Karim: Qatada deportation ban will baffle and anger Britain
Posted, January 17, 2012 @ 13:00
The European Court of Human Rights has today ruled that the radical cleric Abu Qatada cannot be deported from Britain.
Although the judgment is not final, the ECHR said Qatada could not at present be extradited to Jordan, where he faces terrorism charges, because he could be tried on evidence gained under torture.
Sajjad Karim MEP, Conservative spokesman on legal affairs in the European Parliament, said people in Britain would find the decision difficult to understand.
The North West England MEP said: "I'm afraid this is another case where the ECHR will be seen to be putting the welfare of undesirables ahead of the security and wellbeing of society at large," he said. "In short it will make people angry.
"I believe our domestic courts are perfectly capable and should be left to control our borders and make our deportation decisions. We do not condone torture and nor do our judges.
"I hope the Government continues to press vigorously and forcefully for deportation. If this decision is not changed it will further undermine British faith in the ECHR."