This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22909465
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Abu Qatada case has cost UK £1.7m, home secretary says | Abu Qatada case has cost UK £1.7m, home secretary says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The legal fight to remove radical cleric Abu Qatada from the UK has cost the public purse more than £1.7m so far, the home secretary has said. | The legal fight to remove radical cleric Abu Qatada from the UK has cost the public purse more than £1.7m so far, the home secretary has said. |
| In a letter to MPs, Theresa May said the cost since 2005 was £1,716,306. | |
| Abu Qatada has fought deportation from the UK to Jordan, where he faces a retrial for plotting bomb attacks. | Abu Qatada has fought deportation from the UK to Jordan, where he faces a retrial for plotting bomb attacks. |
| He argues he would face inhumane treatment and that he could not get a fair trial because evidence obtained under torture could be used. | He argues he would face inhumane treatment and that he could not get a fair trial because evidence obtained under torture could be used. |
| Both the UK and Jordan want Abu Qatada deported, but the European Court of Human Rights and senior British judges have ruled that before that can happen, Jordan must show he would not face a trial that relied on evidence obtained by torturing others. | Both the UK and Jordan want Abu Qatada deported, but the European Court of Human Rights and senior British judges have ruled that before that can happen, Jordan must show he would not face a trial that relied on evidence obtained by torturing others. |
| Legal aid bill | |
| On Wednesday Jordan's parliament approved a treaty with the UK designed to make the deportation possible. It is now awaiting approval by Jordan's King Abdullah - the final stage before the deal can become law. | |
| The treaty is also being considered by MPs and peers at Westminster, and is expected to become part of British law on 21 June - meaning deportation proceedings could resume. | |
| Abu Qatada has already indicated he will not challenge deportation if the treaty is passed because the document guarantees him a fair trial. | |
| The UK's court bill has so far included Abu Qatada's legal aid costs of £647,658 and more than £1m spent by the Home Office pursuing the case, Mrs May said. | |
| Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "I am shocked that Abu Qatada's legal costs alone could have employed 90 new constables for a year." |