Your sentiments do you credit, jim. But the trouble is the goalposts are continually shifted to accommodate this man’s interests. The Human Rights legislation which enables him to stay here is deliberately vague and open to wide interpretation. First of all nobody must be deported to a country where they might suffer torture. Fair enough (though not something, in my opinion, that should trump everything else, regardless). Then, when it was established that there was no such threat it was suggested that he might face trial where evidence secured using torture might be used. (Note the increasing number of “mights”). Then, when an undertaking was secured that no such evidence would be used it was still not acceptable to the Immigration Tribunal.
Human Rights legislation should be about balance. There is no balance in the Qatada case. His rights have trumped those of the electorate in the UK. Your analogy of him fleeing a lynch mob is inappropriate. When he arrived in the UK he was not fleeing a lynch mob. He had actually been living in Pakistan near to Afghanistan, well away from Jordan where he said he had been tortured.
This man is not wanted in the UK and the interests and safety of UK citizens, not his, should be paramount when deciding whether or not he should be deported. If radical changes, or even the repeal of HR legislation is needed to facilitate this then that’s what should be done. The government’s prime responsibility is to those whom they represent, not to those who turn up on the doorstep and then proceed to cause trouble when they are let in.
I’m afraid, Zeuhl, your description of the situation is inaccurate and does not help.