The Muslim News - Crucial vote on controversial

Issue 209, Friday 29 September 2006 - 6 Ramadan 1427

Crucial vote on controversial

By Hamed Chapman

A crucial vote to change Britain’s controversial Extradition Treaty with the US will be held in October when Parliament returns from its summer recess. The approval of an amendment under the Police and Justice Bill will have a direct bearing on the case of Babar Ahmad and others, contesting US warrants.
The High Court in London is also to announce the decision of an appeal from Babar, due in early October, but which could be taken up with the House of Lords, if rejected. Supporters of his case have been joining in a petition, urging MPs to back two amendments, supported by Committee Stage vote in the House of Lords in July. These call for the need of the US to provide prima facie evidence for extradition requests and for cases to be refused if the accused can be prosecuted in Britain for alleged offences.
The concern is that the extradition arrangements, which came into effect last year, are grossly unfair and one-sided. There is no reciprocity as the Treaty has not been ratified by the US Congress and the UK cannot seek the extradition of any US citizen without providing evidence.
The agreement has drawn widespread criticism from MPs, lawyers, businessmen, media and Human Rights groups because they give inferior rights to British citizens compared to their US counterparts. The Free Babar campaign is optimistic that with the support of around 50 Labour MPs, the Government can be defeated with the help of declared opposition to the treaty by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
Babar’s case dates back to December 2003, when he was first arrested by Anti-Terrorist Police but was released six days later without charge. He subsequently filed a complaint against police officers for alleged assault but this was rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided that there was “insufficient evidence” despite photographic evidence, medical reports and eye-witness statements about his injuries. By August 2004, Babar was subsequently re-arrested on the basis of a US extradition warrant and is currently held at Woodhill Prison awaiting the outcome of his fate. As a computer expert, he is accused of allegedly running websites inciting murder and urging Muslims to fight a “holy war.”

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