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Finally, Qatada can be kicked out...followed by other militants
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor18 Feb 2009
RADICAL Islamist cleric Abu Qatada is facing deportation after a ruling today which paves the way for dozens of other extremists to be removed from Britain.
Five Law Lords ruled that the militant preacher can be sent back to Jordan where he is facing jail for terrorism offences.
Qatada, 48, arrived in London from Jordan in September 1993 using a forged passport and claimed asylum for himself, his wife and children.
He was initially detained in 2002, when the Special Immigration Appeals Commission described him as a "truly dangerous individual" who was heavily involved in terrorist activities.
He was bailed and placed under a control order. In 2005 he was arrested in preparation for his deportation to Jordan, but was released on appeal.
Qatada has issued a series of fatwas from Britain in support of the killing of non-believers and videos of his sermons were found in the Hamburg flat of Mohammed Atta, one of the ringleaders of the 9/11 attacks.
Qatada, who has been described by a judge as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, had sought to avoid deportation after claiming that he could be tortured if sent back to his home country. The Law Lords rejected his appeal and declared that a "memorandum of understanding" agreed between the British and Jordanian governments, which contains a pledge that torture will not deployed, provided a sufficient guarantee that he would be treated fairly.
The Law Lords also backed a government bid to deport two Algerian extremists, who had also claimed that they are at risk of torture. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith welcomed the ruling and said that she would now seek to deport Qatada, who could still mount a final appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, as soon as possible.
"I'm delighted with the Lords' decision today in the cases of Abu Qatada and the two Algerians," Ms Smith said. "It highlights the threat these individuals pose to our nation's security and vindicates our efforts to remove them.
"My top priority is to protect public safety and ensure national security and I have signed Abu Qatada's deportation order which will be served on him today. I am keen to deport this dangerous individual as soon as I can."
The Government's independent anti-terrorism watchdog, Lord Carlile of Berriew, said the ruling could lead to many other extremists being ejected from the country, adding: "This is a hugely important judgment."
But Amnesty International's Nicola Duckworth urged ministers not to take today's judgment as a "green light" to deport more people to regimes which carried out unfair trials and torture.
Reader views (29)
To Denise, london, uk
Deport him first,then let him appeal from where he has been sent to. For goodness sake, change the laws to make this possible.
Please take note Mr. Brown and Mr. Cameron.
- Jo, london,uk, 19/02/2009 18:49
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Get him out now
- Dave, Madrid, 19/02/2009 08:45
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Simple answer - stop paying the guy to stay in the UK. Stop supporting his family. Stop feeding his contempt of the British for their 'weak' inability to take positive action against him and his kind. And if others give him money to support him, make him account for it and pay taxes. Restrict his movements. Make his life the Hell that he would impose on others. Let his 'Human Rights' equal those that he grants others.
All he would have to do to escape his just deserts in the UK would be to find somewhere else to live in the world.
- Rogan, Irving, 19/02/2009 04:27
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S'pos the real reason why they let him stay so long was to enable the spooks to see who/whom he was in contact with, and whom his contacts were in contact with?
Nah!!!!..........Our spooks ain't that clever...yet!
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX, 19/02/2009 04:00
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I'll take some of that bet Kieth..He's not going anywhere.The European courts don't want him on their patch, so of course they will rule in his favour. He'll die of old age here
- Pat Garrett, Schuylkill Haven, 19/02/2009 02:26
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Of course he will not be booted out. He is the last person in England who will vote labour. Jackboot Jacqui will never let him go or she will have nothing to try and scare Joe public with.
And Keith in Luton, yes I will put £1000 on it. Put your money where your mouth is sunshine.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 19/02/2009 01:05
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Don't hold your breath . . . The Labour Government's record on removing undesirables is pitifully woeful to date, as it's record on the expulsion of illegal immigrants has proven.
Again, the Liberal Looney Left will leave no stone unturned in it's quest to ensure that the evil's in our society, such as this gentleman, can remain within our community and live on benefits paid for by the British Taxpayer.
- Eoin Mcgreeghan, Derry, NI, 18/02/2009 23:47
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Make him British citizen, then hang him for treason,any takers for the job of hangman?
- Kev, London-UK, 18/02/2009 22:48
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Must be an election coming.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 18/02/2009 21:36
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"Can be deported
But he won't be, you be assured of that."
er...yes he will be Mr Staker. Like to stake a little bet on it?
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 18/02/2009 19:02
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He should be deported forthwith, without delay. Then in due course, if and when he appeals and the European Court rules in his favour he can be let back in. He is not a European citizen, so why does he get this special treatment? Leaving aside the obvious fact that he actually despises European law and civilization.
- Sandy, Ealing, UK, 18/02/2009 18:40
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Qatada is reportedly taking his case to the Euromonster Court of Human Rights. They will almost certainly rule in his favour and it will be years before his case is heard.
As other posters have said, Qatada will not be going anywhere anytime soon. He will be here for years spouting anti-British bile and inciting hatred and violence. And yes, you've guessed it, the taxpayer will have the pleasure of paying for it.
The reality is that NuLiebour have created laws that make it impossible for the British public to be properly protected from terrorist extremists like Qatada, whilst at the same time destroying the age old rights and freedoms of ordinary, law abiding Britons.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 18/02/2009 17:43
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Whether you are do gooders or not? don't you realise this idiot wants you dead.
- David,Chertsey, Chertsey.UK., 18/02/2009 17:12
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Smith hasn't got a hope of this happening and she knows it.This is just put into the public arena because it will be popular and the gullible will believe it and think she will actually do it. Problem is there are less and less gullible idiots about nowadays.
- Peter, kings lynn,england, 18/02/2009 16:14
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"Can be deported"
But he won't be, you be assured of that.
- P Staker, London, 18/02/2009 14:57
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sorry but this is absolute rubbish!! We all know that his lawyers, amnesty international, shami chakrabarti and all the other do-good handwringing lefties will be appealing against his using human rights laws, which will drag on for years, cost millions and result in a big fat nothing!! Until another more 'British' party is elected, and repeals all these pathetic laws, we won't be kicking out anyone!
- Gary, amersham, 18/02/2009 14:31
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Why, in the name of Mohammed, did this decision take so long?
- Cuddly Duddly, Cuffley, UK, 18/02/2009 14:12
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Note the words "could be", it sould have been would be sent back - end of.
Deport him and let him take his case to the European courts from from there.
- Denise, London UK, 18/02/2009 14:09
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And the situation will get a lot worse in the UK by the time 2012 arrives.
I hope so anyway,this country's embarrassing.
- Steve, London, 18/02/2009 13:42
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The prospect of torture for him in Jordan is completely bogus, and probably not the worst thing anyway. If he stays here any longer the whole nation will want to make his stay memorable!
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 18/02/2009 13:42
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This is all baloney. He Will NEVER be deported and everybody knows it. Pull out of the EU/human rights act now.
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 18/02/2009 13:11
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If it's going to the European Court he'll still be here for the 2012 Olympics!
- Richard, London, 18/02/2009 12:59
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Very unlikely this will happen and anyway his family is, and always will, be here.
- Martin, London, 18/02/2009 12:50
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Keep in touch. Please feel free to send us a Postcard......................
- Jonny, London, 18/02/2009 11:52
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Don't hold your breath, he has the European Court of Farce to go through yet.
- Roger, Surrey, 18/02/2009 11:51
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Good as it's about time this country got it's act together as if people like him can't abide by our rules then sorry send them back and as for his human rights!!!! what about the our human rights the people of this country who work hard to try and keep it going.
- Sarah, London, 18/02/2009 11:30
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We are at last beginning to use our common sense in this country.
- David,Chertsey, Chertsey.UK., 18/02/2009 11:25
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..about time, too......
- Weddigen, London, 18/02/2009 11:21
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Just a minute, doesn't this infringe his human rights?!
- David, London, UK, 18/02/2009 11:14
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