Britain's most-wanted Islamic preacher granted bail

2008-05-09 10:39:31 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

LONDON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Islamic preacher Abu Qatada, one of Britain's most wanted men, has been granted bail with a highly unusual 22-hour curfew by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), according to a local media report on Thursday.

Qatada, a Palestinian-Jordanian, who last month won an appeal against deportation to Jordan but being held in Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire, northwest of London, could now be free in weeks, BBC reported.

The Home Office, which is appealing against the deportation decision, said it was extremely disappointed.

"I am extremely disappointed that the courts have granted Abu Qatada bail, albeit with very strict conditions. Public safety is our main priority and we will take all steps necessary to protect the public," Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was quoted as saying.

"I am already seeking to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision that it is not safe to deport Qatada and we will continue with deportation action with this and the other Jordanian cases," the home secretary said.

Qatada was convicted in his absence in Jordan of terrorist offences in the 1990s.

He became one of Britain's most wanted men in December 2001 when he went on the run on the eve of government moves to introduce new anti-terror laws allowing suspects to be detained without charge or trial.

The authorities tracked him down to a council house in south London in October 2002 and took him to Belmarsh Prison.

Qatada was eventually freed on bail in March 2005, but was made the subject of a control order to limit his movements. He was taken back into custody in August 2005 pending the extradition to Jordan.

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