International   

Cleric’s release, a blow to Britain

LONDON: Much to the embarrassment of the British government, radical Muslim preacher Abu Qatada, once described as Osama bin Laden’s “right-hand man in Europe,” has been released from jail after a judge ruled there were no grounds to detain him. The ruling followed a recent court order against the government’s attempt to deport him to Jordan, where he faces terror charges. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was “extremely disappointed” at the ruling and the government would appeal against it.

“I am appealing to the House of Lords to reverse the decision that it is not safe to deport Qatada,” she said, adding: “The government’s priority is to protect public safety and national security and we will take all necessary steps to do so.” Mr. Qatada (47), who was lodged in prison since 2005 pending his deportation to Jordan, would continue to be under 24-hour surveillance with heavy restrictions on his movements.

Mr. Qatada, who was described by a British judge as a “truly dangerous individual at the centre of Al-Qaeda’s activities in the U.K.,” used a forged passport to enter the U.K. in 1993 and was granted asylum a year later.

In 2001, he went into hiding to escape the crackdown on extremists following the September 11 attacks. After a year-long hunt, he was tracked down and jailed. But in March 2005, he was released on bail, but only to be detained again in August that year, pending his extradition to Jordan.

Last month, the Appeals Court upheld his appeal against deportation on grounds that he was not likely to face a fair trial in Jordan.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cleric’s release, a blow to Britain
Political fog over Pakistan persists
Deal is only for Gaza: Israel
LTTE men held in Italy for extortion
Consensus on East China Sea
Sarkozy to streamline military to tackle terror threat

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu