Abu Qatada Debate

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Department: Home Office

Abu Qatada

Simon Danczuk Excerpts
Thursday 19th April 2012

(12 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait Mrs May
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What I do know is that the application for a referral by Abu Qatada’s lawyers was made only a matter of hours after they had heard the strength of our case in SIAC. At the beginning of that case in SIAC, they had clearly been intending to take the case through the UK courts. It was only when they heard the strength of our case—it shows the strength of our case—that they went away to see whether there was any other delaying tactic they could use, and they have used the delaying tactic.

Simon Danczuk Portrait Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab)
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What is the Home Secretary’s best estimate now of when this gentleman will be sent back?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait Mrs May
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As the hon. Gentleman might have noticed on Tuesday, were he in the Chamber then, I have not made any estimate of when the gentleman concerned will be sent back to Jordan. I am absolutely clear—I made it clear on Tuesday and have repeated it today—that this could take many months, because various legal avenues are available to Abu Qatada and it would be no surprise if he chose to try to use them.