“Abu Hamza is serving a seven-year sentence in Britain for inciting his followers to kill nonbelievers and has been indicted in the U.S. on 11 charges related to the planned development of the Bly [Oregon] site and for sending cash and volunteers to support al-Qaida and the Taliban.” — Seattle Times, April 2009. What about the human rights of his intended victims?
“European human rights court halts extradition of race-hate preacher Abu Hamza to U.S.,” by Jack Doyle for the Daily Mail, July 9 (thanks to all who sent this in):
Hate preacher Abu Hamza could escape extradition to the U.S. because the lengthy jail term he faces if convicted may breach his human rights.
In an astonishing ruling yesterday, European judges said sentences of up to 50 years for Hamza and three other alleged terrorists could fall foul of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The judgment is likely to send the cost of their already expensive legal battle spiralling with many more months of wrangling – and will raise further concerns about interference by the European Court of Human Rights in the British justice system.
The ruling also raises the possibility of legal challenges by the 38 inmates in UK prisons given so-called ‘whole life’ sentences….
Hamza, 52, and his trusted lieutenant Haroon Aswat, 30, are wanted by the U.S. authorities for plotting to set up a jihadi training camp in Oregon….
So far Hamza’s case has already cost the public purse £1.1million in legal aid, but it will now rumble on for many more months.
Tory MP Patrick Mercer said: ‘Mr Hamza ought to face justice.
‘In the meantime he continues to live off the fat of the British taxpayer – despite the fact that he clearly wishes those very same taxpayers ill.’…
He was jailed for seven years in February 2006 for preaching hate and inciting murder at Finsbury Park Mosque in North London. He would be eligible for release but remains inside while his extradition case continues….