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| Abu Qatada will not be allowed back in UK, says Theresa May | Abu Qatada will not be allowed back in UK, says Theresa May |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The British home secretary, Theresa May, has insisted that Abu Qatada will not return to the UK after a Jordanian court acquitted the radical preacher of terrorism charges. | The British home secretary, Theresa May, has insisted that Abu Qatada will not return to the UK after a Jordanian court acquitted the radical preacher of terrorism charges. |
| Qatada, who fought a decade-long battle against extradition from his London home to face the charges, walked free from a court in Amman after a judge struck down the case against him. | Qatada, who fought a decade-long battle against extradition from his London home to face the charges, walked free from a court in Amman after a judge struck down the case against him. |
| In a televised statement, May insisted Qatada would not return to the UK despite his acquittal: “Due process of law has taken place in Jordan, that is absolutely as it should be. | In a televised statement, May insisted Qatada would not return to the UK despite his acquittal: “Due process of law has taken place in Jordan, that is absolutely as it should be. |
| “The UK courts were very clear that Abu Qatada posed a threat to our national security – that’s why we were pleased as a government to be able to remove him from the United Kingdom. He is subject to a deportation order, he is also subject to a UN travel ban – that means he will not be returning to the UK.” | “The UK courts were very clear that Abu Qatada posed a threat to our national security – that’s why we were pleased as a government to be able to remove him from the United Kingdom. He is subject to a deportation order, he is also subject to a UN travel ban – that means he will not be returning to the UK.” |
| The 53-year-old preacher was accused of plotting terrorist attacks on Americans and Israelis during millennium celebrations in Jordan – charges he was convicted of in absentia in 2000. | The 53-year-old preacher was accused of plotting terrorist attacks on Americans and Israelis during millennium celebrations in Jordan – charges he was convicted of in absentia in 2000. |
| Qatada, who was once described by a Spanish judge as Osama bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe, contested the charges in a trial that took place last year after his deportation from the UK. | Qatada, who was once described by a Spanish judge as Osama bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe, contested the charges in a trial that took place last year after his deportation from the UK. |
| Successive home secretaries had tried to deport the father of five, at a cost of £1.7m, over 10 years. He was finally deported after the UK and Jordan signed a treaty stating that evidence gathered against him via torture would not be used in any retrial. | Successive home secretaries had tried to deport the father of five, at a cost of £1.7m, over 10 years. He was finally deported after the UK and Jordan signed a treaty stating that evidence gathered against him via torture would not be used in any retrial. |
| The acquittal meant Qatada was free to leave the Jordanian prison where he had been held for the duration of his trial. To loud cheers and shouts from members of the preacher’s family, the judge dismissed the prosecution case as weak and inadmissable. “The accused is found innocent,” he announced. | The acquittal meant Qatada was free to leave the Jordanian prison where he had been held for the duration of his trial. To loud cheers and shouts from members of the preacher’s family, the judge dismissed the prosecution case as weak and inadmissable. “The accused is found innocent,” he announced. |
| Seven armoured guards stood in front of Qatada’s cell as he entered the court in brown detainment robes. The cleric was quiet, blowing a kiss to his family members filling a row of courtroom seats. They sat calmly, some smiling. “Inshallah, he will be with us today,” Qatada’s sister said. | Seven armoured guards stood in front of Qatada’s cell as he entered the court in brown detainment robes. The cleric was quiet, blowing a kiss to his family members filling a row of courtroom seats. They sat calmly, some smiling. “Inshallah, he will be with us today,” Qatada’s sister said. |
| Outside the courtroom, one of Qatada’s lawyers, Ghazi Althunibat, told reporters: “Justice took place today. The decision is aligned with Jordanian law and the UK treaty. He is innocent and he deserved to be declared innocent.” | Outside the courtroom, one of Qatada’s lawyers, Ghazi Althunibat, told reporters: “Justice took place today. The decision is aligned with Jordanian law and the UK treaty. He is innocent and he deserved to be declared innocent.” |
| Another of his lawyers, Husain Mubaidin, said he had expected the decision. “There is no substantial evidence against him in the first place,” he said. “Abu Qatada wanted to come back for a fair trial in Jordan and we are thankful that Britain sent him back. No further charges stand against Abu Qatada. He will walk free today.” | Another of his lawyers, Husain Mubaidin, said he had expected the decision. “There is no substantial evidence against him in the first place,” he said. “Abu Qatada wanted to come back for a fair trial in Jordan and we are thankful that Britain sent him back. No further charges stand against Abu Qatada. He will walk free today.” |
| One of Qatada’s sons said: “We are very happy. We expected this.” | One of Qatada’s sons said: “We are very happy. We expected this.” |
| In the UK, his acquittal was less warmly received. David Blunkett, home secretary when Qatada was detained in 2002, said the length of time it took to deport the preacher made it harder to prosecute him successfully. | In the UK, his acquittal was less warmly received. David Blunkett, home secretary when Qatada was detained in 2002, said the length of time it took to deport the preacher made it harder to prosecute him successfully. |
| “Abu Qatada’s managed to do what he wanted to do, which was to prevaricate for 10 years,” Blunkett said. “By doing that he’s made it very much more difficult for the prosecution. However, it also proves that he was wrong, because the case he made against extradition was that he wouldn’t receive a fair trial in Jordan and he clearly has.” | |
| The trial was chaotic at times, with Qatada regularly pacing up and down the cage in the courtroom and apparently smuggling written statements out of his prison cell. In one speech from the dock, the cleric denounced the beheading of two US journalists by Islamic State (Isis) militants. | The trial was chaotic at times, with Qatada regularly pacing up and down the cage in the courtroom and apparently smuggling written statements out of his prison cell. In one speech from the dock, the cleric denounced the beheading of two US journalists by Islamic State (Isis) militants. |
| He said reporters were “messengers of the truth” and killing them was in breach of Islamic teachings. | He said reporters were “messengers of the truth” and killing them was in breach of Islamic teachings. |
| Outside court, Mubaidin restated his client’s opposition to Isis. “He didn’t make these statements because of pressure from Jordan’s courts,” he said, insisting Qatada supported the release of hostages such as the British aid worker Alan Henning. “He is against Daesh [the Arabic term for Isis] and everything they do. He believes their actions are against Islam.” | Outside court, Mubaidin restated his client’s opposition to Isis. “He didn’t make these statements because of pressure from Jordan’s courts,” he said, insisting Qatada supported the release of hostages such as the British aid worker Alan Henning. “He is against Daesh [the Arabic term for Isis] and everything they do. He believes their actions are against Islam.” |