Radical preacher Abu Qatada has been acquitted by a Jordanian court of a number of terrorism charges.
Qatada, whose real name is Omar Othman, was accused of being a mentor to jihadist cells in Jordan while he was living in Britain, providing support to a campaign of violence during the late 1990s. This included a series of bombings, including of a hotel, in Jordan in 1998.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Qatada will not be freed as he still faces separate charges related to a foiled plot to attack tourists during Jordan's New Year celebrations in 2000. This hearing has been postponed until 7 September.
The preacher pleaded not guilty to all charges of terrorism at the start of his trial in Jordan, claiming the case against him was "fabricated".Since he was first arrested in 2002, Qatada was in and out of British jails and detention centres, as the British government fought to deport him.
He was never convicted of any offence in the UK, but was convicted in his absence in Jordan and sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour.
These convictions were eventually thrown out because they were based on evidence that might have been acquired by torturing his co-defendants.
It was not until Jordan finally signed a treaty banning the use of evidence acquired through torture that Qatada was deported for a retrial last year.
Today's verdict will raise concerns that Qatada may use his influence to "destabilise the Jordanian state at a time of increasing turmoil on its borders", says the BBC.
During the trial he reportedly spoke out about the conflict in neighbouring Syria, urging the two main jihadist factions, the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis), to unite behind the leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
-
5 capitulating cartoons about the Democrat's shutdown surrenderCartoons Artists take on Democrat's folding, flag-waving, and more
-
How are these Epstein files so damaging to Trump?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As Republicans and Democrats release dueling tranches of Epstein-related documents, the White House finds itself caught in a mess partially of its own making
-
Margaret Atwood’s memoir, intergenerational trauma and the fight to make spousal rape a crime: Welcome to November booksThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts’ by Margaret Atwood, ‘Cursed Daughters’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite and 'Without Consent' by Sarah Weinman
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
France’s ‘red hands’ trial highlights alleged Russian disruption operationsUNDER THE RADAR Attacks on religious and cultural institutions around France have authorities worried about Moscow’s effort to sow chaos in one of Europe’s political centers
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
