Muslim cleric loses freedom bid

Radical cleric Abu Qatada denies he has links to terrorist groups

Radical cleric Abu Qatada has lost his appeal to be freed from detention, a judge has disclosed.

Mr Justice Collins told the Special Immigrations Appeals Commission he would dismiss his appeal against being held without trial or charge.

The judge spoke as he announced the failure of an appeal by another detainee, identified only as M.

Jordanian national Abu Qatada, also known as Omar Othman, has been held under terror laws since October 2002.

He was detained on the orders of the Home Secretary, David Blunkett.

No date for the formal ruling on the Muslim cleric's appeal has been set.

'Terror links'

The Home Office on Tuesday said it would comment on his case after the formal hearing.

But in a document submitted to the commission, the Home Office alleged Abu Qatada had "extensive contacts" with senior terrorists and was linked to al-Qaeda.

It said he was directly implicated in a number of terrorist actions, including a campaign in Jordan in 1998, for which he was convicted and sentenced in his absence.

The dossier also claimed he inspired the terrorists who carried out the 11 September attacks, and encouraged people plotting terrorist attacks in Strasbourg and Paris.

No deporting

Abu Qatada, a Palestinian with Jordanian nationality, arrived in the UK in September 1993 with his wife and three children.

He "entirely denies" any involvement in terrorism and is not a member of any organisation or group, his lawyer Ben Emmerson QC told an earlier hearing.

The cleric is being held under the controversial Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act, which was imposed after 11 September.

The powers under the law apply only to foreign nationals who are suspected of involvement in international terrorism but who cannot be deported because, for example, they could face death or torture at home.

Anyone detained under the measures is free to leave the UK voluntarily at any time.

Sixteen people have so far been certified and detained under the Act.

In December 2003, an all-party committee said the internment powers should be scrapped in favour of a law which also covers UK nationals.