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| Britain |
| Radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada appeals deportation to Jordan |
| 2012-10-10 |
| A hearing into whether a Muslim cleric who has been described as "more radical than Osama bin Laden" can avoid deportation from Britain to stand trial in Jordan began Wednesday in London. Britain has been trying to deport Abu Qatada for years, but his legal appeals have kept him in the United Kingdom. He is accused of funding terrorist groups and is said to have inspired one of the 9/11 hijackers. In January, the European Court of Human Rights blocked Britain from sending him to Jordan because of fears that evidence obtained by torture could be used against him at the trial planned by the Middle Eastern country. Britain then launched a round of negotiations with Jordan in order to deal with the court's concerns and arrested Abu Qatada again on April 17. The following month, the European Court rejected an appeal by his lawyers to avoid deportation. The decision set the stage for the latest hearing in front of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, which will hear three witnesses in person. The hearing is expected to last several days. The high court judge who manages the commission is likely to give his ruling a few weeks after the appeal concludes, a court official said. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #1 Between this gentleman and Abu Hamza, aka Hookhand, the Brits are doing a nice job of clearing the decks for action. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2012-10-10 22:20 |