Britain finally deported a Muslim preacher, 53-year-old Abu Qatada, that they believe to be a prominent Al Qaeda supporter early Sunday morning. Qatada was transported from the British prison he had been in for the last eight years and taken into custody in Amman, Jordan, where he will face terrorism charges.
Jordan and Britain signed a treaty to guarantee that any evidence obtained under torture would not be used in trial, which is the verdict that finally got Qatada sent back to his home country. A human-rights group in Jordan will monitor his trial to ensure it is fair.
According to LA Times, a Spanish judge once called him Osama Bin Laden’s “right-hand-man in Europe.”
Britain has been attempting to take legal action against Qatada since he arrived in their country to seek refuge in 1993. He was arrested after the Sept. 11 attacks on suspicion of terrorism and was again arrested in 2005, but since he was never formally charged with an offense, they had trouble finding a way to deport him.
As reported by Aljazeera, The British Home Secretary Theresa May confirmed his deportation.
“His departure marks the conclusion of efforts to remove him since 2001 and I believe this will be welcomed by the British public,” May said. “This dangerous man has now been removed from our shores to face the courts in his own country."
Jordan has now charged Qatada with terrorism and he is pleading not guilty.