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Jordanian Court Acquits Islamic Cleric in Terrorism Case Jordanian Court Acquits Islamic Cleric in Terrorism Case
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — A military court in the Jordanian capital, Amman, has acquitted a militant Islamic cleric known as Abu Qatada on charges of planning a terrorist attack on an American school there in the late 1990s, news reports said on Thursday, the latest turn in a longstanding legal fight that included a 10-year court battle in Britain and his deportation a year ago.LONDON — A military court in the Jordanian capital, Amman, has acquitted a militant Islamic cleric known as Abu Qatada on charges of planning a terrorist attack on an American school there in the late 1990s, news reports said on Thursday, the latest turn in a longstanding legal fight that included a 10-year court battle in Britain and his deportation a year ago.
The court said it had found insufficient evidence to convict the cleric. The finding seemed a remarkable reversal of a trial more than 14 years ago that found him guilty in his absence and sentenced him to death, later commuted to life imprisonment with hard labor. The cleric’s supporters were certain to depict his acquittal as a vindication of his protestations of innocence.The court said it had found insufficient evidence to convict the cleric. The finding seemed a remarkable reversal of a trial more than 14 years ago that found him guilty in his absence and sentenced him to death, later commuted to life imprisonment with hard labor. The cleric’s supporters were certain to depict his acquittal as a vindication of his protestations of innocence.
The 54-year-old cleric, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman, will continue to be held in connection with a separate case relating to a plot to bomb tourists at millennium celebrations in 2000, the reports said. Mr. Othman had denied all the charges against him.The 54-year-old cleric, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman, will continue to be held in connection with a separate case relating to a plot to bomb tourists at millennium celebrations in 2000, the reports said. Mr. Othman had denied all the charges against him.
The court’s ruling seemed to surprise some in Britain, but officials said they would resist his return if he were acquitted in the second case.The court’s ruling seemed to surprise some in Britain, but officials said they would resist his return if he were acquitted in the second case.
“We don’t want this man back,” Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said.“We don’t want this man back,” Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said.
The cleric was imprisoned in Britain or held under restrictions amounting to house arrest as he resisted efforts to deport him to Jordan, where he was convicted in his absence in two trials held in 1999 and 2000 of conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks and of involvement in the plot to attack tourists. On the second charge, he had been sentenced to 15 years in prison. The cleric was imprisoned in Britain or held under restrictions amounting to house arrest as he resisted efforts to deport him to Jordan, where he was convicted in his absence in two trials held in 1999 and 2000 of conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks and of involvement in the plot to attack tourists. In the second case, he had been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Britain finally deported him to Jordan almost a year ago to face retrials on the charges. His removal was celebrated by many in Britain as a turning point in the country’s efforts to contain militant Islamic ideology linked to Al Qaeda. Britain finally deported him to Jordan almost a year ago to face retrials of the cases. His removal was celebrated by many in Britain as a turning point in the country’s efforts to contain militant Islamic ideology linked to Al Qaeda.
Mr. Othman, who is of Palestinian descent, had resisted deportation for many years by arguing that he would be tried in Jordan on evidence obtained under duress, which would be inadmissible in a British court.Mr. Othman, who is of Palestinian descent, had resisted deportation for many years by arguing that he would be tried in Jordan on evidence obtained under duress, which would be inadmissible in a British court.
Theresa May, Britain’s home secretary, visited Jordan twice, meeting with King Abdullah II and senior Jordanian security officials, in an effort to complete negotiations on a treaty including provisions against the use of torture-tainted evidence in a retrial.Theresa May, Britain’s home secretary, visited Jordan twice, meeting with King Abdullah II and senior Jordanian security officials, in an effort to complete negotiations on a treaty including provisions against the use of torture-tainted evidence in a retrial.
On Thursday, Judge Ahmad Qatarneh was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying: “The court did not find evidence to support charges” that Mr. Othman conspired “in late 1998 to carry out a terror attack on the American school in Amman.”On Thursday, Judge Ahmad Qatarneh was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying: “The court did not find evidence to support charges” that Mr. Othman conspired “in late 1998 to carry out a terror attack on the American school in Amman.”
Accordingly, he was declared innocent, the judge said, at which point the cleric burst into tears and members of his family rushed to embrace him. The trial on the second charge was adjourned until Sept. 7. Accordingly, he was declared innocent, the judge said, at which point the cleric burst into tears and members of his family rushed to embrace him. The trial in the second case was adjourned until Sept. 7.
“I am surprised at this verdict,” said Keith Vaz, the head of the influential parliamentary Home Affairs Committee. “However, it is right that the Jordanian court has followed due process.”“I am surprised at this verdict,” said Keith Vaz, the head of the influential parliamentary Home Affairs Committee. “However, it is right that the Jordanian court has followed due process.”
James Brokenshire, the minister for immigration and security, said Mr. Othman had been viewed as a threat to national security. “We are pleased that we were able to remove him,” he said. “He is subject to a deportation order, which means he will be unable to return to the U.K.”James Brokenshire, the minister for immigration and security, said Mr. Othman had been viewed as a threat to national security. “We are pleased that we were able to remove him,” he said. “He is subject to a deportation order, which means he will be unable to return to the U.K.”