The Case of Abu Qatada and the European Convention on Human Rights

Abu Qatada

One of the highest profile disputes about human rights in recent years has been the saga of the prisoners' right to vote. The second has been the deportation (expulsion from the UK) of Abu Qatada. This importance case was solved in July 2013 but why is it such an important case for Parliament Sovereignty?

Abu Qatada arrived in the UK on a forged U.A.E passport in 1993. 

In April 1999 a court in Jordan convicted Qatada, in his absence, of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in the country. 

Over subsequent years he made speeches advocating the killing of Jews, and other radical sermons. 

In August 2005, Qatada was taking into policy custody pending extradition (forced expulsion) to Jordan to stand trial there. 

In April 2008, three appeal court judges halt his deportation, ruling that his conviction for terrorism in 1999 was based on evidence gathered torture. 

In February 2009, the Law Lords (highest judges in the UK) rule that Qatada could be deported to Jordan. 

The European Court of Human Rights blocked the deportation in January 2012 because of the risk of him being put on trial based on torture-tainted evidence.  

In April 2012 a fresh attempt is made to deport him by the government, but the European Court of Human Rights halts the deportation. 

Theresa May continues to attempt to deport Qatada, but again in March 2013, judges reject her attempts. The Court of appeal turns down May's attempt to take the case to the Supreme Court in the UK. 

In June 2013, Jordan and Britain sign a Treaty of 'mutual assistance' which says that Qatada will not be tried using evidence obtained through torture. He is deported on 7 July 2013. 

Legal costs of attempting to deport him reached £1.7 million since 2005. 

A good example of the politicisation of the judiciary?