Workers Revolutionary Party - Babar Ahmad loses extradition appeal

The News Line: News Friday, 1 December 2006 Babar Ahmad loses extradition appeal

Demonstration in London against the extradition of Babar Ahmad to the US

Babar Ahmad and Haroon Aswat, yesterday lost their High Court battle to avoid extradition to the United States.

The US has alleged that Tooting computer operator Babar Ahmad ran websites inciting murder, urging holy war and raising money for the Taleban.

Babar Ahmad’s family issued the following statement in response to losing the High Court Appeal against extradition:–

‘We are very disappointed with the High Court verdict today.

‘We are hopeful that the High Court will certify that there is a point of law of public importance on military detention and rendition.

‘Our legal team will apply for this certificate for leave to take this matter to the House of Lords within the next 14 days.’

Haroon Aswat faces trial on charges of plotting to set up a US camp to train fighters for Afghanistan.

The alleged camp in the midwest town of Bly, Oregon has been dismissed as a ‘mirage’ by the small town’s inhabitants, who have consistently denied that any such camp existed, saying if it had done they would have known about it.

Lawyers for the two men had claimed that despite US assurances, there was ‘a real risk of fundamental injustice’.

But Lord Justice Laws, sitting in London with Mr Justice Walker, ruled the men’s legal team had not proved to a required standard their allegations that the US might violate undertakings given to the UK that the men would be fairly treated.