The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Abu Qatada, a top al Qaeda figure, cannot be deported from Britain to Jordan.

Qatada, whose real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman, is a Palestinian-Jordanian citizen and an extremist Muslim cleric.

He's been linked to suicide bombings and is known as one of Europe's leading al Qaeda operatives.

Britain wants to deport him to Jordan where he faces terrorism charges.

But after a six-year legal battle, Europe's highest court said no, Tuesday. The court wants to protect the terrorist's human rights.

Qatada would be "at real risk of ill-treatment or a grossly unfair trial if deported to Jordan, where he is wanted on terrorism charges," the court said in a statement announcing the ruling.

In the meantime, Britain is being forced to keep him in custody.