Days imprisoned so far: 2739

Case Updates

  • Timeline

    A chronological listing of major events related to the case of Babar Ahmad

    11-Jan-2011 The High Court in London has ruled that it was unlawful for Justice Secretary Ken Clarke to refuse the BBC permission to film an interview with British Detainee Babar Ahmad in prison, paving the way for the media to be allowed camera access to a British prisoner for the first time.

    9-Dec-2011 Lawyers for the BBC challenge Justice Secretary Ken Clarke’s refusal to allow the BBC to film and broadcast an interview with Babar Ahmad in prison at the High Court, being the first ever challenge to a refusal to permit a broadcaster to film an interview in prison.

    5-Dec-2011 Historic debate on extradition is held in the House of Commons. The House passes the motion without a vote that ministers should change the UK-US Extradition treaty and European Arrest Warrant. The agreed motion is not binding on the government.

    24-November-2011     A debate on extradition is held in Westminster Hall, despite the fact 140,936 have signed the e-petition requesting a full Commons debate on Babar Ahmad. Front benchers cannot participate and there is no vote.

    22-November-2011 Sir George Young states, during a Radio 4 interview, that the decision to discuss the issue in Westminster Hall rather than the House of Commons rests with the Backbench Business Committee and its chair Natascha Engel, and not the government.

    21-November-2011 100 leading barristers and solicitors have signed an open letter to the Leader of the House of Commons, Sir George Young, requesting a full parliamentary debate on the issue of putting Babar Ahmad on trial in the UK.

    10-November-2011 The e-petition closes with over 140,538 signatures, making it the third highest e-petition on site.

    Read more...

Media Coverage

Free Babar Ahmad: The Official Campaign Site to Put Babar Ahmad on Trial in the UK

Babar Ahmad is a 38 year old British Muslim and the longest detained-without-charge British detainee held as part of the global ‘war on terror’. In December 2003 Babar was arrested at his London home under anti-terror legislation. By the time he reached the police station Babar had sustained at least 73 forensically recorded injuries, including bleeding in his ears and urine. Six days later he was released without charge.

In August 2004 Babar was re-arrested in London and taken to prison pursuant to an extradition request from the US under the controversial, no-evidence-required, Extradition Act 2003. The US has alleged that in the 1990s Babar was a supporter of “terrorism”. Babar denies any involvement in terrorism. He has now been in prison for more than seven years even though he has not been charged in the UK, despite 141,000 British citizens signing a petition to put him on trial in the UK.

 

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