London - A radical preacher accused of giving spiritual inspiration to one of the 9/11 hijackers lost a legal bid in the European courts on Wednesday to challenge Britain's long-running attempts to deport him to Jordan to stand trial on terrorism charges.
Abu Qatada, once described by a Spanish judge as “Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe”, had asked the European Court of Human Rights to refer his case to a panel of its most senior judges.
The court said it turned down his request, paving the way for Britain to send him back to Jordan after a decade of legal wrangling over his fate. It gave no reasons for its refusal.
Qatada's lawyers had argued that he risked being tortured in Jordan or being convicted using evidence extracted from others using torture. Britain reached an agreement with Jordan in 2005 to try to ensure Qatada is not mistreated if he is returned to Jordan.
“I am pleased by the European court's decision,” said British Home Secretary (interior minister) Theresa May. “The Qatada case will now go through the British courts.
“I am confident the assurances we have from Jordan mean we can put Qatada on a plane and get him out of Britain.”
However, in an embarrassment for the British government, the judges confirmed that Qatada had lodged his appeal request in time, contradicting May's original claims that he had been too late.
His case has been a headache for successive British governments, accused by critics of not doing enough to deport Qatada.
Twice convicted in his absence in Jordan of involvement in terrorism plots, the preacher is still a national security risk, Britain says, and should be deported before London hosts the Olympic Games in July and August.
Qatada, whose real name is Omar Othman, has been in and out of jail since he was first detained without charge under British anti-terrorism laws in 2002.
Britain says videotapes of his sermons were found in a German apartment used by three of the people who carried out al Qaeda's Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. - Reuters