This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/18/abu-qatada-prosecution-uk-theresa-may

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Abu Qatada could face prosecution in UK, says Theresa May Abu Qatada could face prosecution in UK, says Theresa May
(8 days later)
The home secretary, Theresa May, has said police are examining evidence seized over the recent arrest of Islamic cleric Abu Qatada to see if he can be prosecuted in UK courts.The home secretary, Theresa May, has said police are examining evidence seized over the recent arrest of Islamic cleric Abu Qatada to see if he can be prosecuted in UK courts.
He was arrested for breaching his bail conditions and is now in Belmarsh prison.He was arrested for breaching his bail conditions and is now in Belmarsh prison.
Giving evidence to the home affairs select committee, she said: "We have a situation where Abu Qatada is in Belmarsh. He was arrested for breaching his bail conditions, and obviously consideration is being given in looking at the material that was discovered to see whether that leads to prosecution."Giving evidence to the home affairs select committee, she said: "We have a situation where Abu Qatada is in Belmarsh. He was arrested for breaching his bail conditions, and obviously consideration is being given in looking at the material that was discovered to see whether that leads to prosecution."
She blamed the European court of human rights for the repeatedly delayed deportation of Abu Qatada, as she came under pressure from the Conservative MP Mark Reckless to show a less craven approach to the ECHR.She blamed the European court of human rights for the repeatedly delayed deportation of Abu Qatada, as she came under pressure from the Conservative MP Mark Reckless to show a less craven approach to the ECHR.
Judges at the court of appeal have repeatedly blocked the preacher's deportation, amid fears he would face an unfair trial based on evidence obtained by torture in his native Jordan. On Thursday she refused to set a timetable on when he would be deported.Judges at the court of appeal have repeatedly blocked the preacher's deportation, amid fears he would face an unfair trial based on evidence obtained by torture in his native Jordan. On Thursday she refused to set a timetable on when he would be deported.
May has negotiated with the Jordanian authorities to secure assurances about the evidence that would be used in his trial. She is due to launch a UK supreme court appeal against her latest rebuff.May has negotiated with the Jordanian authorities to secure assurances about the evidence that would be used in his trial. She is due to launch a UK supreme court appeal against her latest rebuff.
But she said the Strasbourg court had "moved the goalposts" on the criteria needed to send the cleric to Jordan, and that the Home Office now needed to comply with this threshold. She rejected suggestions that she ignore these criteria and reapply for his deportation in the UK courts on the old basis.But she said the Strasbourg court had "moved the goalposts" on the criteria needed to send the cleric to Jordan, and that the Home Office now needed to comply with this threshold. She rejected suggestions that she ignore these criteria and reapply for his deportation in the UK courts on the old basis.
"It would then [if the government ignored the new test] be open to Abu Qatada to apply to the Strasbourg court, and I would be pretty certain that the Strasbourg court would apply their own test, they have established this as their own test, and they would abide by it," she told the home affairs select committee."It would then [if the government ignored the new test] be open to Abu Qatada to apply to the Strasbourg court, and I would be pretty certain that the Strasbourg court would apply their own test, they have established this as their own test, and they would abide by it," she told the home affairs select committee.
Lord Reid, the former Labour home secretary, agreed that the Strasbourg court had moved the goalposts by widening the grounds for appeal against deportation.Lord Reid, the former Labour home secretary, agreed that the Strasbourg court had moved the goalposts by widening the grounds for appeal against deportation.
But he also accused May of acting prematurely by claiming in a celebratory fashion last year that he would be on the next plane to Jordan.But he also accused May of acting prematurely by claiming in a celebratory fashion last year that he would be on the next plane to Jordan.
He accepted the public were very frustrated at the slowness of the deportation, saying "the law is not seen as just by many, many people and that is the grave danger in the long run". He said May's pessimism in front of the select committee contrasted with her attitude a year ago.He accepted the public were very frustrated at the slowness of the deportation, saying "the law is not seen as just by many, many people and that is the grave danger in the long run". He said May's pessimism in front of the select committee contrasted with her attitude a year ago.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.