Babar Ahmad: Extradition law review
Babar Ahmad, a former student and IT administrator at Imperial College, is currently facing extradition to the US under the highly controversial 2003 Extradition Act. The Act, which allows suspects to be legally extradited upon request by the United States without any direct evidence, has received strong criticism from leading human rights lawyers and MPs. Ironically, the Act would not stand under US law since it breaches constitutional rights, yet the UK government has agreed to enforce this one-sided act upon British suspects. A campaign has been launched urging the government to amend the Act; a movement that has received growing support within the House of Commons. An Early Day Motion has been passed demanding reform, which has so far received 141 signatures and it is hoped that the issue will be addressed in a forthcoming Criminal Justice Bill.
Ahmad was arrested in South Kensington in 2003, under anti-terror laws; but was released a week later without charge. However in August 2004 Ahmad was re-arrested under a US extradition warrant and has since been remanded in custody. The US government has so far provided little evidence to support the charges against Ahmad; charges which, his supporters claim, are politically motivated. The case has received much publicity as a cause celeb against the anti-terror laws. In March 2005 Imperial College students joined with Babar's supporters and family to demonstrate outside the Bow Street Magistrates Courts where his extradition hearing was held.
At a recent meeting, a panel of high-profile campaigners, including former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg [Felix 1341] and Conservative MP Boris Johnson, spoke to an audience of over 100 people. Johnson implored the current government to amend the Act, which he described as a "grotesque injustice". Begg, who has gained a well-deserved reputation as a respected political campaigner since his release from Guantanamo, made a plea for Ahmad's right to a fair trial stating, "He's another person who is going to be thrown over to the Americans. If Babar has committed a crime, our claim is not for clemency; it is not for mercy it is for justice."
Under the Extradition Act, Ahmad can not challenge any of the `evidence' against him and his lawyers fear he may not receive a fair trial in the US. Felix awaits the outcome of Ahmad's recent appeal.
