Qatada 'Will Return To Jordan' If Law Agreed

Abu Qatada has agreed to voluntarily return to Jordan if the country's parliament ratifies a treaty with the UK guaranteeing that he will not be tortured.

His co-operation was announced by his barrister, Edward Fitzgerald QC, at the beginning of an immigration tribunal to decide whether Qatada could be released from prison.

But his application for bail was later adjourned until May 20, meaning he will remain in custody until then.

The Government has been trying to deport the radical cleric to Jordan, where he was convicted of terror charges in his absence in 1999, for nearly eight years.

Immigration judges decided last year that Qatada, also known as Omar Othman, could not be deported over fears that evidence obtained through torture would be used against him in the Middle Eastern country.

Last month, the Home Secretary unveiled a new treaty between the UK and Jordan offering fresh guarantees that such torture evidence will not be used if he were to stand trial.

Mr Fitzgerald told the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) hearing: "If, and when, the Jordanian parliament ratifies the treaty, Mr Othman will voluntarily return to Jordan."

Sky News home affairs correspondent Mark White called it "a very significant development", that had come unexpectedly.

He said the Home Secretary Theresa May had said the Jordanian government would ratify the treaty but it was unclear how long it would take because Jordan is currently dealing with a huge humanitarian crisis caused by the civil war in neighbouring Syria.

"What may be a priority for the British Government isn't necessarily a top priority for the Jordanian government.

" ... It may still be some time off," he added.

The announcement will be seen as a victory for Theresa May. A Home Office spokesperson said: "This case is still ongoing - and the Home Secretary remains determined to put Abu Qatada on a plane back to Jordan."

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "This could be very good news if it means Abu Qatada returns to Jordan as soon as possible - as we all agree he should stand fair trial there so justice can be done.

"Abu Qatada should have made this decision a long time ago as this legal process has dragged on far too long. We will watch the next steps closely until he departs, but I hope this saga can now be brought to an end."

Qatada was ordered to return to Belmarsh prison in March after allegedly breaching his bail conditions.

Mr Fitzgerald QC said Qatada's vow to return removed any risk that he would abscond if released on bail.

He added: "There's never been a time in the last 12 years that Mr Othman and his family could safely return to Jordan.

" ... Why would he make himself lawless and subject to arrest when he has said that the right thing to do is to go back to Jordan once the assurances are given?"

It is understood that Qatada's bail hearing was delayed for 10 days because the Home Office had only received his application a week ago and further case papers as late as last night. The department believed it could not realistically launch a convincing argument for keeping the cleric in prison when it had not had a chance to study the claims being put forward.

Robin Tam QC, appearing for the Home Secretary, said the treaty would be laid before the Jordanian parliament in the next few weeks, while the UK side of the process should be completed by late June.

Mr Tam was asked to provide evidence of the process in the UK and in Jordan of bringing the treaty into force.