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Abu Qatada Deportation: Government Says It Will Resist Any Attempt At Bail For Radical Cleric

The Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 20/04/2012 15:33 Updated: 20/04/2012 15:33

Qatada
Abu Qatada is wanted in Jordan for his role in a bomb plot

In the wake of the confusion over radical cleric Abu Qatada's deportation status, the government has confirmed it will "vigourously" oppose any attempt to grant the terror suspect bail.

Qatada was set to be deported to Jordan, where he is wanted to answer charges of terrorism, but he appears to have lodged a second appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

Confusion lies over the exact time of the three-month deadline for an appeal against deportation, with the special immigration appeals commission (Siac) saying it received an appeal from Qatada's team at 10pm on Tuesday, allegedly before the deadline.

However, home secretary Theresa May contests that the deadline for any appeal passed the day before.

Whether or not his appeal was submitted in time will be judged by the panel of judges in the court's Grand Chamber.

However, due to the now complicated circumstances, Qatada could well be free from prison on bail, possibly within a matter of weeks.

The judge presiding over the case, Mr Justice Mitting, sent Qatada back to prison temporarily to prevent any attempt at illegally leaving the country. However, should it transpire that deportation is "not imminent" in two to three weeks, bail will be considered for the Palestinian-Jordanian cleric.

On Friday, prime minister David Cameron stood behind his home secretary, saying it was "our firm intention to see him deported."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has heavily criticised May, saying that: "The idea that Abu Qatada could be back on the streets... as a result of the home secretary's decision is shocking."

Cooper added: "The job of the home secretary is to keep the public safe, not take risks with national security. Theresa May... needs to come clean and explain how this fiasco happened and how she is taking responsibility to put it right."

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Damon Barrett

Damon Barrett: When the UN Won't Condemn Torture You Know Something's Very Wrong

Torture. The Home Office can't deport Abu Qatada because of the very spectre of it. There is an entire international treaty on it. It is a crime no matter who you are or where you live.

 
 
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rommel1
7 Fans
17:36 on 21/04/2012
Oi! Cameron grow a pair,stick the dog on a plane and put this c**p to bed once and for all!
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oobuc5
12 Fans
13:15 on 21/04/2012
May should have deported this one under rule number 5.56 / 7.62 or rule number 9mm
all she had to do was the mechanics at Canary wharf !
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
icini
87 Fans
20:34 on 20/04/2012
Just who is in charge of our country, it clearly isn't the government. Brussels no doubt.
Time to rid ourselves of lib/lab/cons. They are all more interested in power for power's sake and in jobs for the boys in the EEC. Vote all 3 out and lets have new people who represent us, not themselves. WE don't have to take to the streets to get change but we do have to use our votes, for the sake of our children let's ALL start to use them and ditch "tribal" pretend politics and elect real people, who listen to the people,understand what we say and act upon it.
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oobuc5
12 Fans
13:20 on 21/04/2012
well it cant be the government as they sold that right down the river when they decided to join the common market ,they took all of the grants they could get ,green and otherwise ,took on all of the money clawing taxes ,and then sat back as the money rolled in ,forgetting that they are in charge of nothing !
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MELkay
35 Fans
19:57 on 20/04/2012
THIS GOV, SEEMS TO BE AT THE BE,HEST OF ASIAN LAWERS, GET RID OF THIS BASTXXD
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
meddleman
56 Fans
19:40 on 20/04/2012
I think it is reasonable for any citizen of the UK to believe that the Home Secretary ought to be comfortable about counting over 30 and should be able to see that the term 'one month' is open to interpretation as to whether it includes the days either end of that period. This is yet another incident in a long list of inept responses by Theresa May. It says a lot about Cameron's Cabinet that she was appointed to this position in the first place and that she has kept her job for so long.
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Mr Pedro
56 Fans
19:25 on 20/04/2012
Mr Justice Mitting sent Qatada back to jail in case he illegally tried to leave the country.
Seems thats what we want him to do, no matter how its achieved.
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ajusticiar
22 Fans
19:43 on 20/04/2012
He was sent back to jail in case he absconded - there is nothing in the judge's decision that suggest he would leave the country. I think Qatada is too bright to do that. Rather more likely that he shaves off his beard, puts on jeans and hoodie and works in a car wash.

It would take ages to find him.
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Johnowen
81 Fans
01:10 on 21/04/2012
As someone said on the radio tonight, his every movement is being tracked by the paparazzi, so where would he hide? Also, where would he go? Instead we are paying our well earned taxes on looking after and feeding this religious nut.

If he did leave the country, isn't that what everyone wants?
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northern git
fed up with all the political crap in life
204 Fans
08:27 on 21/04/2012
Qatada is a bright cookie and so is his legal team

so absconding, given a chance, would not be too difficult for him given some of the reported inadequacies of the police and other UK agencies

and I don't think for a minute that this has been subject of many a discussion by his team and courts.

Oh and yes, some of the comments and sicussion here do seem inane or inebriated
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mfa11e
Tell the truth ,regardless
203 Fans
19:21 on 20/04/2012
I hope everyone remembers all the screwups made by Labour,Tory and gutless Liberals.Non of them have acted in our interests,get a new lot in ,be it National Front ,or UKIP,they will do what most of want ,rid Britain of the dross,criminals and religeos extremists.Dont be sucked in with more promises by the main 3 ,remember how they have failed continueously
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bob53
9 Fans
20:03 on 20/04/2012
Hear Hear !!!
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Johnowen
81 Fans
01:13 on 21/04/2012
Careful, otherwise these other idiot so called parties may go for you, especially if you cannot spell correctly
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Mr Pedro
56 Fans
19:17 on 20/04/2012
Qatada, entered the UK on a false passport, why wasn't he deported when this came to light?
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northern git
fed up with all the political crap in life
204 Fans
19:15 on 20/04/2012
Qatada wants out on bail

great

let him have bail

Oh shock horror you cry


but that bail should be set at £20 million pounds sterling to be posted withing 24 hours

find out who posts it and you have his hard core supporters
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ajusticiar
22 Fans
20:12 on 20/04/2012
Neat - but won't work. Under English law bail does not require a cash sum to be deposited. There is one exception - when the person to be bailed does not have a fixed address in the UK. Unfortunately, Qatada has a very fixed address in the UK paid for by all of us!
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northern git
fed up with all the political crap in life
204 Fans
20:26 on 20/04/2012
then perhaps he could have that facility removed, ergo no fixed address
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concodtob
16 stone athlete and intellectual
234 Fans
18:25 on 20/04/2012
Welcome to Britain the land of benefits.Come in all as all are welcome to this generous Island.We have council houses,private houses,large 6 bedroom houses,and mansions.We have all these comfortable surroundings and generous welfare payments to suit YOUR special requirements and needs.

All inclusive with rent,child tax credits,free NHS care,free IVF treatment,and disability allowances paid straight into your bank account.If you want to claim a particular benefit and for whatever reason you are refused,you can take it further via the human rights act and most likely WIN.

You can preach hatred.You can freely socialise with others who share your particular brand of anti-British sentiments.All this while claiming everything under the sun not afforded to the British taxpayer who you can despise come what may.

Whatever you want or need it's yours and you'll never be thrown out(ever).The British taxpayer who you have nothing but contempt for,will foot the bill.All this and more in Britain the land of benefits.So come on down while houses,mansions, and available funds last!
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gasmanxxxxx
37 Fans
19:02 on 20/04/2012
So very true.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mfa11e
Tell the truth ,regardless
203 Fans
18:18 on 20/04/2012
I bet if all the Brits,(and by that I mean born here ,not just acquiring a passport),left and moved to Yemen or Somalia and made a success of it ,unlike those there now,all the rabble would then follow us there ,simply to live off the backs of those that do the work rather than work themselves.Its easier being a parasite than a worker
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ajusticiar
22 Fans
18:09 on 20/04/2012
We will have to wait and see whether or not the advice given to Theresa May was correct. It is frustrating but, at this stage no calamity. If it turns out to have been wrong that is the time for May to face up to the consequences.

On the other hand the public pronouncements of Yvette Cooper are quite disgraceful. She knows full well that the problems that are now faced emanate from the time we had a Labour Home Secretary. Her comments are lightweight and populist without any regard for the history. This is not a political matter. Almost everyone in this country wants Qatada to be deported and it is nothing but political chicanery for Cooper to be acting the way she is.
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ronnieince
57 Fans
19:40 on 20/04/2012
ajusticiar - it is a fundamental principle that you never take risks with time limits for the sake of a day - the law takes no account of parts of a day - within three months from 17th January includes the whole of the 17th April day - I suspect someone has forgotten this year is a Leap Year and that February had 29 days - to blame the Court for merely finding that it still has legal jusisdiction is simply naive .

Everyone in the legal profession remembers the famous Scottish lawyer Joe Beltrami who got a well known criminal client of a serious case simply because the prosecution were one day out of time - they had forgotten that it was a Leap Year - so the Judge had to throw out the case as " out of time " - " Hercules the Bear " in Shetland was another of his famous cases - a dangerous wild animal allowed to roam in public but the police did not hold a formal identity parade to confirm the escaped bear in question was his client's bear - the Judge threw the case out - simply unbearable for the prosecutor !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Joe Beltrami could not get you acquitted the you really were stuffed !!!!!
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ajusticiar
22 Fans
20:23 on 20/04/2012
English law is very clear that "within 3 months" would in this case mean it ends at midnight on 16 April. If you want it to be something different courts might say within 90 days or within 12 weeks. The trouble is that the ECHR is not bound by English law and it is just possible it will define it differently. All I am suggesting is that it is too early to condemn May at the moment because she could be right.

I wouldn't challenge your Scottish law stories - amusing.
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2ndcornets
49 Fans
18:02 on 20/04/2012
Is nobody going to defend the rights of this much put upon and venerable student of the Koran to reside here wiith his family ?. Nope ?. Thought not. Neither am I !. And why haven't the prison authorities shaved that ridiculous beard off - it must provide an unacceptable health and safety risk of lice harbourage.
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pete cole
181 Fans
17:51 on 20/04/2012
Deport him now then we'll have all the time in the world to argue about whether or not it was legal
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