Extradition & Deportation, Open letters

Campaign Letter: Protest Regarding Extradition Request for Babar Ahmed

9 September 2005

The Letter provided below is unformated. A formatted version is available as a pdf file to be downloaded at the bottom this page.

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[Your name]
[Your address]

[Date]

Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP
Home Office
Direct Communications Unit
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

Fax: +44 (0)20 7035 4745
Email public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Dear Mr. Clarke,

Re: Extradition of Babar Ahmad to US

I am writing with regard to the proposed extradition of Babar Ahmad to the US. I am deeply concerned about this proposal for a number of reasons.

Firstly, extraditing Babar Ahmad to the US would constitute a violation of the absolute ban on torture as set out in the UN Convention against Torture, the European Convention on Human Rights and other treaties which the UK has signed. It is against international law for a state to extradite or deport a human being to a country where there is a real and substantial risk they may be ill-treated or executed. The US is notorious for its ill-treatment of detainees in its war on terror. It is very likely that Babar Ahmad would face similar treatment if extradited.

Secondly, the Treaty in itself is unjust in that the US is not required to provide a shred of evidence of Babar Ahmad’s guilt. This is contrary to basic requirements of justice and due process. Furthermore, the Treaty is one-sided and treats British citizens as inferior to American citizens. The UK does not have the authority to request extradition without evidence of American citizens to Britain. This is effectively a loss of British sovereignty.

Finally, should Babar Ahmad be extradited, a very dangerous precedent will be set whereby any British citizen can be extradited without any evidence whatsoever.

Babar Ahmad has never been charged, let alone convicted, of any crime. If he is suspected of committing any offence, he should be duly charged and tried in a British court of law. I urge you to protect British sovereignty and refuse the US extradition request. I also request that the UK withdraw from such a fundamentally unjust agreement.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly regarding the immediate action you have taken in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]

[Your name]