Abu Qatada bailed

Abu Qatada, described as the "spiritual leader" of Al Qaeda in Europe, has been granted bail by the special immigration appeals commission.

He is wanted on terrorism charges in Algeria, the USA, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and his homeland of Jordan – but the Home Office has failed to get him deported back to his homeland to face trial.

The commission found that British authorities could not continue to hold Qatada indefinitely.

If there is no progress in the prolonged negotiations with the government of Jordan within three months, his bail conditions are likely to be ended and he will be set free.

The case of Qatada has been a long and controversial one, reflecting the fine line between deporting terrorism suspects and Britain's compliance with the rules of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to a fair trial.

The European court of human rights ruled last month that the UK cannot deport Qatada to Jordan because of the fear that the evidence used against him could have been obtained under torture.
 

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