MAIL ONLINE: Hate preacher Abu Hamza has won his appeal against the Government's attempts to strip him of his British passport, a special tribunal ruled today.The radical cleric argued that such a move would render him 'stateless' as he had already been stripped of his Egyptian citizenship.
Delivering its 12-page ruling today, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) allowed his appeal.
The hook-handed cleric, who acquired a British passport through marriage, is serving seven years in maximum security Belmarsh Prison after being convicted for inciting murder and racial hatred in 2006.
The Home Office sort to remove the British citizenship he received in 1986 so he could be deported.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Mitting said: 'We are satisfied on balance of probabilities that if a deprivation order were to be made, the appellant (Hamza) would be made stateless.
'The conclusions which we have reached in the closed judgment supplement, but do not contradict, that conclusion.
'Accordingly, this appeal is allowed.'
But the 52-year-old used a high-powered team of legal eagles - funded by the taxpayer - to successfully argue his case.
A leading QC and team of lawyers all acted for Hamza, along with a special advocate appointed by the court.
Hamza's QC Ed Fitzgerald has represented clients including Moors Murderer Myra Hindley and the killer of James Bulger, Jon Venables.
Hamza claimed that he is no longer considered a citizen by Egypt, so taking away his UK nationality would leave him 'stateless' in contravention of Human Rights law. >>> Daily Mail Reporter | Friday, November 05, 2010
