09/05/2012

Strasbourg Judges To Rule On Abu Qatada Extradition Appeal

Senior judges at the European Court of Human Rights will meet to decide whether radical cleric Abu Qatada can appeal against deportation from the UK.

Just hours after Home Secretary Theresa May had begun attempts to have him deported to Jordon by the end of April , Abu Qatada lodged an appeal, contesting the court's view that he would not face torture in there.

The attempted appeal has led to a furious political row over whether the Home Office got its dates wrong.

The Home Office understood the deadline for an appeal had passed at midnight on Monday 16 April. But court officials say the deadline was midnight at the end of Tuesday 17 April.

The panel of five Strasbourg judges will decide whether the case can be referred to the Grand Chamber, the court's highest decision-making body.

(H)


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