Clarke agrees to terror suspect extradition
Home secretary Charles Clarke has today agreed to the extradition of a British citizen to the US to face trial for terrorism offences.
The Home Office said he had given “full consideration” to representations made by Babar Ahmad’s lawyers but was satisfied that the conditions for his extradition have been met.
The 31-year-old, from Tooting in south London, is charged with setting up websites which have glorified terrorism and made calls for a holy war by Muslims.
Mr Ahmed’s family today described Mr Clarke’s decision as a “sad day” for British Muslims, and said they would appeal against it.
“The family will be appealing against this prejudiced decision at the high court. Our resolve remains firm in the fight for justice for Babar,” they said in a statement.
They added: “This is a sad day for Britain and an even sadder day for British Muslims. In effect this sends a message to British Muslims that there is no ‘legal and democratic’ means to air your concerns – you must use other ways to get justice.”
US authorities allege that the Mr Ahmad, a computer programmer currently being held in Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes, raised money for terrorist causes in Chechnya and Afghanistan via his websites.
His extradition was approved by a district judge earlier this year and the case was passed on to Charles Clarke for final approval.
“As is right and proper, the home secretary has given full consideration to complex representations that have been made on Mr Ahmad’s behalf but is satisfied that the conditions for his extradition have been met,” a Home Office spokesman said.
He said it was a “matter for Mr Ahmad as to whether he wishes to appeal this decision” but that the government was “fully committed to completing extradition cases relating to terrorist offences as quickly as possible”.
