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See other news storiesHome Secretary signs Abu Hamza extradition order
8 February 2008
The US plans to try him on charges of terrorism.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has signed an order for Abu Hamza al-Masri to be extradited to the United States, where he will stand trial on terrorism charges.
Her decision followed a court ruling last year that Hamza could be extradited.
Hamza, 49, was born in Egypt and is a naturalised British citizen. He is currently in prison serving seven years for inciting murder and preaching racial hatred.
The decision making process
In making her decision to extradite him, the Home Secretary considered three specific points under the Extradition Act:
- whether he would face the death penalty
- speciality - a legal term, meaning whether he might be tried or punished for offences other than those for which he is being extradited
- whether he has been extradited before from another country, which must then approve this further extradition (not an issue in this particular case)
Hamza objected to the extradition, but the Home Secretary decided that his objections were not sufficient to prevent his extradition.
Right to appeal
He will now have 14 days in which he can appeal the extradition to the High Court. Should that appeal be declined, he could then appeal to the House of Lords and finally to the European Court.
If he does not appeal, he will be extradited within 28 days.
