The longer we allow this issue to sit the more the real questions become lost. For those who don't know; Abu Qatada is wanted by the Jordanian government for suspected terrorist links and the Home Secretary Theresa May wants to push forward his extradition. The order has been overturned by British courts following a statement from the European Court of Human Rights. Mrs May says that Europe is 'moving the goalposts' when it comes to removing a 'dangerous man' from Britain.
The issue at the heart of this is the principle held by the vast majority of European citizens, that that is the idea that an individual cannot be tried for crimes using on evidence based on torture. It is my firm opinion that before any extradition to a state outside the EU we must have clear assurances and evidence that torture will not be used and a fair trial will be given.
Sadly we do not and as of yet cannot have these from the Jordanian government. While torture is illegal in Jordan it remains a wide spread practice, this is not to say that Jordan has not taken great leaps forward. In partnership with the EU the country has made many changes, including a prison reform campaign, but the General Intelligence Directorate remains largely immune to punishment for violation of human rights.
Mrs May showed understanding and a mature outlook on the issues when she traveled to Jordan to get assurances that Qatada would face a fair trial and points to the illegality of torture in the country but importantly we cannot accept a simple promise, especially when a man faces the possibility of torture or trial with evidence based on torture.
It may seem strange that I am defending this mans right to remain in the EU as his views are so opposed to the rights and principles for which the EU stands, but how can we say that we oppose torture, execution and trails based on evidence obtained by the use of torture if we will happily sent someone elsewhere to face this? If we do, we do not stand for an ideal, we simply find it unpalatable and want it to take place elsewhere.
I for one am against torture and capital punishment on principle and as such believe Qatada should either remain here until we can have EU observers in Jordan during proceedings or be tried i the EU for his criminal actions here.
