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Qatada's legal aid to fight for picture ban
Jack Lefley, Evening Standard19.06.08
The man known as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe has instructed lawyers to seek a court order keeping new pictures of him secret.
The move came within hours of him being freed from prison after he won his fight against deportation from Britain. His release follows a court ruling in April banning ministers from extraditing him to Jordan. Qatada, of Acton, will claim that any picture of him violates his "right to privacy" under the Human Rights Act - the same act he used to gain his freedom. The 47-year-old can only leave his house for two hours each day while wearing an electronic tag. The curfew also bans him from having contact with bin Laden but allows him to live with his family in his Edwardian semidetached home and claim benefits of £1,000 a month.
The eight-page bail order bars Qatada from associating with hook-handed hate preacher Abu Hamza.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has pledged to appeal against the court ruling preventing his deportation, which was on the grounds that he could face torture in Jordan. Qatada has been convicted in his absence in the Middle East of involvement with terror attacks.
Ms Smith said: "The Government's priority is to protect public safety and national security and we will take all steps necessary."
Qatada's legal move - which would establish an unprecedented right of "privacy" if successful - came as it emerged that two other men with alleged terror links - named U and Y in court papers - are also set to be bailed. Both arrived in Britain to claim asylum and cannot be deported to their native Algeria.
Reader views (6)
Right to privacy or perhaps he meands his right to move unrecognised to plan more acts of terror? His picture should be on Britain's most detested posters everywhere so we can all see what a treachorous parasite looks like.
- Brian, Wiltshire
It is about time dangerous terrorists like Qatada are slung out. If it was possible to extradite the Nat West 3 and it wasn't considered against their Human Rights, even though all what they did was just a paper offence, surely these terrorists who are a physical threat to not only the Human Rights of every man woman and child in this country, but also to their very lives, surely all the more so they should be expelled! The European Law on Human Rights is totally skewed.
- David, London UK
No doubt he'll be after - and probably receive - compensation next!
If ever there was a case that showed laws to be changed, this is surely it!
- Scott, Isle of Dogs
Ms Smith said: "The Government's priority is to protect public safety and national security and we will take all steps necessary."
If that were true, he would be in Jordan now.
- Disgruntled, London
I am sorry but this is a total farce and unbelievable mess! How can Jackie Smith and Gordon Brown state categorically that 'keeping Britain Safe' is their prime concern - whilst at the same time letting these dangerous and unwelcome visitors out of jail, and not even having the guts to deport? Just exactly what has to happen before we get rid of all these 'asylum seekers' who preach hatred of the very country that has provided Asylum?
- Gary, Wycombe
If he keeps himself inside his house 24 hours per day he's entitled to the same privacy that the rest of us enjoy. If he is photographed in a public place, he isn't, again the same as for the rest of us. He is the one who chose to make a public figure of himself, by means of his inflammatory and dangerous sermons, and he should count himself extremely lucky not to be locked up in a cell.
- Nigel, London
