Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism for defending Abu Qatada in court

Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has come under fire for representing extremist hate preacher Abu Qatada in court before taking on his current role. Abu Qatada, who was known as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, found himself under Sir Keir's legal wing during a hearing in 2008. The case involved a long-standing battle over Qatada's extradition to Jordan, where he faced terrorism charges.

A leading barrister before entering politics

Sir Keir Starmer, a former leading barrister, was one of several human rights lawyers who represented Abu Qatada during the legal proceedings. The Telegraph reports that Sir Keir acted for Qatada at a Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) hearing in 2008, with the guidance of human rights law firm Birnberg Peirce. The case had been ongoing for a decade, with then-Home Secretary Charles Clarke ordering Qatada's deportation.

Controversial arguments in court

During the proceedings, Sir Keir reportedly argued that certain legal proceedings involving Qatada should be made public and that Qatada's civil rights, including access to state benefits, were protected under English law. However, his arguments were not entirely successful, as Mr Justice Mitting disagreed with one part of Sir Keir's argument. The barrister also contended that Qatada should not be held in jail during ongoing deportation proceedings.

Qatada's extremist teachings and eventual deportation

Abu Qatada, originally from Jordan, became known in the UK for his extreme Islamic teachings. He arrived in the country in 1994 and was later arrested for suspected terrorist links. Qatada faced legal issues over his radical speeches and publications, which included justifying violence against certain groups. After years of legal battles, Qatada was finally deported to Jordan in 2013, where he was acquitted in court and continued to share his views.

Labour Party defends Sir Keir's legal career

A spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer defended his legal career, stating that he oversaw significant prosecutions as the country's most senior prosecutor. They highlighted his work prosecuting al-Qaeda terrorists, the airline liquid bomb plotters, and the racist murderers of Stephen Lawrence. The spokesperson also emphasized Sir Keir's commitment to reforming the Crown Prosecution Service and supporting victims of sexual offenses. They dismissed the criticism as desperate attacks from the Conservative Party.

The report comes as Sir Keir Starmer visits soldiers stationed in Estonia to emphasize his party's commitment to NATO.