Home Secretary Launches Appeal Over Abu Qatada

The Home Secretary has applied for permission to launch an appeal in the ongoing dispute regarding the future of Jordanian terror suspect Abu Qatada.

Theresa May has lodged papers with the civil appeals office at the Court of Appeal ahead of a deadline later.

Abu Qatada cannot be deported to Jordan to face trial because judges say there is a risk he could be tried using evidence obtained through torture.

The Muslim extremist faces a re-trial in Jordan for allegedly conspiring to commit acts of terror on Western and Israeli targets in 1998 and 1999.

He was found guilty of terrorism offences in his absence in Jordan in 1999.

Theresa May said she "strongly disagreed" with the judgment not to deport him.

She said the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) had applied the "wrong legal test".

It is believed he has played a key part in spreading ideological support for religious extremism and for suicide bombings.

But last month the Special Immigration Appeals Commission chairman Mr Justice Mitting ruled he was not satisfied that the preacher would be tried fairly in Jordan.

He was released from Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire, following 10 years spent mostly in custody.

Abu Qatada is currently on bail in the UK, meaning he has been electronically tagged and is allowed out of his home only between 08:00 and 16:00

He is banned from travelling on the Tube, by train, car, motorbike and bus and is restricted as to the people he is allowed to contact.

He is only allowed one bank account and has been made to surrender his passport.

The Home Secretary’s appeal will now be examined, with a decision expected before Christmas.

(IT)