TERRIFIC SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT BY DAVID BURROWES 18TH SEPTEMBER 2012

David Burrowes MP gave a tremendous speech to Parliament prior to the recess for  the Conservative Party Conference which served as a stark reminder to ministers within the coalition government of their pre election promises and public statements regarding the proposed extradition of Gary Mckinnon. He was supported by  Kate Hoey and also  Keith Vaz

Video by Wilson Sharp as always, thank you Wilson - watch below.

OFF THE HOOK - NEW YORK RADIO INTERVIEW

Earlier this year in May Emmanuel and Patrick from Off The Hook a New York Radio Show visited me while visiting the UK. Link to that interview if you have time to listen in from about 16.00. Offthehook

Many thanks to all at www.2600.com for allowing me so much airtime to raise awareness in New York.

ARE YOUR POLITICIANS FOR SALE

This video appeared recently, whilst humourous it clearly illustrates the stark reality of the US pursuit of Richard (and others) by the MPAA funded and lobbied US Department of Justice. It also makes abundantly clear the disproportionate use of extradition in dealing with various degrees of copyright allegations. (Credits to follow once identified but thanks anyway!)

TWEEPS COME THROUGH WITH MORE EXCELLENT LEGAL HELP!

I have stated many times that we have had no help whatsoever from our own government or the Home Office and that Twitter has been a tremendous source of support and information. This support has ranged from masses of campaign support - when I didn't know I had a "campaign" to tons of legal help and support as well as very importantly peer support! enabling me to be in touch with other victims of this bad law, Janis sharp Gary Mckinnon's mum, Elaine Tappin,Chris Tappin's wife, Hamja Ahsan brother of Talha Ahsan and Fahad Ansari close friend of Babar Ahmad as well of the many of their supporters.

We truly are "all in it together", non are fighting a crime but we are all fighting the extradition law for our sons or friends.

Copyright and  tech experts have sent me an enormous amount of information about internet law and about other similar cases. Copyright lawyers  from the UK and US have contacted me via twitter to offer their help.


Anyway yesterday came a great legal ruling from Judge  Richard Posner posted on twitter and also sent to me by Mitch Stoltz from the EFF   this may help Richard's case and has been forwarded to our legal team.

Mike Masnick Piece in Techdirt

MPAA Suffers Legal Setback in Big Copyright Decision

Court rules it’s legal to embed, watch copyright-infringing video 

Judge Posner's Ruling 

LATEST REVELATION REVEALED ONLY IN FOI REQUEST TO HOME OFFICE

Since a recent  Freedom of Information request revealed that not one US citizen has been extradited to the UK for an alleged crime committed on US soil, I have since requested more of these.

Interestingly one sent to me in  June  revealed that no UK citizens had been extradited to the US for alleged crimes committed without leaving the UK, but that 5 such cases were currently pending. I immediately queried these figures as I am well aware that Ian Norris and Christopher Tappin were both extradited to the US for alleged crimes committed whilst in the UK. See response , this I believe to be untrue.


Hot off the Home Office press though is the even more alarming revelation in the FOI I received this week that the UK has never requested an extradition of an American citizen for a crime committed in the US!!

No wonder the US Ambassador is forever stating that the US never refuses any extradition requests from the Uk since when it comes to crimes committed on "home soil" the UK simply doesn't ask for any!!

This is an even bigger abuse of territorial jurisdiction by the US, and even more so by the Home Office for supporting this atrocity.

None of this evidence revealed in these FOI's has been included or referenced within the Scott Baker Report which would further indicate that it was indeed a "whitewash".

Its a great matter of concern that this information is only available via FOI requests when the government has spent £250k supposedly on a thorough review of extradition

Daily Mail Story by Jack Doyle

INTERVIEW WITH ADRIAN GOLDBERG FOR BBC WEST MIDLANDS

Recording of my candid Radio Interview for BBC West Midlands with Adrian Goldberg. Many thanks to the extremely talented Wilson Sharp, husband of Janis Sharp and Gary Mckinnon's stepdad for the recording and for adding video content.

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.