Friday, 6 July 2012

BREAKING NEWS:GOVERNMENT MINISTER REFUSES TO MEET CROSS PARTY DELEGATION ON EXTRADITION!



As a result of the Emergency Meeting on Extradition to the US held in  Parliament on the 20th June 2012 it was agreed that a Cross Party delegation of MP's would request a meeting with Damien Green the Immigration Minister. Caroline Lucas wrote to the minister on behalf of the Cross Party delegation of Caroline Lucas, Dominic Raab, John Hemmings, John McDonnell, Zac Goldsmith, Sadiq Khan and Yasmin Quereshi. Other MP's have already stated their willingness to join this delegation too.

Letter from Caroline Lucas MP (Brighton Pavilion-Green): 

 
Original Letter:
27 June 2012
Dear Damian,

I am writing with the support of a cross party group of MPs that includes John Hemming, Zac Goldsmith, John McDonnell, Yasmin Qureshi, and Sadiq Khan to urgently request a meeting about the imminent extradition of four British citizens – Richard O’Dwyer, Gary McKinnon, Talha Ahsan and Babar Ahmad.

We appreciate your previous statement that the Government is considering its position in the light of the Report of the Extradition Review Panel, the Joint Human Rights Committee Report and recent parliamentary debates in the House of Commons, however we are concerned by the impact of the ongoing delay on these four cases in particular. We are anxious to prevent grave miscarriages of justice – all 4 men could face extradition within weeks. As a result, we urge you to meet with us at the earliest possible opportunity and look forward to hearing from you regards potential dates.

Best wishes,
Caroline


Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

 Link to Parliamentary Motion Passed 5th December 2011




Last night Caroline Lucas heard that Damien Green has refused to meet with MP's.

Damien Greens Letter 


NB: The Minister's reason given" that it would be inappropriate to discuss cases that remained under review" is not a valid reason given the Minister  has in the past met with Janis Sharp (Gary McKinnon’s mum) with Trudie Styler (Sting’s wife) to discuss Gary’s case.


Caroline Lucas' response:


I am outraged by the Government’s lack of concern both for the democratic process and for the individuals and families that are suffering because of the current extradition laws. The Minister has used pending court cases and decisions to be taken by the Home Secretary as grounds for refusing to discuss the matter with MPs from across the political spectrum, many of whom have constituents that are facing imminent extradition and possible breaches of their human rights. These decisions about what happens to British citizens and their right to a British trial are precisely why a meeting with the Home Office Minister is so important, and why it is so unacceptable that the Government are continuing to stand in the way of justice.


























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