ECHR Rule Against Extradition Of Terrorism Suspect

The extradition of a terrorism suspect, who allegedly tried to establish a training camp in Oregon with the radical cleric Abu Hamza, should not proceed due to his mental health issues, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.

Haroon Aswat was extradited to the US last year, but said that conditions in a 'supermax' jail could exacerbate his paranoid schizophrenia.

Mr Aswat, who is a British citizen, was arrested in the UK in 2005 following a request for his arrest and extradition from US authorities.

He has been detained at Broadmoor high security psychiatric hospital since 2008, after being transferred from prison.

In October 2012, fellow terror suspects Abu Hamza, Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz were extradited to the US.

But on Tuesday the court decided unanimously that extradition - possibly to the ADX 'supermax' prison in Florence, Colorado - would breach Mr Aswat's human rights.

It said: "In light of the medical evidence before it, the Court found that there was a real risk that Mr Aswat's extradition to the USA, a country to which he has no ties, and to a different potentially more hostile environment, would result in a significant deterioration in his mental and physical health."

The Home Office has expressed disappointment at the court ruling.

(H/CD)