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| Abu Qatada to be released from prison | Abu Qatada to be released from prison |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Muslim cleric Abu Qatada is due to be released on bail after winning the latest stage in his seven-year legal battle to avoid deportation to Jordan, where he faces terrorism charges. | Muslim cleric Abu Qatada is due to be released on bail after winning the latest stage in his seven-year legal battle to avoid deportation to Jordan, where he faces terrorism charges. |
| He will be released from Long Lartin prison, in Worcestershire, on Tuesday. | He will be released from Long Lartin prison, in Worcestershire, on Tuesday. |
| Abu Qatada's lawyers told the Special Immigration Appeals Commission he would not get a fair trial in Jordan, where he is accused of bomb plots. | Abu Qatada's lawyers told the Special Immigration Appeals Commission he would not get a fair trial in Jordan, where he is accused of bomb plots. |
| Home affairs committee chairman Keith Vaz said his release was "farcical". | Home affairs committee chairman Keith Vaz said his release was "farcical". |
| And he said the UK must persuade Jordan to strengthen its criminal code, urging ministers to work with that country to overturn the decision. | And he said the UK must persuade Jordan to strengthen its criminal code, urging ministers to work with that country to overturn the decision. |
| Mr Vaz also said the case had cost taxpayers £1m. | Mr Vaz also said the case had cost taxpayers £1m. |
| Abu Qatada, whose real name is Omar Othman, has been in detention in the UK for seven years. | Abu Qatada, whose real name is Omar Othman, has been in detention in the UK for seven years. |
| His release is subject to bail conditions including being allowed out of his house only between 08:00 and 16:00, having to wear an electronic tag, and being restricted in who he meets. | His release is subject to bail conditions including being allowed out of his house only between 08:00 and 16:00, having to wear an electronic tag, and being restricted in who he meets. |
| Home Secretary Theresa May has branded the ruling "deeply unsatisfactory" and has said the government will try to appeal against the decision. | Home Secretary Theresa May has branded the ruling "deeply unsatisfactory" and has said the government will try to appeal against the decision. |
| Criminal code | Criminal code |
| Earlier this year, judges at the European Court in Strasbourg ruled the cleric would not face ill-treatment if returned to Jordan, citing assurances outlined in a UK-Jordan agreement. | Earlier this year, judges at the European Court in Strasbourg ruled the cleric would not face ill-treatment if returned to Jordan, citing assurances outlined in a UK-Jordan agreement. |
| But crucially, the judge did not believe he would get a fair trial because a Jordanian court could use evidence against Abu Qatada that had been obtained from the torture of others. | But crucially, the judge did not believe he would get a fair trial because a Jordanian court could use evidence against Abu Qatada that had been obtained from the torture of others. |
| On Monday, despite the UK obtaining additional assurances from Jordan, Mr Justice Mitting ruled he was not satisfied Abu Qatada would be tried fairly. | On Monday, despite the UK obtaining additional assurances from Jordan, Mr Justice Mitting ruled he was not satisfied Abu Qatada would be tried fairly. |
| Mr Vaz said: "What we need to do is study the judgement carefully and to try to persuade the Jordanians to do the only thing that the courts wanted them to which is to strengthen the Jordanian criminal code." | |
| He said the king of Jordan would be visiting the UK later this month, which gave the government "an opportunity to try and persuade him to go that little bit further in terms of the way the criminal code of Jordan operates". | He said the king of Jordan would be visiting the UK later this month, which gave the government "an opportunity to try and persuade him to go that little bit further in terms of the way the criminal code of Jordan operates". |
| He praised the government's "huge amount of work" in gaining Jordanian assurances but said it was "clearly not enough for the courts and therefore we do need to go that step further". | He praised the government's "huge amount of work" in gaining Jordanian assurances but said it was "clearly not enough for the courts and therefore we do need to go that step further". |
| 'Disappointment and concern' | 'Disappointment and concern' |
| Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert said it was "a very surprising ruling" adding that, while it was "right that judges make these calls", it was "hard to see what more could have been done". | Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert said it was "a very surprising ruling" adding that, while it was "right that judges make these calls", it was "hard to see what more could have been done". |
| Addressing the Commons on Monday, Mrs May said: "The British government has obtained from the Jordanian government assurances, not just in relation to the treatment of Qatada himself, but about the quality of the legal processes that would be followed throughout his trial." | Addressing the Commons on Monday, Mrs May said: "The British government has obtained from the Jordanian government assurances, not just in relation to the treatment of Qatada himself, but about the quality of the legal processes that would be followed throughout his trial." |
| The government is seeking leave to appeal the decision, she added. | The government is seeking leave to appeal the decision, she added. |
| Mrs May was urged by Conservative MPs Peter Bone and Jason McCartney to defy the courts and put Abu Qatada on a plane back to Jordan. | Mrs May was urged by Conservative MPs Peter Bone and Jason McCartney to defy the courts and put Abu Qatada on a plane back to Jordan. |
| Mr Bone said politicians as well as "the British people say he should be deported - just deport him and worry about the consequences after". | Mr Bone said politicians as well as "the British people say he should be deported - just deport him and worry about the consequences after". |
| Mrs May replied that "anybody who had anything to do with putting him on the plane would be breaking the law". | Mrs May replied that "anybody who had anything to do with putting him on the plane would be breaking the law". |
| Jordan, meanwhile, said it shared the British government's "disappointment and concern" over the ruling adding that it would "definitely study this ruling carefully with them to see what steps we can take". | Jordan, meanwhile, said it shared the British government's "disappointment and concern" over the ruling adding that it would "definitely study this ruling carefully with them to see what steps we can take". |