Extradition, Human Rights, and the War on Terrorism: How the Extradition Act 2003 May Undermine Human Rights Protections
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Extradition, Human Rights, and the War on Terrorism: How the Extradition Act 2003 May Undermine Human Rights Protections Kevin Warne Supervisors: Eugene McLaughlin & Leah Bassel Department: Sociology Programme: MA International Politics & Human Rights Year: 2010 – 2011 Submitted: September 2011 Extradition, Human Rights, and the War on Terrorism Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................... iv Abstract ................................................................................................................................. v List of Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Who is a ‘Terrorist’ Today? .................................................................................. 4 2.1 - Syed Fahad Hashmi .................................................................................................. 4 2.2 - Babar Ahmad ............................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 3: Methodology ...................................................................................................... 10 3.1 - Access to Information .............................................................................................. 10 3.2 - Participant Observation & Biases ............................................................................. 11 3.3 - Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................. 12 3.4 - Examining a Case .................................................................................................... 13 3.5 - Why This Case? ...................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 4: Material Support for Terrorism ........................................................................... 16 4.1 - Defining Terrorism ................................................................................................... 16 4.2 - What is Material Support for Terrorism? .................................................................. 17 4.3 - Holder v The Humanitarian Law Project ................................................................... 18 4.4 - Gaza Freedom Flotilla and Jimmy Carter ................................................................. 19 Chapter 5: Solitary Confinement in the U.S. Prison System ................................................ 23 5.1 - Extreme Isolation & Its Effects ................................................................................. 23 5.2 - The History of Solitary Confinement in the United States ......................................... 27 5.3 - What is 'good behaviour' under SAMs? ................................................................... 29 5.4 - Possibilities for Reform ............................................................................................ 31 Chapter 6: Extradition Law & Human Rights ........................................................................ 35 6.1 - 'Fast Track' Extradition ............................................................................................. 35 6.2 - Interpreting Torture in International Law .................................................................. 36 6.3 - European Court of Human Rights Rulings ............................................................... 39 6.4 - MI6 & the Gibson inquiry .......................................................................................... 41 Chapter 7: The United States of America v Syed Hashmi .................................................... 43 7.1 - Material Support for Designated Terrorist Organisations .......................................... 43 7.2 U.S. Prisons & Legal Systems ................................................................................... 45 7.3 Extradition .................................................................................................................. 47 Chapter 8: Recommendations ............................................................................................. 49 ii Kevin Warne 8.1 - Revising the Material Support Law .......................................................................... 49 8.2 - U.S. Prison Reforms ................................................................................................ 50 8.3 - Revision of the Extradition Act of 2003 .................................................................... 51 Appendix A: Interview Guides .............................................................................................. 52 Appendix B: Materials from the ‘Free Fahad’ Campaign ...................................................... 55 Appendix C: International Law Documentation .................................................................... 58 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................ 66 iii Extradition, Human Rights, and the War on Terrorism Acknowledgements For all their support and interest in my work, I'd like to thank my advisers, Dr. Leah Bassel and Professor Eugene McLaughlin. Your guidance helped to generate valuable new directions for the research and analysis. For taking the time to discuss their expertise and opinions, I'd like to thank Brooklyn College professor, Dr. Jeanne Theoharis, Amy Fettig from the American Civil Liberties Union, and Dr. Stephen Soldz of Psychologists for Social Responsibility. Also, for providing important research materials for this project, I would like to thank Dr. Sharon Shalev of the London School of Economics, Drake Lucas from Human Rights Watch, Pardiss Kebriaei from the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York, and my close friend Rebecca Taylor. A special thanks to the activists, actors, poets and speakers of the 'Free Fahad' campaign for their continued efforts to address these issues and educate the general public. Your dedication to human rights and non-violent demonstration has been inspirational, as you stood outside the Manhattan Correctional Center to stage regular events for months, withstanding not only the cold and rain, but the criticism of those who would label you supporters of terrorism for standing up for your beliefs. To my friends and family here and back in the states, thank you for all you support. And finally, thank you to all my fellow graduate students at City University London. We have all come from many different parts of the world and I have felt truly honoured to have met you all during my time in the UK, to hear your stories and your perspectives. You have also been some of the nicest people I've ever had a chance to meet and I'm truly grateful to have been able to share this experience with you. iv Kevin Warne Abstract The nature of the international political system has meant that both human rights laws and security measures are issues of cooperation and conflict between nations. In the decade since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S.-led War on Terrorism has brought these issues to the forefront. New laws have been drafted and revised to help the growing international threat. These laws are interrelated and overlapping. Proponents justify them as necessary means to combat a threat. However, they are often discussed in isolation, without considering what the real affects of these laws may be together. The case of Syed Fahad Hashmi helps to illustrate what can happen when different elements come together. Due to controversial changes to the U.S. prison system, vague charges of support for terrorism, and a so-called 'fast track' extradition treaty, have led to Hashmi serving a 15 year sentence in solitary confinement, conditions which have been decried by both health officials and legal scholars. The extradition agreements can mean that the international community has their own level of responsibility for these kinds of violations, if the proper safeguards are not in place. The urgency to act quickly combined with the secrecy of the charges levelled against these suspects has, arguably, undermined the potential for greater human rights protections. This research will aim to demonstrate the failures of these revised laws to protect human rights and make a case of their revision. In particular, it will focus on the lack of oversight involved with current extradition laws. v Extradition, Human Rights, and the War on Terrorism List of Abbreviations ACHR - American Convention on Human Rights ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union ADX - Administrative Maximum Facility CCR - Center for Constitutional Rights CDCR - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation EAW - European Arrest Warrant ECHR - European Convention on Human Rights ECtHR - European Court of Human Rights HLP - Humanitarian Law Project ICCPR - International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights LTTE - Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam MCC - Manhattan Correctional Center MDOC - Mississippi Department of Corrections PKK - Kurdistan Workers Party SAMs - Special Administrative Measures SHU - Security Housing Unit (also known as Special Handling Unit) Supermax - Supermaximum Security Facility THAW - Theaters Against War UDHR - Universal Declaration of Human Rights USP - United States Penitentiary