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By Paula Planelles Manzanaro
The European Court of Human Rights has backed the extradition of five terrorist suspects from the United Kingdom to the US to face terrorist related charges. The accused said they could face inhumane conditions if they were extradited but Strasbourg judges rejected their claims, saying that there would not be any violation of human rights. Prime Minister David Cameron showed supported the decision.
One of the terrorists, Abu Hamza, who was born in Egypt and gained British citizenship in 1986, is accused of taking hostages and conspiracy to take hostages in relation to the kidnap of 16 Westerners in Yemen in December 1998, where three Britons and an Australian were shot dead. Mr. Hamza is also accused of providing material and financial assistance of violent jihadi followers in London and arranging for them to meet Taliban commanders in Afghanistan.
Babar Ahmad, another alleged terrorist, prisoner in the UK without trial for almost eight years. Mr. Ahmad and Syed Talha, both from Tooting, south London, are accused of providing material support to terrorists. Other accusations that they face are conspiracy to kill, kidnap, damage of property and money laundering.
The other men, whose extradition has been backed, are Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz, who allegedly collaborated with the organization of the 1998 US Embassy bombings in East Africa.
The case of Haroon Rashid Aswat, who is suspected of planning to set up a jihad training camp in Oregon between June 2000 and December 2001, is being reviewed. He may avoid extradition due to concerns over his mental health.
The terrorist suspects could still file an appeal against the ruling but, very few cases are re-examined in the final Grand Chamber. The men have still three months to change the Grand Chamber’s decision in order to examine the case again. If the appeal is not favourable, they will be extradited to the United States.
Prime Minister, David Cameron, welcomed the ruling. “It's quite right that we don't have a proper legal process, although sometimes you can be frustrated by how long things take”, he stated. Home Secretary, Theresa May, pointed out that she would try to shorten the process to make it “as quick as possible”.
The US Justice Department also showed its support the court’s decision: “We look forward to the court's decision becoming final and to the extradition of these defendants to stand trial in the United States”. photo credit: Abu Hamza
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