Abu Qatada Banned From School Run Despite Human Rights Ruling

Radical Cleric Abu Qatada Banned From School Run

Abu Qatada, the radical cleric described as "Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe" is to be banned from taking his youngest child to school when he is released from prison.

The 51-year-old will be released from a maximum security prison this week while he fights deportation to Jordan. He will not be allowed out of his home during school opening and closing times.

Under the terms of his release, Qatada, who Home Secretary Theresa May said 'poses a real threat' to UK's national security, must obey a 22-hour curfew and will be kept in during the hours of the school run.

The radical cleric will also have to wear an electronic tag and is banned from using the internet and telephone.

The UK is unable to return Qatada to Jordan because of a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that he must not be sent back if it might lead to him being tried with evidence obtained under torture.

Qatada, who is also known Omar Othman, was convicted in his absence in Jordan of involvement with terror attacks in 1998 and has featured in hate sermons found on videos in the flat of one of the 11 September bombers.

Since 2001, when fears of the domestic terror threat rose in the aftermath of the attacks, he has challenged, and ultimately thwarted, every attempt by the government to detain and deport him.

The ECHR ruled last month that sending Qatada back to face terror charges without assurances about the conduct of a trial would be a "flagrant denial of justice".

The ruling was the first time that the Strasbourg-based court has found an extradition would be in violation of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to a fair trial, which is enshrined in UK law under the Human Rights Act.

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