Thursday, July 25, 2013

He's even moaning over there! Abu Qatada says his rights are being violated in Jordan

 

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He's even moaning over there! Abu Qatada says his rights are being violated in Jordanian prison where he can't wear his own religious clothes or meet his family in private

  • Qatada, 53, wanted to wear a traditional flowing dishdash robe
  • Inmates at Muwaqqar prison must wear beige zip-up uniform
  • He says it's 'uncomfortable' and his lawyers say making him wear it is a 'violation of his rights'
  • Qatada had repeatedly used human rights laws to thwart his removal
  • Deported from Britain after decade-long legal battle earlier this month

By Daily Mail Reporter and Vanessa Allen

PUBLISHED: 12:57 EST, 24 July 2013 | UPDATED: 13:01 EST, 24 July 2013

Facing justice: Abu Qatada will go on trial in Jordan

Abu Qatada claims his prison uniform breaches his human rights because it is too uncomfortable

Hate preacher Abu Qatada has claimed that his prison uniform breaches his human rights because it is too uncomfortable.

The terror suspect, deported from Britain to face trial in his native Jordan, has made a formal complaint about the clothes at his new high-security prison.

Inmates at Muwaqqar prison wear beige zip-up jackets with matching beige trousers.

Qatada, 53, asked to wear a traditional flowing dishdash robe, but was ordered to don the ‘uncomfortable’ uniform – a decision his lawyer said was one of ‘several violations of his rights’.

He also claimed that having his family visits and legal consultations supervised by prison guards was an abuse of his human rights.

Qatada – once dubbed Osama Bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe – repeatedly used human rights legislation to thwart his removal from Britain.

During a decade-long legal fight which cost taxpayers almost £2million, he claimed he could not have a fair trial on terror charges in Jordan.

The radical cleric was deported earlier this month after Jordan signed a treaty saying evidence obtained through torture would not be used against him.

Qatada has previously been tried and convicted in his absence, and was sentenced to life imprisonment with 15 years hard labour. His retrial date has yet to be set.

Mawaqqar 1 Prison

Muwaqqar Jail outside Amman (pictured) has 240 solitary confinement cells, but Qatada has been placed in a communal cell, where he will bunk with other inmates

Qatada is currently being held in Muwaqqar Jail outside Amman, where he shares a cell with 15 other inmates.

Many of the prisoners have been sentenced or charged with offences against state security. Muwaqqar is known as one of Jordan's best-kept prisons.

Colour-coded textbooks and maps are lined up in the prison's libraries and there is a computer room for the inmates.

The prison has 240 solitary confinement cells, but Qatada has been placed in a communal cell, where he will bunk with other inmates.

Home Secretary Theresa May did what so many politicians have failed to do and saw Qatada finally flown out of Britain, leaving RAF Northolt at 2.46am on Sunday July 7.

The Al Qaeda fanatic – who was pictured smirking through the window as his plane took off – is now locked in a Jordanian jail after being formally charged with two terrorist conspiracies.

He was transferred there from Belmarsh prison in South East London.

Qatada's deportation brought to a close a legal circus which lasted for almost ten years and cost the British taxpayer £1.7million.

Mawaqqar 1 Prison

Inmates at Muwaqqar prison wear beige zip-up jackets with matching beige trousers

Millions more were spent on surveillance and will continue to be spent on state handouts for his wife and five children, who remain in the UK.

The payments were made despite the UK government trying to have Qatada removed because he was wanted on terror charges in Jordan.

The controversial preacher has been charged with plotting al Qaeda-inspired terror attacks and detained in a prison in Jordan's capital Amman.

Charges faced by Qatada cover a foiled plot against the American school in Amman and an alleged attack on Israeli and American tourists during new year celebrations.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2376755/Abu-Qatada-says-rights-violated-Jordanian-prison-Muwaqqar-Jail-wear-religious-clothes-meet-family-private.html#ixzz2a3zZnQOh

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