Hamza appeals against deportation

Hamza appeals against deportation

Abu Hamza fought in Afghanistan

Sheikh Abu Hamza's lawyers have told BBC News they have lodged an appeal against the home secretary's decision to strip him of UK citizenship.

David Blunkett aims to use new immigration powers to deport the Egyptian-born Muslim cleric on the grounds he has encouraged people to fight against Britain.

Mr Hamza has caused outrage by condemning the invasion of Iraq as a "war against Islam", claiming the 11 September attacks on the US were a Jewish plot and calling the space shuttle disaster a "punishment from Allah".

The appeal is expected to be heard within the next few months

If unsuccessful Mr Hamza could face extradition to the Yemen or the US.

He is wanted in Aden in connection with the bombing of the US destroyer Cole off the Yemeni coast in October 2000.

Human rights

Mr Hamza denies any involvement in terrorism.

His lawyer, Maddrassar Arani, has said deporting him to Yemen, which executes and tortures people, would violate his human rights.

US prosecutors also want to try Mr Hamza - using new evidence from an American supporter of al-Qaeda who has agreed to give evidence against him in exchange for a plea-bargain deal.

But Mr Hamza's solicitors, Arani & Co, claimed James Ujaama's evidence had been "coerced" from him by the US and could lead to "gross miscarriage of justice taking place".

Former bouncer

Mr Hamza, 44, became a British citizen in 1981 through a marriage that has since ended.

He came to Britain in 1980 as a student and worked as a nightclub bouncer before going to Afghanistan to fight the Soviet Union's occupation of the country, where, he says, he lost both hands and an eye when a land mine detonated.

In February the Charity Commission banned Mr Hamza from preaching at the Finsbury Park mosque in north London because of his "extreme and political" statements conflicted with the mosque's charitable status.

Although he continued to preach on the pavement outside.

Mr Hamza's financial assets have been frozen.