Crime

UK: Muslim anti-gay cleric Abu Hamza’s US extradition approved

Sep 25 2012
Written by Scott Roberts

Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza can be extradited to the US after Europe’s human rights judges rejected his request for an appeal, officials have said.

Hamza was convicted and jailed for seven years on charges of inciting murder and stirring up racial hatred in the UK in 2006, but is wanted in the US on terrorism charges.

The Home Office said the extradition would happen “as quickly as possible”.

Hamza had previously said AIDS had been sent as a curse for gay people and he also claimed that transgender people were cursed too.

Hamza stands accused of planning a terror training camp in Oregon, and abetting the kidnapping of 16 hostages in Yemen.

According to the Mirror, in 2007, he launched a complaint after learning that his former care nurse happened to be a gay man.

Lawyers for Hamza reportedly wrote to the prison service to demand a replacement and claimed his religious human rights were being breached due to the man’s sexuality.

Hamza has a hook instead of a right hand, and requires help from a nurse to wash and dress.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance estimates father-of-eight Hamza has so far cost Britain £2.75 million in welfare payments, council housing, NHS and prison bills, trials and legal appeals.

If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.

Hamza had argued he would face inhumane and degrading treatment if imprisoned for life without possibility of parole.

Following the European ruling on Monday, US Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said:

“We are pleased that the litigation before the European Court of Human Rights in these cases has come to an end, and we will be working with the UK authorities on the arrangements to bring these subjects to the United States for prosecution.”