Radical Muslim cleric wins UK deportation case

Radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada has won his appeal against deportation from Britain to Jordan to face terror charges.

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission on Monday blocked the extradition order, saying it could not be guaranteed that Qatada would get a fair trial. He is expected to be released from prison on bail on Tuesday but under tight restrictions.

In a statement, Britain’s Home Office says it strongly disagrees with the ruling and is planning to appeal.

Qatada was convicted in Jordan in 1998 in absentia of terrorism charges related to two bomb plots.

Home Secretary Theresa May had ordered his extradition after being given assurances by Jordan that no information obtained through torture would be used against him.

British officials have described Qatada, who arrived in Britain in the 1990s, as former al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden’s top European deputy. He has been detained in Britain for most of the past decade under the country’s anti-terrorism laws.