UK courts should be first option for trials

Commenting on the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that extradition to the US would not breach the rights of several terrorist suspects, including Abu Hamza and Babar Ahmad, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said:

"The finding by the Court that there would be no inhuman treatment if extradition to the US took place still leaves open the question of whether the US is the right place to try all of these suspects."

"There should be a bar to both EU and US extradition if the offence took place mainly in the UK. Those like Gary McKinnon and Richard O’Dwyer whose alleged crimes were perpetrated from their computers at home in Britain should face home-grown justice."

"It is inexplicable that UK legislation for a 'forum provision' passed in 2006 has never been activated. Our courts are good enough for plenty of foreign litigants, so why does the Home Secretary continue to export local suspects?"

The court ruled that detention in an American 'Supermax’ prison and long sentences would not breach article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits degrading treatment and torture.