[« Patrick Fitzgerald gets it....] [Today's GEM... »]
10/14/2005: YES!!!!!!!!
It's about time that the world community smacks the bAdministration upside the head for their crimes against humanity. If they can't haul his ass (and the asses of his co-conspirators) to The Hague for trial, at least call a spade a spade and let the world know what they really are:
Dutch court won't extradite terror suspectSometimes you gotta appreciate the small victories, though it's sad to think that the opinion of the United States as a respecter of the rule of law and the rights of the individual has fallen so low....
By ANTHONY DEUTSCH
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- A Dutch court on Wednesday blocked the extradition of a Dutch terror suspect to the United States, saying his legal rights in U.S. custody could not be guaranteed.
The man, who is of Egyptian descent and was identified only by his initials M. A., is wanted on charges of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud, apparently to help the al-Qaida terrorist network. He has been in custody in the Netherlands for around eight months.
The ruling by the Hague District Court said the suspect's "fundamental right" of unlimited access to a defense lawyer and immediate access to a judge may be compromised in the United States.
Last month, the court sought guarantees from U.S. prosecutors that the detainee would be afforded those basic rights if he were extradited. In Wednesday's ruling, it rejected a U.S. submission that "the United States views such a request as unwarranted and unnecessary."
...
The defendant's lawyer, Bart Nooitgedagt, called the decision a major victory for his client. He said he would seek the suspect's release, although he still could face prosecution by Dutch authorities for the alleged crimes.
"This ruling is unique in Dutch legal history. Never before has a judge ruled that an extradition to the United States could not take place because the rights of a defendant could not be guaranteed," Nooitgedagt said.
Len on 10.14.05 @ 08:10 AM CST
