Accessibility links

Breaking News

Radical Islamist Preacher Released On Bail In Britain


Radical Islamist preacher Abu Qatada (aka Omar Othman)
Radical Islamist preacher Abu Qatada (aka Omar Othman)
A British court has ruled that a radical Islamist preacher described as one of Europe's leading Al-Qaeda operatives should be released on bail.

Abu Qatada -- whose real name is Omar Othman -- has spent the past six-and-a-half years in custody or under house arrest.

Britain accuses him of sponsoring terrorism but he has never faced formal charges.

The British government wants to deport Qatada, a Jordanian citizen, to Jordan to face terror charges but the European Court of Human Rights last month ruled against his deportation saying that evidence obtained by torture would be used against him in Jordan.

Qatada is expected to be released within days on bail under stringent conditions.

The government says it will continue the legal battle to have him deported.

Compiled from agency reports

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG