Extradite me. I'm British. Free Talha Ahsan.

UK Extradition Act 2003

1. The new Extradition Act 2003 was fast-tracked into UK legislation in 2003 without formal consultative parliamentary process, scrutiny or debate.

2. It allows the UK to extradite any individual to the US (and other designated countries) WITHOUT the need for the US to provide prima facie evidence to support the extradition request. In other words, the accused DOES NOT have the right to challenge any evidence provided by the US in a British Court of Law.For example, if the US seeks the extradition of 'A' to stand trial for a murder committed on, say 25 March 1998, in the US, the extradition will be approved as long as the US can provide some documentation alleging that it appears that 'A' committed a murder. 'A' does not have the right to challenge this 'evidence' before a British Judge, even if 'A' was in fact, on the date of the crime, admitted to a British hospital and has all the photographic evidence, medical records and doctors statements etc. to prove it.

3. The Extradition Act 2003 seriously erodes the judicial review for any individual sought by the US and allows the UK Government to approve these requests unilaterally, without allowing the individual to defend himself against any provided evidence in a UK Court of Law.

4. The UK is the only nation in the EU to agree to such a treaty with the US. Other EU nations either refuse to extradite their own citizens (e.g. France, Austria, Germany) or only extradite on assurances of immediate repatriation following conviction to serve the prison sentence (e.g. The Netherlands) or demand prima facie evidence.

The 2003 Treaty has resulted in lives being destroyed - Babar Ahmad is the longest detained-without-trial British citizen in the modern history of the UK. Talha Ahsan has been detained without charge for six years in an extra security jail. He suffers from Asperger Syndrome – an autism spectrum disorder. He is due to be extradited to the US, although no charges have been brought in the UK. 

Imagine being confined in a 75.5sq ft cell with only a concrete slab and thin mattress for a bed, for 23 to 24 hours a day for every day of your life - the only window is 3 inches wide looking out to a concrete pit...

Yesterday's event at no.w.here was an urgent call for taking an action against the 2003 Treaty and to block extradition for Talha Ahsan. The fate of Talha Ahsan is now in an appeal at the European Court of Human Rights, who will make the decision on the validity of their extradition by July 10,2012. 


The screening of Extradition, a film that explores the injustices of the 2003 Treaty through the suffering of Babar Ahmad, Talha Ahsan and their families, was followed by a discussion with Andy Worthington, Pippa Koszerek and Hamja Ahsan. 


What can be done? Write to your MP as soon as possible! A draft letter can be downloaded here.

    #ArtsAgainstExtraditions

    Free Talha Ahsan, no.w.here

    Hamja Ahsan

Andy Worthington on the UK-US 2003 Treaty

 _____________

Andy Worthington- investigative journalist, campaigner against Guantanamo, Aafia Siddiqui and Cageprisoners researcher (Author: Guantanamo Files) 

http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/ 
Pippa Koszerek - #ArtsAgainstExtraditions leader Artist & curator. Director of Construction Gallery (Tooting) 
http://www.pippakoszerek.com/ 

Hamja Ahsan - Talha's only brother and Campaign Leader of Free Talha Ahsan, media spokesman & artist / Curator