US-UK Extradition Treaty must be defeated!

[Padraig18]

This treaty was signed by the US and the UK on March 31 but it must be ratified by the U.S. Senate before it becomes law.

While the treaty claims to allow for a refusal of extradition for a political offense, the newly-defined eligible activity not considered a political offense is extremely broad.

The most troubling provision is the transfer of responsibility for determining whether the extradition request is politically – motivated from the courts' system to the Executive Branch, something unprecedented in Anglo-American jurisprudence before 9/11.

The political offense exception includes an attempt or conspiracy to commit, participation in the commission of, aiding and abetting, counseling, or procuring the commission of, or being an accessory before or after the fact to any of a broad list of offenses. Conspiracy charges under UK law are extremely difficult to defend against; and defining what aiding, abetting, counseling might actually mean in particular cases may be up to biased, RW interpretation.

Other key provisions of the new treaty:

* Allows for extradition for one offense, and then subsequent prosecution in the U.K. for any number of unrelated offenses.

* Applies retroactively, for offenses allegedly committed even before the ratification of the treaty!

{lease contact you senators and urge them to vote 'no' on this treaty. Thank you!

:hi:

[rjbcar27]

1. It's one way only.

It applies only to the US. Here in the UK we cannot apply for extradition of a US citizen to the UK under this treaty.

It's another one way fucking street.

[Padraig18]

2. It's a bad treaty, all 'round.

*nod*