Abu Hamza Launches Last-Minute High Court Appeal against Extradition
Radical cleric Abu Hamza has launched a last-minute appeal to the high court to block his extradition to the US to face terrorism charges. After the European Court of Human Rights, rejected, a bid earlier this week by Hamza and four other terrorism suspects to halt their cases.
Hamza, who was jailed for seven years for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred, has been fighting extradition since 2004. The suspects argued that they would face inhumane treatment in the US. The Home office said the latest appeal was nothing more than a delaying tactic as the men have exhausted all lines of action.
Hamza, who claims to have lost an eye and hand fighting the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, became known as the preacher of hate after he used London's Finsbury Park Mosque as a base to persuade young Muslims to take up the cause of holy war.
It is not known on what grounds the appeal was launched. A date has not yet been set for the hearing.
Written and presented by Ann Salter