Judges reject Abu Qatada’s latest bid for freedom

Radical preacher Abu Qatada lost his latest bid for freedom yesterday. Two judges at the High Court in London rejected his challenge against his continuing detention by Home Secretary Theresa May.

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) ruled two months ago that the detention of Qatada, who is fighting deportation to Jordan, was lawful.

Leaving him free during heightened security for the 2012 Olympics would be “exceptionally problematic”, a judge said.

Lord Justice Hughes, sitting with Mr Justice Silber, said the court was “quite satisfied” that Qatada’s judicial review application should be dismissed.

After the decision was announced, lawyers for Qatada, who was referred to in court as Omar Mahmoud Othman, indicated they would consider taking the case to the Court of Appeal once they have seen the court’s reasons for its ruling.

Qatada was seeking bail while he fights deportation.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Qatada is a dangerous man and we are pleased the High Court has agreed that he should remain behind bars.”

The intention is to remove him “as quickly as possible”. She added: “We are confident the assurances we have secured from the Jordanian government will allow us to do that.”

Qatada challenged a decision by a Siac judge in May that his detention remained lawful and that releasing him during the Olympics would be “exceptionally problematic” for the security services.

During the High Court hearing, his lawyers said the Islamic cleric had been detained for seven years, “the longest period of administrative detention, so far as we know, in modern English history.”.