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| Britain |
| Terror suspect admits fighting in Bosnia in unprecedented BBC interview |
| 2012-04-08 |
| Babar Ahmad, who has been in jail on remand without trial for almost eight years, said he helped defend towns in "battles" with Serbs in the 1990s but denied he supported terrorism. He is wanted by the US authorities for allegedly raising money for His claims were made in what is thought to be the first broadcast interview of a serving prisoner, carried out by BBC News, which has led to considerable cost to the taxpaying citizen. The Ministry of Justice refused the broadcaster’s request to be allowed into the jail to speak to Ahmad but a High Court judge overturned that decision on the grounds that it was an exceptional case. So far the Ministry has incurred costs of £55,000 but it must also pay the legal fees of the BBC, believed to be around the same amount, and even those of Ahmad himself as he was included as an "interested party". The interview comes ahead of next week’s decision by the European Court of Human Rights as to whether Ahmad should be sent to a “supermax” jail in Colorado, or whether this would breach his human rights. He said, "I am facing extradition to the United States and spending the rest of my life in solitary confinement. It is fair to say I'm fighting for my life and I'm running out of time." Ahmad told the BBC that he had visited Bosnia several times as a teenager in the 90's. Several other British terror suspects have told courts that they did the same, in order to take humanitarian aid to besieged Muslims. He said, "I decided I wanted to do more than just giving food and water... I wanted to stop it happening. I went to the Bosnian army and I said I want to help defend your people. It was a moral, human obligation - religion did not come into it. "I was sent to different towns and villages that were besieged by the Serbs. I spent some time there and I took up arms. There were battles and I helped to defend towns against attacks. "I absolutely reject any allegation that I have supported terrorism and in any way and in any place - whether in Chechnya, or Afghanistan, or any other part of the world. I believe terrorism to be wrong and I believe targeting and killing innocent people to be wrong." Ahmad said he had never been formally questioned about the charges against him and claimed that if he had been charged back in 2003 and convicted, he would have been free by now. Instead, he has been held on remand since 2004 as legal procedures have dragged on. "I have been in this nightmare fighting extradition for the past eight years," he said. |
| Posted by:ryuge |