Jordanian preacher Abu Qatada, expelled from asylum in Britain to face charges of “terrorism” in Jordan, has been cleared of all charges by a Jordanian court today.
The Jordanian government had accused him of involvement in a series of 1998 bombings in Jordan as well as a failed plot in 2000. Much of the evidence against him was said to have been confessions of other people obtained by torture, and was thrown out for the trial.
Qatada had been fighting his deportation from Britain since 2005. The British government said his acquittal was made possible by their decision to expel him to Jordan to face trial in the first place.
On the other hand, British officials also say Qatada will never be allowed back into Britain because of the deportation order, even though the allegations against him proved false.