British terror suspect facing possible extradition

A British terror suspect, accused of running pro-terrorist web sites and urging Muslims to fight a holy war, could face extradition to the United States.

Thirty-one-year-old Babar Ahmad, from Tooting, south London, was charged in Connecticut last October with running websites supporting terrorist groups such as the Taliban and Chechen rebels, as well as conspiring to kill Americans and money laundering.

At today’s hearing at Bow Street Magistrates Court, Senior District Judge Timothy Workman said that he accepted assurances from the US that they would not seek the death penalty for Mr Ahmad and also that he would not be classed as an “enemy combatant” – a classification applied to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

However, Judge Workman described the case as “difficult and troubling” and said that he had “no doubt” that the case would need to be examined in the High Court. He said: “The defendant is a British subject who is alleged to have committed offences which, if the evidence were available, could have been prosecuted in this country.

“Nevertheless the government of the US are entitled to seek his extradition under the terms of the treaty and I’m satisfied, that the reasons I have just given, that none of the statutory bars apply.”

Home Secretary Charles Clarke will make the final decision on whether Mr Ahmad will be extradited to the US. He has 60 days to make his decision. Mr Ahmad’s lawyers are expected to appeal any decision to extradite him to the US. His solicitor Muddassar Arani described today’s decision as political and said that Mr Ahmad had been made a “scapegoat”.

Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, described today’s ruling as “a very sad day for all who value fairness and justice” and called the 2003 Extradition Treaty, under which the US government does not have to prove a prima facie case against British citizens “unacceptable”. The Secretary-General said: “Instead, the US can now simple order that British citizens be plucked from our streets and into US jails by making serious – and wholly unproven – allegations against them. If our government has any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Babar Ahmad, then he should be charged in this country and put on trial here.”

(KMcA/GB)