A one-eyed Egyptian preacher and a British academic of Pakistani origin are among five Muslims set to be extradited from Britain to the US to stand trial on terrorism charges after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that their rights would not be violated in American prisons.
The Strasbourg-based court's ruling on Monday to clear the way for Abu Hamza's extradition brought to an end an eight-year-long legal battle that has cost the British taxpayer around a million pounds. The British government said it would throw out not only the 45-year-old cleric but also the four other suspects."We will work to ensure that the individuals are handed over to US authorities as quickly as possible," a home ministry spokesman said.
The ruling by five human rights judges is seen as one of the most significant since 9/11.
Hamza, dubbed Dr Hook for his distinctive metal prosthesis replacing his right arm, is accused by the Americans of planning to set up a training camp in the state of Oregon and of plotting to provide material support to terrorists in Afghanistan and goods and services to the Taliban.
{{/usCountry}}Hamza, dubbed Dr Hook for his distinctive metal prosthesis replacing his right arm, is accused by the Americans of planning to set up a training camp in the state of Oregon and of plotting to provide material support to terrorists in Afghanistan and goods and services to the Taliban.
{{/usCountry}}In Britain, he is notorious for delivering 'hate speeches' at Finsbury Park mosque in north London.
The Strasbourg court upheld an April 10 ruling which rejected Hamza's claim that jail terms of up to 50 years without parole in an American 'supermax' prison would breach his human rights. Hamza argued that he would be subjected to "inhuman or degrading treatment."
The four other men were named as: Babar Ahmad, Syed Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khalid al-Fawwaz.