European judges halt cleric Hamza's extradition to America

London, Aug.7 (ANI): European judges have halted Abu Hamza's extradition to the United States on terror charges after the hook-handed cleric claimed it would breach his human rights.

Hamza, 51, serving a seven-year sentence for stirring up racial hatred and inciting followers to murder non-believers, faces 11 terror charges in America, reports The Sun.

US prosecutors have also accused him of attempting to set up a terrorist training camp in Bly, Oregon, in 1999, but nine judges of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg yesterday ruled to put his extradition on hold until they are able to consider the case.

Hamza argues that if he were extradited he would face treatment in breach of the European Convention of Human Rights, which prevents torture and inhuman and degrading conditions.

In particular, he says he risks a life sentence without parole - and might be held in a so-called "supermax" detention facility.

The new court battle will add 50,000 pounds to the estimated 3.5 million pounds Hamza and his family have cost taxpayers in benefits since arriving in the UK nearly 30 years ago.

The Egyptian-born cleric is currently lodged in London's maximum security Belmarsh jail, and has already fought his case against extradition through the British courts - and lost.

The nine European judges are Giovanni Bonnell, 72, from Malta, David Björgvinsson, 52, of Iceland, Paivi Hirvelä, 53, of Finland, Nebojsa Vucinic, 55, of Montenegro, Mihai Poalelungi, 45, of Moldavia, Jan ?ikuta, 47, of Slovakia, Ljiljana Mijovic, 44, of Bosnia Herzegovina, Ledi Bianku, 37, of Albania and Lech Garlicki, 61, of Poland. (ANI)