Shafiq ur Rehman's solicitor Amjad Malik: ''This case will have a wider impact on the two million Muslims living in Britain''

Shafiq ur Rehman, 28, faced being deported from Britain over allegations that he worked for a radical Islamic organisation linked to rebels fighting in the disputed territory of Kashmir.

He was tried as a terrorist under new national security procedures, in a landmark case before the Special Immigrations Appeal Commission in London.

But in its judgement, the commission rejected Home Secretary Jack Straw's reasons for ordering Mr Rehman's deportation.

The commission accepted that Mr Rehman had helped provide sponsorship for people going to Pakistan for training which might have included militant or extremist activities.

But in a 23-page judgement, it said the government had not proved that Mr Rehman knew what sort of training might be undertaken.

The Oldham mosque where Shafiq ur Rehman is based

The commissioners said: "In view of our findings the appellant (Mr Rehman) had not been proved to have acted in the past in such a way as to cause a threat or damage to national security.

"We are not satisfied on the evidence that his future behaviour is likely to constitute such a threat or to cause such damage."

An MI5 investigation had claimed to have uncovered evidence that Mr Rehman, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was collecting cash to be sent to the Lashkar Tayyaba (LT) guerrilla force.

But the cleric said the cash was intended for animal sacrifices.

The security forces said he was the UK leader of an Islamic extremist organisation, the MDI, whose fighters have admitted carrying out terrorist attacks.

The BBC's John Silverman reports

Speaking outside the Commission's headquarters in central London, Mr Rehman said: "I am very happy that justice has been done.

"I was not given legal aid or any help and I felt that there was no justice left in England. But now I believe that there is justice after all."

His barrister, Sibghat Kadri QC, said Mr Straw should explain in the House of Commons why MI5 had been attempting to recruit officers from among the Muslim clergy.

It emerged during the hearing that MI5 had tried to recruit Mr Rehman as an informer.

But a Home Office official denied in court that the UK tried to deport him "in a fit of pique" because he rejected offers of becoming a spy.