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February 16, 2006
Spain: Islamist To Be Extradited From Britain
EFE via Expatica, the BBC and also the UK Telegraph today report that a Tunisian man currently in detention in Britain yesterday lost his petition in the High Court to appeal against extradition to Spain on terrorism charges.
45-year old Hedi Ben Youseff Boudhiba, also known as "Fathi", is believed to have had links with the Hamburg-based al-Qaeda terror cell involved in the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001. He is alleged by Spanish authorities to have supplied money and forged documents, including passports, to those who planned the September 11 attacks.
He is said to be taking his appeal to the House of Lords. His lawyers have argued that he is mentally disabled, with a mental age of eight.
Judge Baltasar Garzon, Spain's leading terror expert, has also claimed that Boudibha was involved in the network alleged to have plotted to use the deadly toxin ricin, extracted from the castor oil plant, in London in January 2003.
He was arrested in August 2004 at Liverpool airport while trying to board a plane to Barcelona. He appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court in June 2005, where an extradition order was made against him. He challenged the ruling on mental health grounds. Yesterday, Lady Justice Smith, sitting with Mr Justice Newman, stated: "Spain is a civilised country. The evidence shows that, if he is extradited, proper examination will be made to ascertain whether he is fit to stand trial."
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at February 16, 2006 4:05 PM
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