London:
The British government announced Wednesday that it has signed a new treaty with Jordan in a bid to ease human rights concerns preventing the deportation of a radical Muslim preacher accused of links to al-Qaida.
Home Secretary Theresa May said that the mutual legal assistance treaty would help end the long saga of Abu Qatada, who has been described by prosecutors as a key al-Qaida operative in Europe.
Successive British governments have tried since 2001 to remove the cleric, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman. He was convicted in absentia in Jordan over terror plots in 1999 and 2000.
British and European courts have blocked extradition over concerns that evidence obtained under torture could be used against him at a new trial in Jordan. The new treaty explicitly bans the use of evidence "where there are serious and credible allegations that a statement from a person has been obtained by torture or ill-treatment."
It must be ratified by both countries before coming into force.
May said the government also would ask Britain's Supreme Court to rule on the case. The Court of Appeal on Tuesday denied May's ministry permission to go to the top court, but May said she would ask the Supreme Court directly.
She warned that the issue would not be resolved quickly.
"It will not mean Qatada will be on a plane to Jordan within days," May told lawmakers in the House of Commons. "That legal process may well take many months."
She also said the government would consider changing Britain's human rights laws to make it easier to deport terrorist suspects.
"It is absurd for the deportation of a suspected foreign terrorist to take so many years and cost the taxpayer so much money," May said.
Home Secretary Theresa May said that the mutual legal assistance treaty would help end the long saga of Abu Qatada, who has been described by prosecutors as a key al-Qaida operative in Europe.
Successive British governments have tried since 2001 to remove the cleric, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman. He was convicted in absentia in Jordan over terror plots in 1999 and 2000.
British and European courts have blocked extradition over concerns that evidence obtained under torture could be used against him at a new trial in Jordan. The new treaty explicitly bans the use of evidence "where there are serious and credible allegations that a statement from a person has been obtained by torture or ill-treatment."
It must be ratified by both countries before coming into force.
May said the government also would ask Britain's Supreme Court to rule on the case. The Court of Appeal on Tuesday denied May's ministry permission to go to the top court, but May said she would ask the Supreme Court directly.
She warned that the issue would not be resolved quickly.
"It will not mean Qatada will be on a plane to Jordan within days," May told lawmakers in the House of Commons. "That legal process may well take many months."
She also said the government would consider changing Britain's human rights laws to make it easier to deport terrorist suspects.
"It is absurd for the deportation of a suspected foreign terrorist to take so many years and cost the taxpayer so much money," May said.
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