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'Flight-risk' Qatada is sent back to jail
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Correspondent2 Dec 2008
Firebrand cleric Abu Qatada was returned to jail today after an immigration court ruled he breached the terms of his bail.
A panel of judges at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission was told the radical preacher plotted to use his network of contacts to "disappear". Qatada, 47, who in a previous hearing was described by a judge as "Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe", was under 22-hour curfew until his arrest last month.
The Jordanian, real name Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman was on bail pending an attempt to extradite him to the Middle East. His deportation was blocked in May after a ruling his conviction for terrorism in Jordan was based on evidence extracted through torture.
Neither Qatada nor his legal team were in court today. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "He poses a significant threat to our national security." She added that she was working hard to secure Qatada's deportation. The panel's judgement was based on evidence heard in secret.
Reader views (7)
Mean while we the tax payers of a country he hates and wont's to destroy must keep his family on benefits, perhaps the governments targeting of people on benefits is designed so they can give more to the likes of him after all he is a genuine benefit claimant.
- Kev, London, 03/12/2008 12:08
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How wonderful that Human Rights only works one way!!
I am certain that he was thinking of others Human Rights when he bomb them!!!
Let’s just hope that every hard working tax payer that finds themselves out of work at present benefit from such generous hand outs from the Government
Human Rights
- L Parker, London, 03/12/2008 10:15
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hang on, didn'ther ecome here becuase he was in fear of his life?
Now he's trying to get out?
Next plane to Jordan would be a great xmas present for us all, it'd save on the benefits his litter get as well.
Oh hang on New Liebour would arrange to have them paid to him out there?
- Kedge, marlboro wilts, 02/12/2008 21:19
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What are we waiting for, a whip round?
- Ronnie, Brantome France, 02/12/2008 17:39
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why dont they charge him or let him go ??
- Ambientboy, london, 02/12/2008 17:09
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Send him,his wife, and their litter back to Jordan.
- P I Staker, London, 02/12/2008 16:31
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Never mind being sent back to prison - he should be sent right away to Jordan where they eagerly await him. This would also relieve the taxpayer of something in the region of £40k costs per year - and if we could pack his wife and kids off as well, then so much the better.
- Alan, Essex, 02/12/2008 14:52
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