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Abu Qatada deportation moves a step closer as Jordan publishes treaty Abu Qatada deportation moves a step closer as Jordan publishes treaty
(about 1 hour later)
A treaty geared towards ejecting Abu Qatada from the UK has moved another step towards full ratification.A treaty geared towards ejecting Abu Qatada from the UK has moved another step towards full ratification.
The agreement, which aims to allay fears that evidence extracted through torture will be used against the terror suspect at a retrial, has now been published in the Jordanian government's official gazette – leaving just a handful of legal moves before the deportation process can begin. The agreement, which aims to allay fears that evidence extracted through torture will be used against the terror suspect at a retrial, has now been published in the Jordanian government's official gazette. The move leaves just a handful of legal moves before the deportation process can begin.
In May the radical cleric unexpectedly volunteered to leave the country as soon as the treaty was ratified by both countries. In May, the radical cleric unexpectedly volunteered to leave the country as soon as the treaty was ratified by both countries.
The security minister James Brokenshire said: "The publication of the treaty in the Jordanian official gazette is welcome. While further steps remain, our focus is on seeing Abu Qatada on a plane to Jordan at the earliest opportunity." The security minister, James Brokenshire, said: "The publication of the treaty in the Jordanian official gazette is welcome. While further steps remain, our focus is on seeing Abu Qatada on a plane to Jordan at the earliest opportunity."
The publication of the treaty in the gazette comes after both houses of the Jordanian parliament and the country's king approved the treaty, while the UK parliamentary scrutiny process has also been completed.The publication of the treaty in the gazette comes after both houses of the Jordanian parliament and the country's king approved the treaty, while the UK parliamentary scrutiny process has also been completed.
However, the home secretary, Theresa May, has previously warned that, even when the treaty is fully ratified, it will not necessarily mean that Abu Qatada will be on a plane to Jordan within days. The case remains open to legal challenge. However, the home secretary, Theresa May, has previously warned that even when the treaty is fully ratified Qatada will not necessarily be on a plane to Jordan within days because the case remains open to legal challenge.
The government has been trying to deport Abu Qatada to Jordan, where he was convicted of terror charges in his absence in 1999, for about eight years. The fight to remove him from Britain has cost the taxpayer more than £1.7m since 2005. The government has been trying to deport Qatada to Jordan, where he was convicted of terror charges in his absence in 1999, for about eight years. The fight to remove him from Britain has cost the taxpayer more than £1.7m since 2005.
Abu Qatada is behind bars in London's Belmarsh prison after breaching a bail condition which restricts the use of mobile phones and other communication devices. Qatada is behind bars in Belmarsh prison, in London, after breaching a bail condition that restricts the use of mobile phones and other communication devices.
The Special Immigration Appeals Commission previously heard that a USB stick understood to belong to Abu Qatada's eldest son contained "jihadist files" made by the "media wing of al-Qaida". The Special Immigration Appeals Commission previously heard that a USB stick understood to belong to Qatada's eldest son contained "jihadist files" made by the "media wing of al-Qaida".
The terror suspect is also being investigated by Scotland Yard over suspected extremist material found during the search of his home.The terror suspect is also being investigated by Scotland Yard over suspected extremist material found during the search of his home.
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