*urgent: Extradition Vote Tues 24th Oct 2006: Urgent Action Required*

[MG]

Dear Supporter

We now have confirmation that the Commons will be voting on crucial amendments to the UK-US Extradition Treaty 2003 on TUESDAY 24TH OCTOBER 2006.

If the vote is won, this will directly affect cases of several British Citizens facing extradition to the U.S. (including that of Babar Ahmad).

Please follow the steps below and urgently contact your MP by Friday 20th October 2006 4pm to make sure they clear their diaries to attend the vote. MP's from all parties need to be contacted, ESPECIALLY Labour MP's.

This will take less than 10 minutes of your time.

STEP 1: Go to www.writetothem.com (javascript:ol('http://www.writetothem.com');) and paste the paragraph below in the box. You must include your name and postal address:


I am writing to you as your constituent to urge you to vote to support both amendments to the UK-US Extradition Act 2003 (prima facie evidence and forum) when the Police and Justice Bill returns to the Commons on 24th October 2006. I would urge you to please make yourself available to vote on that day to back both amendments and to encourage your fellow MP's to do the same. I hope that you will vote to give British citizens the same rights as the U.S Government gives to its citzens.

STEP 2: Follow up the email with a phonecall by Friday 20th October.

Ring 020 7219 6967 (House of Commons Switchboard) and ask for your MP's office.

Give them your name and address.

Tell the staff you have sent an email and would like your MP to back both amendments to the Extradition Act 2003 and would like them to cancel any prior engagements to make themselves available to vote on Tuesday 24th October 2006.
Please pass this email on to all your contacts TODAY and circulate on mailing lists and forums so as many MP's as possible are contacted before the end of this week.

Thank you for your time and efforts

Yours sincerely

Free Babar Ahmad Campaign

Links: www.notoextradition.co.uk (javascript:ol('http://www.notoextradition.co.uk');)

PS: If you have received this email after Friday 20th October, please still follow the steps above as the vote will take place on Tuesday 24th October 2006




www.freebabarahmad.com (javascript:ol('http://www.freebabarahmad.com');)

[MG]

please also pass this on to anyone u know.

[Fais]

The first link doesn't work!!!

[MG]

The first link doesn't work!!!

strange, try this one:

http://www.writetothem.com/

[MangoChutney]

:)

[MG]

:)


did it work?

[MangoChutney]

no im not trying.....i dont live in the UK...although i'd love to hellp....i was just bumping the thread

[MG]

no im not trying.....i dont live in the UK...although i'd love to hellp....i was just bumping the thread

awww, thats good of u :)

keep it up :)

[Fais]

lol most of the local politians are my dad friends.

[Hafsah]

MPs have overturned a change made by the Lords that would have blocked "fast-track" extraditions to the US.


They also backed the government on a second change calling for extradition only if it was in the "interests of justice" for a trial abroad.
Home Office Minister Joan Ryan had said the Lords' amendment would "wreck our ability" to bring fugitives to justice.

The vote follows the controversy over the extradition of three UK bankers - the "NatWest Three" - on fraud charges.

In the "fast-track" vote MPs backed the government by 320 to 263, while in the second vote, they voted 313 in support of the government and 272 against, including 14 Labour rebels.
Peers had wanted the US removed from the list of approved countries from which prima facie evidence is not required before an extradition request is granted.


Critics say the US has more powers to extradite Britons than the UK has to extradite people from the States.

During Tuesday's debate, Ms Ryan said Britain was "dealing with a trusted partner with a legal system of long standing" when it came to extradition arrangements with the US.
Quote:
She said: "We have extradited people to the US, and they to us, for 100 years. We trust their system just as they trust ours."
hafsah: obviously the US doesnt trust our system quite as much as we trust theirs...:rolleyes:


Home Secretary John Reid said he hoped the Lords would now allow the bill to proceed.


"In rejecting these amendments the Commons has given law enforcement the tools they need to fight international crime and bring serious criminals to justice in the place best able to bring them to trial.

"I hope that the Lords will now follow suit and allow our independent prosecutors to get on with their job to fight crime in the 21st century."

'Unjust, unfair'
In a vote on a second amendment, the government again overturned the Lords call for extradition to go ahead only if it was "in the interests of justice".
Prime Minister Tony Blair's 62-strong majority was cut to 41 in the second vote.


In the Commons, shadow home affairs minister Edward Garnier said the government's stance was "unjust, unfair, undemocratic and damaging to the interests of this country and our citizens".

Labour MP John Denham, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, raised some concerns about how the extradition treaty came to be negotiated, but gave his support to the government.

Mr Denham said it had taken less than three months - from when he moved the second reading of the Extradition Bill as Home Office minister in December 2002 - for the treaty to be negotiated.

"I have to say that worries me greatly. There is every reason for modernising our extradition arrangements to the USA - it is our most important extradition partner.

"But to go from a standing start to an entire Treaty in the space of about three months...explains an awful lot about why we are where we are today."

Britons 'disadvantaged'
The Liberal Democrats supported the Lords amendments, as David Heath said: Quote:
"British citizens are clearly at a disadvantage in comparison with a US citizen
."

The Labour rebels, plus Conservatives, had supported a letter signed by CBI director general Richard Lambert and Shami Chakrabarti, director general of human rights group Liberty, calling on Parliament to protect UK citizens from "unjust extradition proceedings".

Ms Chakrabati said: "The vote is disappointing but this campaign is just beginning. Baggage can be bundled off around the globe but people should have a little fairness first".

Conservative former Cabinet minister John Redwood criticised the US extradition arrangement.

"Where you have alleged white-collar crime ... and a situation where the person has committed no crime in Britain ... is it right they should be plucked away from their family for a very long time on a charge we don't think will go anywhere?" he demanded.

NatWest Three
The NatWest Three - David Bermingham, Gary Mulgrew and Giles Darby - were extradited under the treaty
.
It was designed to make it quicker and easier to deal with people suspected of cross-border offences such as terrorism and organised crime.
The main elements were enshrined into British law through the Extradition Act, made law in 2003, while the US Senate ratified the treaty last month.
US authorities need to outline the alleged offence, and provide "evidence or information that would justify the issue of a warrant for arrest in the UK".

However, Britain must provide the US with evidence of "probable cause", a stronger standard than "reasonable suspicion", if it wishes to extradite someone.
The NatWest Three are accused of fraud in connection with the collapse of US energy company Enron, with all three proclaiming their innocence.

[Arsalan]

I had a dream last night, that Babar Ahmed was released and is happy..

[advisor]

It is not allowed for anyone let alone someone claiming to be an upholder of tawheed, to ask these false gods to legislate.

[Nawar]

Bump :up:

Please remember Babar and his family in your du'aas inshallah.

www.freebabarahmad.com (http://www.freebabarahmad.com)

www.stoppoliticalterror.com (http://www.stoppoliticalterror.com)