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As Abu Qatada leaves, Theresa May vows to change human rights law As Abu Qatada leaves, Theresa May vows to change human rights law
(2 months later)
Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, celebrated the successful deportation of Abu Qatada to Jordan on Sunday by saying the long-running saga meant there would have to be "wholesale changes" in Britain's human rights laws.Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, celebrated the successful deportation of Abu Qatada to Jordan on Sunday by saying the long-running saga meant there would have to be "wholesale changes" in Britain's human rights laws.
The home secretary, Theresa May, also promised she would remove "the many layers of appeals available to foreign nationals we want to deport".The home secretary, Theresa May, also promised she would remove "the many layers of appeals available to foreign nationals we want to deport".
Liberal Democrat sources accepted the need to change "the phenomenally long deportation procedures in this country", but said it was perverse to call for withdrawal from the European convention on human rights on the day it had been shown the ECHR was not incompatible with Abu Qatada's deportation.Liberal Democrat sources accepted the need to change "the phenomenally long deportation procedures in this country", but said it was perverse to call for withdrawal from the European convention on human rights on the day it had been shown the ECHR was not incompatible with Abu Qatada's deportation.
The radical cleric was finally flown out of Britain under police guard in the small hours of Sunday morning and has spent his first night in a Jordanian prison cell facing terrorism charges.The radical cleric was finally flown out of Britain under police guard in the small hours of Sunday morning and has spent his first night in a Jordanian prison cell facing terrorism charges.
Jordanian military prosecutors in Amman questioned the 53-year-old for two hours as he pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to carry out al-Qaida-inspired terror attacks on Israelis, Americans and other westerners in Jordan. The allegations relate to plots to carry out bombings between 1998 and 2000.Jordanian military prosecutors in Amman questioned the 53-year-old for two hours as he pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to carry out al-Qaida-inspired terror attacks on Israelis, Americans and other westerners in Jordan. The allegations relate to plots to carry out bombings between 1998 and 2000.
He has already been convicted in his absence and sentenced to life imprisonment and hard labour but those convictions have been suspended before a fresh trial. His lawyer, Tayseer Thiab, said Qatada would apply for bail today, on the grounds that he returned voluntarily and that his father is in ill health. The father and son saw each other for about 10 minutes in an emotional reunion in which Abu Qatada knelt and kissed his feet.He has already been convicted in his absence and sentenced to life imprisonment and hard labour but those convictions have been suspended before a fresh trial. His lawyer, Tayseer Thiab, said Qatada would apply for bail today, on the grounds that he returned voluntarily and that his father is in ill health. The father and son saw each other for about 10 minutes in an emotional reunion in which Abu Qatada knelt and kissed his feet.
In a statement issued through his lawyer, Abu Qatada said: "I'm happy to be in my country again. I came back voluntarily, because I'm innocent, so I wish the court will accept my bail application."In a statement issued through his lawyer, Abu Qatada said: "I'm happy to be in my country again. I came back voluntarily, because I'm innocent, so I wish the court will accept my bail application."
Abu Qatada left on a privately chartered jet that took off from RAF Northolt at 2.46am on Sunday, more than 12 years after he was first arrested in the UK in February 2001. In 2005, he was identified by the UK authorities as someone who "poses a continuing threat to national security and a significant terrorism-related risk to the public". Abu Qatada, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Othman, has previously been described as Osama bin Laden's righthand man in Europe.Abu Qatada left on a privately chartered jet that took off from RAF Northolt at 2.46am on Sunday, more than 12 years after he was first arrested in the UK in February 2001. In 2005, he was identified by the UK authorities as someone who "poses a continuing threat to national security and a significant terrorism-related risk to the public". Abu Qatada, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Othman, has previously been described as Osama bin Laden's righthand man in Europe.
On arrival in Jordan, he was whisked away in a green SUV escorted by a 12-car convoy manned by masked anti-terrorism police, to a state military court. His father, Mahmoud, and three brothers were waiting for him and were allowed to see him briefly in the prosecutor's office.On arrival in Jordan, he was whisked away in a green SUV escorted by a 12-car convoy manned by masked anti-terrorism police, to a state military court. His father, Mahmoud, and three brothers were waiting for him and were allowed to see him briefly in the prosecutor's office.
His brother Ibrahim said Abu Qatada "looked well and in high spirits" and neither Britain nor Jordan had used handcuffs. Asked about the meeting, he said tearfully: "How do you think I felt seeing my brother after 22 years? Look at my eyes and you'll know the answer."His brother Ibrahim said Abu Qatada "looked well and in high spirits" and neither Britain nor Jordan had used handcuffs. Asked about the meeting, he said tearfully: "How do you think I felt seeing my brother after 22 years? Look at my eyes and you'll know the answer."
Prosecutors said the Bethlehem-born Jordanian was expected to be detained for 15 days, pending further questioning. Thiab said his client "told military prosecutors that he is not guilty of terrorism and rejected the charges against him". Abu Qatada was taken later to the maximum security Muwaqqar 1 prison.Prosecutors said the Bethlehem-born Jordanian was expected to be detained for 15 days, pending further questioning. Thiab said his client "told military prosecutors that he is not guilty of terrorism and rejected the charges against him". Abu Qatada was taken later to the maximum security Muwaqqar 1 prison.
The charges of conspiring to carry out terror attacks in Jordan relate to a foiled plot against an American school in Amman, and the alleged targeting of Israeli and American tourists and western diplomats.The charges of conspiring to carry out terror attacks in Jordan relate to a foiled plot against an American school in Amman, and the alleged targeting of Israeli and American tourists and western diplomats.
Keith Vaz, chairman of the House of Commons home affairs select committee, said it had taken Home Office lawyers too long to conceive of the treaty with Jordan to allay Abu Qatada's fears that evidence extracted through torture would be used against him. "Only 446 days after the home secretary said Abu Qatada would be on a plane shortly, he has finally reached the end of the runway," Vaz said.Keith Vaz, chairman of the House of Commons home affairs select committee, said it had taken Home Office lawyers too long to conceive of the treaty with Jordan to allay Abu Qatada's fears that evidence extracted through torture would be used against him. "Only 446 days after the home secretary said Abu Qatada would be on a plane shortly, he has finally reached the end of the runway," Vaz said.
It was recently disclosed that the fight has cost the taxpayer more than £1.7m since 2005, including £647,658 for Abu Qatada's legal aid costs and more than £1m in Home Office legal costs. May said she would be proposing reforms to the immigration bill in the autumn and restricting appeals linked to the right to family life in the ECHR. She said longer-term work was also under way on a British bill of rights for inclusion in the Tory manifesto, so opening the way for UK withdrawal from the convention, something she has backed.It was recently disclosed that the fight has cost the taxpayer more than £1.7m since 2005, including £647,658 for Abu Qatada's legal aid costs and more than £1m in Home Office legal costs. May said she would be proposing reforms to the immigration bill in the autumn and restricting appeals linked to the right to family life in the ECHR. She said longer-term work was also under way on a British bill of rights for inclusion in the Tory manifesto, so opening the way for UK withdrawal from the convention, something she has backed.
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