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October 31, 2005
UK Blunder Ruins Islamist's Terror Trial in Italy
The United Kingdom failed to extradite an Islamist to Italy, and has caused hopes for his trial to collapse, report the Times and AFP.
Farj Hassan Faraj, originally from Libya, was wanted by Italy to stand trial for plotting in Milan bomb attacks upon European targets. The prevarications and blunders on the part of the British Home office have meant that the trial which should have taken place in Italy has now passed a three year deadline, and can no longer be mounted.
24-year old Faraj has been said to be an "envoy" of Abu Musab Zarqawi, who has a $25 miilion US ransom for car-bombings on US and Uk troops, and kidnapping and decapitation of western civilian hostages, such as Liverpudlian Ken Bigley, and US engineer Eugene "Jack" Armstrong.
Britain, typically, blames Italy for not telling them that here was a deadline, but they have had Faraj in custody since May 2002, all at the UK taxpayer's expense. Last December a UK judge formally approved Faraj's extradition to Italy.
Italian carabineri's Special Operations squad had been tracking a group of suspects led by Faraj and had intercepted calls from al-Zarqawi. Six people from the group were arrested, but Faraj fled to Britain on a forged passport and claimed asylum.
Under EU rules he should be deported to Italy, where he first sought asylum. Or be deported to Libya, his country of origin. However, Faraj's lawyers oppose this, claiming he would be tortured if sent to Libya. So Faraj continues to stay in detention in the UK, and taxpayers are paying his cost of detention, and also the costs of his lawyers. A truly typical British situation.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 31, 2005 5:31 PM
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