Human Rights

Andrew Symeou from Enfield who was extradited to Greece in July under a European Arrest Warrant on a charge related to the death of a fellow young Briton in a Greek nightclub has again been refused bail after an appeal.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford the party's European justice spokeswoman said:

"I am appalled that because of this unjust ruling 19 year old Andrew remains in jail before trial which will be at least a six-month stretch. Since he has a fixed address where he could reside in Greece it seems clear that he has been discriminated against simply because he is a foreigner."

European Commission president Jose Barroso who is seeking endorsement from MEPs for a second term has agreed to the European Liberal Democrats' demand that the next Commission will have a Commissioner charged exclusively with fundamental rights and civil liberties.

The move was revealed when Barroso appeared in front of the European Parliament's Liberal (ALDE) group to seek support for his renomination as the next Commission president. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group to which UK Liberal Democrat MEPs belong made this in July an explicit request to Barosso after long campaigning for such a post.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and MEP for London Sarah Ludford commented:

The High Court has today backed the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions that Gary Mckinnon who has Aspergers Syndrome should not be tried in the UK but instead must face the US judicial system.

Mckinnon faces charges of hacking into United States' military computer networks and if tried in the USA he could spend many decades in an American jail.

Liberal Democrat MEP for London Sarah Ludford the party's European justice and human rights spokeswoman has previously lobbied the Home Secretary to stop Mckinnon's extradition. She said:

"This High Court ruling is a huge disappointment. As an Aspergers' sufferer extradition and the harsh US penal system could destroy Gary's mental health."

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford is backing the fight of Andrew Symeou from Enfield in north London not to be extradited to Greece under a European Arrest Warrant on the grounds that well-documented police misconduct exposes him to unfair treatment.

Mr Symeou who maintains that the evidence underpinning the request for his extradition was obtained by ill-treatment or torture by the Greek police has today been given the green light to pursue to the House of Lords his appeal against extradition.

Sarah Ludford the top London Liberal Democrat Euro-candidate for Thursday's elections said:

The European Parliament has called for greater emphasis in future EU cooperation on criminal justice on practical measures to secure respect for suspects' and victims' rights and on training of judges prosecutors and defence lawyers as well as effective cross-border liaison for prosecution and conviction of serious criminals.

A report approved by MEPs also demanded tougher monitoring of implementation by EU countries of European laws including human rights provisions and reviews of the quality of national legal systems.

Sarah Ludford (LibDem UK) commented:

After an inquiry lasting almost 4 years the International Criminal Court (ICC) has backed its Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and issued a warrant for the arrest of President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the people of Darfur.

The most contentious potential charge that of genocide perpetrated against non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur was not however included in the warrant.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP said:

With today June 26th being UN International Day against Torture Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP Liberal Democrat European justice and human rights spokeswoman is renewing calls for the global elimination of state-sanctioned torture including by the US. She said:

"The tide is turning and even within the US there seems to be a significant shift in opinion against the contempt for the rule of law and human rights and the appalling readiness to use torture which have characterised the Bush administration's policies over the last 7 years."

Marking the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP will help present a special screening in Brussels on June 24th of a prizewinning film on the abuses at Abu Ghraib.

'Standard Operating Procedure' directed by Oscar winner Errol Morris won the Silver Bear grand prize at the 2008 Berlinale film festival. The screening is by Sony Pictures with the support of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims.

Sarah Ludford the UK Liberal Democrats' European justice spokeswoman commented:

"I am honoured to be invited to introduce this impressive film which in examining the torture perpetrated on Iraqis at Abu Ghraib raises broad questions about power legality morality and responsibility including our own."

Madam President I have no hesitation in voting for this directive not because it is ideal but because it raises standards in some Member States. And indeed an assessment of the value of this directive comes perversely from the very fact that the UK is not opting into it. It does not want to be constrained by the higher standards in the directive not least the time limits and the conditions on detention such as the separation of immigration detainees from convicted criminals which does not always happen in the UK at present and the fact that coercive measures must be proportional and respect fundamental rights and the dignity of the individual all valuable elements in this text.