Post date: Jul 07, 2013 9:2:21 PM
Abu Qatada's lawyer says his client may be freed on bail after his appearance in Jordan's state security court.
AMMAN, JORDAN (JULY 7, 2013) (REUTERS) - Radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada has arrived in Amman in Jordan on Sunday (July 7) after being deported from Britain.
Abu Qutasa's arrival ends 8 years of UK government efforts to send him home for trial.Upon arrival, the cleric was taken to Jordan's state security court, where he appeared in front of the country's attorney general.
Abu Qatada is wanted in Jordan on charges of terrorism.
He was greeted by his father and brothers inside the court.
"His spirits are high, and the officials are good people, they might allow him to obtain bail after a few days" said Mahmoud Othman Abu Omar, Abu Qatada's father.
The cleric's lawyer told reporters outside the courtroom that his client denied all the allegations directed against him,
"The attorney general interrogated him today, and he directed a series of accusations towards him, he accused him of conspiracy to take part in terrorist acts. My client denied all the allegations, and he asserts that his return to Jordan was out of his own free will, in order to be with his family. The procedure was carried out well, and he received good treatment." said Tayseer Diab.
He added that Abu Qatada will be held in the Muwaqar prison, located 40km EastAmman.
"Now he is under arrest for 15 days in Muwaqqar 1 prison, as he awaits trial."
Once described by a Spanish judge as "Osama bin Laden's right-hand man inEurope", Abu Qatada has been in and out of jail since first being arrested in 2001. He was sent back to prison last March for breaching his bail conditions.
Jordan removed the last obstacle preventing Britain from sending Abu Qatada back home last month by approving an extradition treaty satisfying the concerns of British judges that evidence obtained through torture could be used against him.