This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22593258
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Abu Qatada: Cleric refused bail | Abu Qatada: Cleric refused bail |
(35 minutes later) | |
Radical cleric Abu Qatada has been refused bail by an immigration tribunal in his latest bid for freedom. | Radical cleric Abu Qatada has been refused bail by an immigration tribunal in his latest bid for freedom. |
His lawyer said he should be freed from prison so he could spend time with his family before leaving the UK for Jordan - which he had agreed to do once the countries ratified a fair trial treaty. | |
But a judge ruled he was a national security risk with a wide support network who might try to escape. | |
The cleric faces a retrial for terror charges if he returns to Jordan. | |
At a hearing of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) in London, immigration judge Mr Justice Irwin ruled Abu Qatada must remain in custody. | At a hearing of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) in London, immigration judge Mr Justice Irwin ruled Abu Qatada must remain in custody. |
He has been held at Belmarsh prison in south-east London since March after he allegedly breached a bail condition which stops him from turning on mobile phones in his house. | |
'Proud and dignified' | |
In his ruling, Mr Justice Irwin said the breaches were "serious". | In his ruling, Mr Justice Irwin said the breaches were "serious". |
He highlighted an instance of jihadist material being found on a memory stick in his son's room, which Abu Qatada had assured them only contained school work. | He highlighted an instance of jihadist material being found on a memory stick in his son's room, which Abu Qatada had assured them only contained school work. |
The judge went on to say there was "no doubt" Abu Qatada presented a national security threat. | The judge went on to say there was "no doubt" Abu Qatada presented a national security threat. |
"The essence of that is promulgation of his views in support of violence, and the potential effect on others of that promulgation," he said. | "The essence of that is promulgation of his views in support of violence, and the potential effect on others of that promulgation," he said. |
Mr Justice Irwin went on: "This appellant has in the past fled in order to avoid a court order, equipping himself with a false passport. | Mr Justice Irwin went on: "This appellant has in the past fled in order to avoid a court order, equipping himself with a false passport. |
"He is highly intelligent, has a range of sympathetic and supportive contacts, and his risk to national security is undiminished. | "He is highly intelligent, has a range of sympathetic and supportive contacts, and his risk to national security is undiminished. |
"We reject the submission that he can, even now, be relied on to comply with his legal obligations and not to attempt to abscond." | "We reject the submission that he can, even now, be relied on to comply with his legal obligations and not to attempt to abscond." |
Abu Qatada's lawyer Daniel Friedman QC described his client as a "proud and dignified man" who has been "deprived of his liberty more than any other non-convicted person in British history". | Abu Qatada's lawyer Daniel Friedman QC described his client as a "proud and dignified man" who has been "deprived of his liberty more than any other non-convicted person in British history". |
"Against this background, he wants to spend time with his family to prepare to leave the country in a manner that safeguards the dignity and security of all involved," he added. | "Against this background, he wants to spend time with his family to prepare to leave the country in a manner that safeguards the dignity and security of all involved," he added. |
'Lost fight' | |
Robin Tam QC, representing the Home Office, said Siac had once described Abu Qatada - also known as Omar Othman - as a "truly dangerous individual" and there was "no reason to believe that was no longer true". | |
He said the fair trial treaty between the UK and Jordan should pass through parliament within weeks. | |
"At this time, Mr Othman definitively accepts he has lost his fight against deportation," he added. | |
In 1999, the cleric was convicted of terrorism offences in his absence and sentenced to life imprisonment in Jordan. | |
The UK government has been trying unsuccessfully to deport him for nearly eight years. | |
During that time he has been in and out of jail despite never being charged with an offence in the UK. | |
Last month, the UK and Jordan signed a mutual assistance treaty which includes guarantees on fair trials, as part of the home secretary's efforts to deport him. | |
Theresa May hoped it would allay fears that evidence extracted through torture would be used against him in a retrial in Jordan. | |
The Home Office has welcomed the ruling, describing Abu Qatada as "a dangerous man". | |
"The best place for him is behind bars until he can be lawfully removed from this country," a Home Office spokesman said. | |
"The government remains committed to securing his deportation as quickly as possible." |