Author: Tom Peterkin
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: July 23, 2008
URL: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2447961/Abu-Hamza%2C-radical-Muslim-cleric%2C-to-be-extradited-to-US.html
The radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza has been
refused permission to appeal to the House of Lords over a decision to extradite
him to America on alleged terrorism charges.
The 49-year-old Egyptian born Muslim cleric,
who is currently serving seven years in jail for soliciting murder and stirring
up racial hatred, last month lost his High Court claim that extradition would
be a breach of his human rights.
Sir Igor Judge, the President of the Queens
Bench Division, dismissed an application by Hamza to challenge the High Court's
decision.
Sir Igor said there was no point of general
public importance and no new principle of law for the Law Lords, the highest
court in the land, to consider.
Hamza who has been branded a "global
terrorist" had claimed it would be "unjust and oppressive"
to send him to America where he faces charges of allegedly trying to set up
an al-Qa'eda training camp in Oregon.
He faces a total of 11 charges including allegations
that he sent money and recruits to assist the Taliban and al-Qa'eda.
The former Iman of the Finsbury Park Mosque
was jailed for seven years after being convicted by an Old Bailey jury sitting
at Woolwich Crown Court in February 2006 after a month long trial on 11 counts
of soliciting murder and using words to stir up racial hatred.
It was claimed at his trial that he used sermons
at the North London mosque and elsewhere to preach terrorism, homicidal violence
and hatred. He was also convicted of inciting his followers to kill non Muslims
and Jews.
Hamza listed under his real name of Mostafa
Kamel Mostafa was the first person to be arrested under the streamlined Anglo-American
extradition treaty after police raided his home in May 2004.
Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, formally
approved the extradition in February.
His lawyers have been fighting his extradition
since the US authorities first applied for him to be sent for trial in May,
2004.
