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| Abu Qatada: Trial date set for cleric | Abu Qatada: Trial date set for cleric |
| (7 days later) | |
| The trial of radical cleric Abu Qatada, who was deported from the UK in July, is to begin in Jordan next week, his lawyer says. | The trial of radical cleric Abu Qatada, who was deported from the UK in July, is to begin in Jordan next week, his lawyer says. |
| He will stand trial on 10 December for terror offences after an eight-year battle against deportation. | He will stand trial on 10 December for terror offences after an eight-year battle against deportation. |
| That fight through various courts ended after the UK and Jordan signed a treaty agreeing that evidence obtained through torture would not be used against him. | That fight through various courts ended after the UK and Jordan signed a treaty agreeing that evidence obtained through torture would not be used against him. |
| If convicted he could face at least 15 years in detention, AFP is reporting. | If convicted he could face at least 15 years in detention, AFP is reporting. |
| Defence lawyer Taysir Diab told AFP he would meet his client on Saturday ahead of the trial opening. | Defence lawyer Taysir Diab told AFP he would meet his client on Saturday ahead of the trial opening. |
| "The hearing, set for midday (09:00 GMT), should be public and open to the media," he added. | "The hearing, set for midday (09:00 GMT), should be public and open to the media," he added. |
| 'Spiritual head' | 'Spiritual head' |
| The preacher, who is in his 50s, was convicted in absentia of plots against Westerners in Jordan between 1998 and 2000. | |
| This latest court case is a retrial for those offences. Under Jordanian law, he has the right to a retrial with him present in the dock. | This latest court case is a retrial for those offences. Under Jordanian law, he has the right to a retrial with him present in the dock. |
| Abu Qatada, a Palestinian-Jordanian, was first arrested in the UK in 2001 over the alleged offences in Jordan and had been resisting deportation since 2005. | Abu Qatada, a Palestinian-Jordanian, was first arrested in the UK in 2001 over the alleged offences in Jordan and had been resisting deportation since 2005. |
| After his removal to a high security jail near Jordanian capital Amman in July, Home Secretary Theresa May said the UK government had been "vindicated". | After his removal to a high security jail near Jordanian capital Amman in July, Home Secretary Theresa May said the UK government had been "vindicated". |
| During his time in the UK, Abu Qatada, whose real name is Omar Othman, mostly lived in London with his wife and children. | During his time in the UK, Abu Qatada, whose real name is Omar Othman, mostly lived in London with his wife and children. |
| A Spanish judge, Baltasar Garzon, once described him as the "spiritual head of the mujahideen in Britain". | A Spanish judge, Baltasar Garzon, once described him as the "spiritual head of the mujahideen in Britain". |