Abu Qatada freed from British jail

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Abu Qatada freed from British jail

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Abu Qatada, with alleged al-Qaida ties, was freed from an English prison into virtual house arrest.

14 February,2012 09:53 am

Judicial officials acknowledged earlier in the day that the 51-year-old Abu Qatada was imminent.The Palestinian-Jordanian cleric has spent more than six years in prison, but a tribunal ruled last week he should be released on bail. The terms of his bail, published by the judiciary, require Abu Qatada to wear an electronic tag and to stay inside his home for 22 hours each day. He is not allowed a mobile phone, a computer or Internet access, and he is barred from communicating with a long list of individuals, including al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.The conditions also stipulate he must not lead prayers, give lectures, publish articles, preach or provide religious instruction or advice, “other than to his wife and children at his residence.”Abu Qatada, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman, has been described in both Spanish and British courts as a leading al-Qaida figure in Europe. He is reported to have had close ties to the late Osama bin Laden.British officials say he poses a serious threat to the country’s security, but attempts to deport him to Jordan to face terrorism charges was blocked by the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled last month that there is a risk evidence obtained through torture would be used against him in court.Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said Monday that Britain still hoped to overcome the European’s courts objections. Jordanian officials also have said they will challenge the ruling.