Justice secretary Chris Grayling has used the Abu Qatada deportation debacle to strengthen his call for reform of European human rights laws.
The radical Islamic cleric was released on bail this week after a special immigration appeals commission allowed his appeal against deportation to Jordan, where he faces terrorism allegations.
Mr Justice Mitting ruled that the home secretary had failed to satisfy the court that there was no risk that evidence potentially obtained by torture would be used against him in a trial. The European Court of Human Rights earlier this year ruled that sending Abu Qatada (pictured) back to Jordan would violate his rights under article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Grayling told the Commons on Tuesday: ‘All of us believe that the law should not operate in this way, and this case underlines my view that there is a real need for major changes to the way in which the European human rights framework operates.’
Ben Ward, from Human Rights Watch, said: ‘What is at stake are basic principles of the rule of law, long established in the English justice system.’ Ward said the standards at issue would exist and bind the UK even if it withdrew from the ECHR.
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