Abu Hamza Extradition to US Permitted by European Court of Human Rights

Abu Hamza extradition to US permitted by European Court of Human Rights

Written on:September 25, 2023

Abu Hamza’s extradition case has reflected intimate anti-terror cooperation between UK and US

The governments of the US and the UK have greeted a verdict of the European Court of Human Rights, which permits five terrorism suspects, including Abu Hamza al-Masri, to be extradited to the US, which has been demanding their extradition for long.

On Monday, the European Court declined the five terrorism suspects an ultimate appeal. The five men desired to launch an ultimate appeal in the European Court’s Grand Chamber against their extradition. But this request of theirs was struck down by the European Court’s panel of senior judges.

The UK Home Office has asserted that the extraditions would occur as rapidly as possible. It is believed that the extraditions could take place within three weeks.

Abu Hamza had gained notoriety in the UK on account of his vitriolic and spiteful sermons in and around the Finsbury Park mosque in London. He is desired by US authorities over allegations that he conspired to establish a terrorist training camp in the US. He is accused of participating in the abduction of Western nationals in Yemen. If he is deemed guilty by the US judiciary, he could encounter life in jail.

Hamza has alleged he would face degenerate treatment if granted life imprisonment in the US devoid of parole.

The five men were opposing their extradition to the US as they deemed they would be treated savagely in US detention.

US and Britain, which had strengthened mutual extradition and counter-terrorism measures in the aftermath of 9/11, are operating together to transfer the five terrorism suspects to the US to face terrorism charges.

The other two terrorism suspects, Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz, are accused of aiding the operations of Osama bin Laden in London when he was alive.

Babar Ahmad and Syed Ahsan, the remaining terror suspects facing extradition to America, are alleged to have operated a jihadi website in London that aided Islamist terrorists.

Also, Queen Elizabeth had expressed her apprehension over the inability of UK authorities to incarcerate Abu Hamza for long. She was unhappy because of his speeches that referred derogatorily and hatefully to the British people.