32-year-old computer operator Babar Ahmad’s appeal against extradition to the USA began at the High Court in London on Tuesday and is due to end on Friday.
Family, friends and supporters rallied outside the court at the beginning of the hearing.
Babar’s father Ashfaq Ahmad told them: ‘If Babar is extradited then a lot more people will face the same treatment.
‘I was a civil servant for 21 years and now I feel ashamed of myself that I was part of this system that signs secret deals against its own citizens.’
Mr Ahmad continued: ‘On paper we don’t have a chance. But if they send Babar out they will have to book two tickets because I’m going too.
‘If Babar goes it will be the beginning of the campaign, not the end.’
Family friend Hasim Kureshi coordinated the rally outside the High Court.
He said: ‘Here is a man who is completely innocent who faces extradition.
‘If Babar is extradited he will beome an icon, a symbol of British injustice.
‘This government, the UK government, knows Babar, a British citizen, has committed no crime, and yet they are prepared to hand him over into the hands of a foreign country.
‘I remember Babar as a child in Tooting. He was an example for us – smart educationally and the best mannered. He taught the truth and he stood up for the truth. For me this man is a hero.
‘But it’s not just Babar. We must also remember the other detainees in the hands of America, including the invisible, the ghost detainees.’
Moassem Begg, ex-Guantanamo Bay detainee, told the rally: ‘Babar is facing being taken to a place where he can expect no justice.
‘I was held in Guantanamo and Bagram detention centre for three years.
‘One thing you must notice is that although there are citizens from many countries held in Guantanamo, there are no American detainees in Guantanamo.
‘The legal eagles may say that Babar will be treated within the law.
‘But he won’t.
‘Once you are in the hands of an oppressor the law does not apply.
‘In the US the atmosphere of fear has reached paranoid levels.
‘If Babar Ahmad is sent to America he will receive no justice.
‘But when I see Babar’s father campaigning up and down the country I do believe that he will be alright.’
Hugo Charlton from the Campaign against Criminalising Communities, said: ‘The Extradition Act 2003 was passed through Parliament in a hurry and received insufficient scrutiny.
‘This treaty means people can be taken to prison with no examination of the evidence against them.
‘No prima facie case needs to be framed.
‘This is very dangerous legislation for us all.
Yvonne Ridley, from Stop Political Terror, said: ‘Blair and his master Bush say they are against extremism.
‘But their brand of extremism has brought tens of thousands of people to their deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places.
‘And don’t believe their mutual relationship is equal.
‘Bush does the bidding and Blair does the running. While Bush expects everyone to kowtow to American might, Blair can’t do enough for him.
‘No other country in the world would sign up to this one way treaty.
‘And no other leader in the world would dare betray his people the way Blair has done.
‘This is an injustice not just to Babar Ahmad but to every single British citizen who is now exposed to this one-sided extradition treaty.
‘We are the only country in the world to have signed up to it.
‘Tony Blair has betrayed the trust of every UK citizen.
‘Babar Ahmad is battling against extradition when there has been no prima facie evidence produced against him.
‘If he’s carted off to America they will also be taking some of our freedoms and liberties with him.’
George Galloway MP said: ‘Blair has betrayed the British people in his slave-like obeisance to the US.
‘In defiance of the entire world community and in defiance of the Geneva Conventions, they have held men in cages like this for years,’ he said, pointing to a caged and shackled man outside the High Court.
Galloway continued: ‘The Bagram Airbase where men are held upside-down in water tanks until they think they are drowning, and where very possibly some have been drowned – that is US justice.
‘The US metes out its justice in secret prisons all over the world. And in the US itself US justice is a byword for racism, where the numbers of black and now Muslim prisoners is out of all proportion.
‘And we are sending our own citizen to this!
‘A shame on our own members of parliament for this outrage.
‘But whatever happens here today, we will not forget or forsake Babar Ahmad.’
Supporter Tajee Mustapha said: ‘Today it’s Barbar Ahmad. Who tomorrow? It appears Britain has become the 51st state of America. We reject the anti-terror laws and the extradition treaty.’
Family friend Bilal Patel told News Line: ‘Today is the first day of the hearing and it will continue until Friday.
‘Then we expect the verdict in two to three weeks.
‘Babar’s case is an extraordinary case in two ways.
‘First we are dealing with extraordinary rendition.
‘Then on top of that there is the issue of double jeopardy because he was arrested and released without charge by the British authorities in December 2003.
‘If Babar goes then this will open the floodgates for any Muslim whom the government does not like to be extradited.
‘The extradition treaty was designed specifically to target Muslims, as has been pointed out repeatedly by those campaigning for the Nat West Three.’
Imaad, a student aged 16, said: ‘I came here to give Babar support. I see this as injustice.
‘He’s being sent to America with no evidence being produced against him.’
Law student Arshia said: ‘I’m here to support the family.
‘If they have any evidence against Babar they should try him here.
‘What is happening is against all legal precedents and procedures.’
