Humanitarian Haven for Terrorists

"The fact that Mr. Othman is considered to be a dangerous terrorist is not relevant to the issues that are raised on this appeal.
"A state cannot expel a person to another state where there is a real risk that he will be tried on the basis of evidence, which there is a real possibility may have been obtained by torture."
Lord Dyson, British Court of Appeal

"This is not the end of the road and the government remains determined to deport Abu Qatada. We will consider this judgment carefully and plan to seek leave to appeal. In the meantime we continue to work with the Jordanians to address the outstanding legal issues preventing deportation."
Statement, Government of Britain

Legal fees have so far cost British taxpayers around $1.5-million to try to have radical cleric Abu Qatada, described once by a Spanish judge as "Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe", deported from Britain to Jordan where he has been convicted in absentia of two bombing plots in 1999 and 2000. If and when deported, he would be subject to Jordanian justice through a legal trial.

It has additionaly cost the state another $7-million for security agents to maintain a close watch over the man since his release on bail last February. These are by no means the only costs to the British taxpayer associated with this man. He, his wife and their five children live gratis, the London Council providing them with fairly lavish living arrangements. He originally was housed with his family in a four-bedroom home, but the owner, discovering who the tenant was, objected, and the family was re-located.

He and his family are "delighted" with the subsequent move to new accommodation as the new home has more bedrooms, a larger garden and more modern appliances. The costly rent is of little concern to this man and his family since, as he has no income, their accommodation is entirely free of charge, thanks to the generosity of the British welfare system. His brother summed up the situation: "He is really enjoying his new home and so are his family. The inside is very modern and has been done up more nicely."

The British government has been trying for over a decade to have this man removed from Britain. He first came under suspicion for preaching violent jihad, and was purported to be the spiritual guide to Mohammad Atta of 9/11 infamy. He is a Salafist implicated in violent jihad groups from Algeria to Germany.

The British government had challenged a November ruling by an immigration panel holding that Mr. Qatada would lose his right to a fair trial under European rights law on return to Jordan.
 
 

Rehoused: Qatada has been handed a more expensive taxpayer-funded home

"Today's decision is hugely disappointing. Abu Qatada's deportation to Jordan is long overdue, and it's utter madness that we can't get shot of this man", stated London Mayor Boris Johnson.

British law is quite confident on the matter; it cannot permit the deportation of a radical Islamic known to be a senior operative of al-Qaeda, a "truly dangerous person". Because his human rights might be abridged if information obtained through torture is used to convict him of terrorism charges.

There appears to be a new single-word spelling for the phrase dysfunctional juridical lunacy: Britain.