January 17th, 2012
05:43 AM ET

UK cannot deport radical cleric, European Court rules

The United Kingdom cannot deport a radical cleric linked to al Qaeda to Jordan because evidence obtained by torture could be used against him there, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in a landmark case Tuesday.

Abu Qatada has been fighting to remain in the United Kingdom since he was first arrested under anti-terrorism legislation nearly a decade ago.

He would be "at real risk of ill-treatment or a grossly unfair trial if deported to Jordan, where he is wanted on terrorism charges," the court said in a statement announcing the ruling.

British officials have described the Jordanian national as an "inspiration" for terrorists such as Mohammed Atta, the lead hijacker behind the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

Abu Qatada appealed to the European Court following a British court ruling in 2009 ordering his deportation.

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soundoff (18 Responses)
  1. R. Barga

    In the Abu Qatada case, it seems the European court of Human Rights has no regard for the feelings and thoughts of the average peace loving peoples wherever they live. This man is clearly a danger to society and if he is wanted by any country to answer charges, he should be automatically sent there. If Bin Laden was being held in Jordan on a legal technicality, the US and other countries would no doubt use every available means to get hold of him. So why the hypocracy. When will the average citizen of so called 'developed' counties ever get fair justice in cases like this.
    ?????

    January 17, 2012 at 6:00 am | Report abuse |
  2. Joey Isotta-Fraschini©™

    The world has gone mad.
    Great Britain cannot deport a terrorist?
    Think about it more deeply than, "yeah, but see, something bad is sure to happen to him if you send him over there, and it's not right for anything bad to happen to any human being, no matter what he did, because he a human being, after all, and such."

    January 17, 2012 at 8:27 am | Report abuse |
  3. banasy©

    I don't get it.
    He was already convicted in absentia.
    He came to England with papers that were forged.
    Is the European Court seriously putting this one man's "rights" (which to me are questionable
    Since he entered the country illegally) above the security of an entire country?
    What about England's right not to have a known terroist in its midst?
    Unreal.

    January 17, 2012 at 9:02 am | Report abuse |
  4. Scottish Mama

    Bettter to keep and eye on him though? Keep your friends close, your enemies closer?

    January 17, 2012 at 9:03 am | Report abuse |
  5. hamsta

    @banasy whats there not to get?the uk basicly heads the united nations and their strategy for a long time has been to ignore problems and hope they go away.

    January 17, 2012 at 10:02 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Don't waste my time.

      January 17, 2012 at 6:08 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Kandi

    True hamsta, there are none so blind as those that refuse to see! And this person should get what he gave eh banasy!! Im in TOTAL agreement with you!

    January 17, 2012 at 10:49 am | Report abuse |
  7. Philip

    At least the UK isn't letting this man squat on a mass grave of jewish women and children.

    January 17, 2012 at 11:05 am | Report abuse |
  8. BOMBO ©

    Well Britain, aren't you glad you joined the EU? Now you aren't allowed to deport anyone without their permission. Maybe it's time to cut loose from the EU. Why not put the Commonwealth back together in some meaningful way? It can be you, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and anyone else who wants in. Quebec might not like it, but we'll just let them leave.

    January 17, 2012 at 11:15 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Lol.
      I thought of sending him away to the old prison colony of Australia, but thn I thought that they don't want him, either.

      January 17, 2012 at 6:08 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Philip

    ...and you know what my definition of a radical 'holy man' is. I say that we have a few that could use some deporting.

    January 17, 2012 at 11:24 am | Report abuse |
  10. bobcat (in a hat)©

    Just put a suicide belt on him with a timed fuse, stick him in unit with other terrorists and let him have his own personal jihad. Allah alu ak– BOOM

    January 17, 2012 at 1:20 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Tcr c2

    Send him back to experience what he put out to others, isnt this true punishment? If not than why is he given protection? Sounds like a defectig nazi!! A blast to the past

    January 17, 2012 at 1:51 pm | Report abuse |
  12. banasy©

    I don't get the WHY of it.
    He was convicted in absentia.
    Therefore, the tria lis over.
    Ill treatment?
    Of the sort *he* dished out?

    Face your punishment, cleric.

    January 17, 2012 at 6:05 pm | Report abuse |
  13. banasy©

    And it isn't the UN that ruled on this, is it?

    January 17, 2012 at 6:06 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Gary

    @Joey good comment, Not. @Philip gay as usual.Some things never change.

    January 17, 2012 at 8:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Useless comment.

      January 17, 2012 at 10:42 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Lial Sovietsakaya

    Maybe he will appreciate more the Western style of Justice who is protecting him. Maybe he will put more effort in a spiritual fight against the forces of evil than in a physical effort to fight the forces of evil. Or, maybe he will put a strap-on vest and ask an audience with Her Royal Majesty the Queen or some other mission ordered by God the Compassionate and Merciful

    February 13, 2012 at 5:50 pm | Report abuse |
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