Askatasuna Aurrera

“Disumana” estradizione di separatista basco

Basque separatist extradition ‘inhumane’

Don't extradite the Basques

Sending a convicted Basque terrorist back to a Spanish prison would be inhumane and leave him facing near-certain death, a court in Belfast has heard.

Lawyers for Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos, 54, also argued it was absurd that he should be facing a new charge based purely on a newspaper report.

De Juana Chaos, who has already served a jail sentence for his role in up to 25 murders, is fighting attempts to have him returned to Spain over claims that he glorified terrorism.

Judge Tom Burgess, the Recorder for Belfast, has already ruled the alleged offence makes him eligible for extradition unless his lawyers can overcome a legal hurdle.

‘Risk’

Inaki de Juana ChaosOpening a two-day hearing, Edward Fitzgerald QC claimed de Juana Chaos was beaten repeatedly and subjected to 17 years solitary confinement during a previous imprisonment.

According to Mr Fitzgerald a medical expert had identified a disproportionate risk to the wanted man’s health and life if he is extradited.

The Basque separatist, currently on bail, is being sought over the contents of a letter read out at a rally in San Sebastian in August 2008.

He faces the possibility of a two year jail sentence if convicted of the public justification of terrorist actions which caused humiliation and intensified the grief of victims and their relatives.

But Mr Fitzgerald claimed there was no case against his client, and that the prosecuting authorities had abused the extradition process.

He said: “Would it now be inhumane to put him back in custody on the basis of what someone says someone read out at a rally though no-one has the document? We say it’s grossly disproportionate and inhumane to do that.”

The hearing continues.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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