LONDON: The British government is appealing an immigration tribunal's decision to allow to a radical Islamist cleric to remain in the U.K.

Home Secretary Theresa May wants to deport Abu Qatada to Jordan, where he was convicted in absentia for terror plots in 1999 and 2000. The cleric has been described by prosecutors as a key al-Qaida operative in Europe.

Britain has attempted since 2001 to remove Abu Qatada, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman, but has been repeatedly thwarted by British and European courts.

The immigration panel says the cleric should not be deported because there is a danger that evidence obtained via torture could be used against him.

The Monday hearing comes only days after the preacher was arrested for allegedly breaching his bail conditions.