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<\/p>\nSIR Keir Starmer has come under fire for representing an extremist hate preacher in court before taking the helm of the Labour Party.<\/p>\n
Abu Qatada, known as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, found himself under Sir Keir's legal wing at a hearing back in 2008, according to The Telegraph.<\/p>\n
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This followed a decade-long tug-of-war between British authorities and Qatada's extradition to Jordan, where he faced terrorism charges.<\/p>\n
The Labour leader was at the time a leading barrister and only one of a number of human rights lawyers who represented Qatada.<\/p>\n
The Telegraph says Sir Keir acted for Qatada at a Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) hearing in June 2008, guided by human rights law firm Birnberg Peirce.<\/p>\n
It came after then-Home Secretary Charles Clarke had ordered Qatada's deportation, igniting years of legal fireworks.<\/p>\n
It was former Prime Minister Theresa May who finally managed to send Qatada packing back to Jordan in 2013.<\/p>\n
In a 2006 court hearing, Sir Keir also 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. <\/p>\n
But Mr Justice Mitting disagreed, stating that one part of Sir Keir's argument was incorrect. <\/p>\n
Sir Keir also apparently contended that Qatada shouldn't be held in jail during ongoing deportation proceedings.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Qatada, originally from Jordan, became known in the UK for his extreme Islamic teachings.<\/p>\n He arrived in the UK in 1994 and was later arrested for suspected terrorist links. <\/p>\n He faced legal issues over his radical speeches and publications, which included justifying violence against certain groups. <\/p>\n Qatada was once dubbed Osama bin Laden's\u00a0spiritual ambassador to Europe and described as a "truly dangerous individual".<\/p>\n After finally being deported to Jordan in 2013, he was acquitted in court and continued to be active in sharing his views\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b.<\/p>\n The total cost to theUK taxpayer of the long-running case wasreported to be\u00a31.7 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Labour leader spokesman told The Telegraph:\u201cKeir Starmer was the country\u2019s most senior prosecutor, serving under Labour and Tory governments. <\/p>\n "During this time, he oversaw the first-ever prosecution of al-Qaeda terrorists, the jailing of the airline liquid bomb plotters and racist murderers of Stephen Lawrence. With his leadership, charge and conviction rates for sexual offences rose, victims were better supported, and the Crown Prosecution Service was positively reformed.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, as a lawyer he has had to represent people whose views he doesn\u2019t agree with \u2013 that\u2019s what the job of a lawyer involves. <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/G-_Shared-drives_SOL-Design_DAY-FOLDERS_2023_12-DEC_21_tp-composite-charles-hanson-v2.jpg\")
<\/picture>BBC STAR CHARGED <\/span><\/p>\nBargain Hunt star Charles Hanson charged with assault & coercive behaviour<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/use-21-days-issue-use-860972642-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>end of journey <\/span><\/p>\nStrictly in new ‘feud’ as THREE finalists all snub star after backstage row<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/AP-brianna-verdict-v2_COMP.jpg\")
<\/picture>DEADLY PLOT <\/span><\/p>\nTwisted teens who knifed trans girl Brianna Ghey to death are GUILTY of murder<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/crop-25098978.jpg\")
<\/picture>STEPPING IN <\/span><\/p>\nKate Garraway’s GMB replacement revealed as she waits by husband’s hospital bed<\/h3>\n
READ MORE ON POLITICS<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/2023-english-channel-england-small-861179721.jpg\")
<\/picture>THE SUN SAYS <\/span><\/p>\nLabour candidate's hypocrisy is typical of Starmer\u2019s game-playing on migration<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/comp-keir.jpg\")
<\/picture>SIR WHAT?\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\nSir Keir slammed as Labour candidate sells hols to Rwanda amid migrant furore<\/h3>\n
Read more on The Sun<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/newspress-collage-z9d3hwqyn-1703085439218.jpg\")
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