’ Abu Qatada WINS appeal against deportation from UK to Jordan
- Qatada claims he won’t get fair trial abroad but Britain wants him deported
- He was once described by judge as Bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe
- Terror suspect was convicted of terrorism in Jordan in his absence in 1999
By MARK DUELL
PUBLISHED: 12:16 GMT, 12 November 2012 | UPDATED: 13:25 GMT, 12 November 2012
Terror suspect Abu Qatada today won his appeal against deportation to Jordan to face trial, in a huge setback for the Government which has now been trying to get him out of the UK for a decade.
The radical cleric, once described by a judge as Osama Bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe, has been fighting extradition to Jordan, where he was convicted of terror charges in his absence in 1999.
An immigration appeals court blocked the deportation as it was not convinced by the Government’s assurances that no evidence obtained through torture would be used against him in Jordan.
Terror suspect: Abu Qatada (pictured in April) has won his appeal against deportation to Jordan to face trial
Special Immigration Appeals Commission judges said the British government ‘has not satisfied us that …there is no real risk’ that statements obtained under torture would not be used at a trial abroad.
Qatada – whose lawyers had previously insisted that he would not get a fair trial in Jordan – was allowed to stay in Britain in 1994, but the Government desperately wants him deported.
Home Secretary Theresa May has been given assurances by Jordan that no evidence gained through torture would be used against Qatada, who is currently in prison.
The UK government has been wasting time and money in its continuing effort to deport Abu Qatada back home to Jordan. He is wanted to answer terror charges in the US and five EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Spain). They could easily and quickly hand him over to one of the European countries if they issue a European Arrest Warrant.