HOWZAT

Lord Mance added that “there is no real risk that his trial in Jordan would be flagrantly unfair in character, course or consequence”.

The ruling was condemmed by civil liberties groups who warned it opened the way for deportations to states with poor records on human rights.

Eric Metcalfe, director of human rights policy at Justice, said that the ruling was a step backwards in the international fight against torture. He said the promises not to torture made by countries where Britain was seeking to send terror suspects were worthless.

Mr Metcalfe said: “A promise not to torture from a regime that tortures its own people is worth nothing. It is shameful that the Government negotiated these deals in the first place, and saddening that the courts have refused to intervene to stop them.”

Amnesty International urged ministers not to take the judgment as a “green light” to deport more people to regimes where they risk unfair trial and torture.

Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia programme director, said: “It would be deeply worrying if the Law Lords’ decision were taken by the UK Government as a green light to push ahead with deporting people to countries where they will be at risk of abuses such as torture and unfair trials.

“Diplomatic assurances are completely unenforceable and as such cannot be relied upon.”

Abu Qatada, born in Bethlehem as Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman, has stated that he wishes to renounce his Jordanian citizenship and return to the land of his birth, which is currently under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

He arrived in Britain from Jordan in September 1993 using a forged passport and claimed asylum for himself, his wife and children.

He was initially detained in 2002, when the Special Immigration Appeals Commission described him as a “truly dangerous individual”, heavily involved in terrorist activities associated with al-Qaeda.

The commission said that he had given religious authority to numerous high- profile terrorists across the world, including those behind the attacks on the US of September 11, 2001.

He was later bailed, but placed under a control order. In 2005 he was arrested in preparation for his deportation to Jordan, but was again released on appeal.

Abu Qatada has issued a series of influential fatwas from Britain in support of the killing of non-believers and a number of his videos were found in the Hamburg flat of Mohammed Atta, one of the ringleaders of the 9/11 hijackers

In 1999, he was convicted in Jordan in his absence of conspiracy to carry out bomb attacks on two hotels in Amman and providing finance and advice for another planned series of bombings. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The UK has signed “memorandums of understanding” with Jordan, Libya, Ethiopia and Lebanon, which the Home Office insists will ensure that any deported suspects do not face torture or ill-treatment. A similar deal has been signed with Algeria.

Times Recommends

• Foxy Knoxy snared by her lust and her lies
• Britain is the land of the shrinking family
• Zac Goldsmith: Not such a green god