Hate cleric’s deportation battle increasingly costs British taxpayers

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LONDON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- The British government gave an Islamist extremist larger amounts of money to battle deportation attempts than was previously estimated, officials said.

Hate cleric Abu Qatada of Jordan has been given more than $808,715 in legal aid handouts, an amount disclosed to Parliament members, for fighting deportation efforts to Jordan. The Telegraph of London reported Sunday.

He is faced with terrorism charges in Jordan, the Telegraph said.

The handout adds to the amount the British government has given Qatada in his 10-year fight against deportation. The price tag is already at more than $4,852,290.00, the Telegraph reported.

The amount authorized in a public bill on the matter would rise again if Qatada is evicted from his new home mere weeks after moving in.

The bill includes security measures to monitor Qatada while he is out on bond after an immigration courted released him last month.

After complaining of media intrusion since his release, Qatada last week moved, at taxpayers' expense, into a larger hose in London. The amount for the house is $727,843.50

His landlady said was shocked to learn the identity of her new tenant and said she is trying to have him evicted.

The government's Home Office is appealing a Special Immigration Appeals Commission decision that Qatada cannot be deported to Jordan on the grounds he cannot be guaranteed a fair trial.