Abu Qatada deportation edges closer as Jordanian government publishes details of UK extradition treaty
Agreement aims to allay fears that evidence extracted through torture will be used against the terror suspect
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The deportation of radical cleric Abu Qatada has moved another step closer, after Jordan's government published details of an extradition treaty with the UK that paves the way for his exit.
The agreement, which aims to allay fears that evidence extracted through torture will be used against the terror suspect at a retrial, has now been published in the Jordanian government's official gazette - leaving just a handful of legal moves before the deportation process can begin.
In May Qatada unexpectedly volunteered to leave the country as soon as the treaty is ratified by both countries.
Security minister James Brokenshire said: “The publication of the Treaty in the Jordanian Official Gazette is welcome. While further steps remain, our focus is on seeing Abu Qatada on a plane to Jordan at the earliest opportunity.”
The publication of the treaty in the gazette comes after both houses of the Jordanian parliament and the country's king approved the treaty, while the UK parliamentary scrutiny process has also completed.
However, Home Secretary Theresa May previously warned that, even when the treaty is fully ratified, it will not necessarily mean that Qatada will be on a plane to Jordan within days. The case remains open to legal challenge.
The Government has been trying to deport Qatada to Jordan, where he was convicted of terror charges in his absence in 1999, for about eight years.
The fight to remove him from Britain has cost the taxpayer more than £1.7 million since 2005.
Qatada is behind bars in London's Belmarsh prison after breaching a bail condition which restricts use of mobile phones and other communication devices.
The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) previously heard that a USB stick understood to belong to Qatada's eldest son contained “jihadist files” made by the “media wing of al Qaida”.
The terror suspect is also being investigated by Scotland Yard over suspected extremist material found during the search of his home.
Additional reporting Press Association
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments