The Home Secretary, Theresa May, in announcing that the UK would block the extradition of Gary McKinnon to the United States, has ended nearly a decade of torment for him.
This was indeed the right decision.
Mr McKinnon has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism and was clearly a suicide risk, having also suffered from depression. It was quite clear from the outset that he posed no terrorist threat to the United States.
It is a matter of great concern that a man with such severe health problems was put through such necessary suffering and that it took such a long time for his case to be dealt with.
The current extradition arrangements between Britain and the United States were drawn up in the wake of 9/11 and understandably can be viewed as appropriate in dealing with suspected terrorists who pose an immediate threat to either British or US security.
However in the case of Mr McKinnon, this was certainly not so. The argument for reviewing the treaty is very strong.
The treaty should only cover terrorist offences.
It cannot be right that any British citizen can just be plucked from UK soil whenever the US demand it.
Take the case of Christopher Tappin, the retired businessman accused of selling weapons-parts to Iran. He is an elderly man who clearly was not involved in active terrorism but now faces years and very possibly death, in a US prison unless a plea-bargain is agreed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17146487
In Mckinnon's case, the Home Secretary has been sensible in stopping his extradition. And it is to Labour's shame that the previous government did nothing to halt this process when they were in power.
But the question is, why can't other such cases be tried in the British courts?
The US and British Governments need to rethink this and soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment