ABU HAMZA

Hamza’s extradition to the US has been put on hold pending a further hearing this week (Echo, Oct 1).

Surely the charges against him could have been dealt with in a court in this country?

The procedure followed has placed this country in a position where it has violated the principles enshrined in the Magna Carta that no man could be punished except through the law of the land.

There is no law that authorises anyone to be held in custody, as Hamza has been, on and off, since 2004.

Wrangling over his extradition has brought about this unjustified delay in bringing Hamza to justice.

Given that this man will receive justice in the US, all he has been able to achieve is the delay of the inevitable.

Hamza has been charged with 11 counts of criminal conduct related to the taking of 16 hostages in Yemen in 1998, advocating violent jihad in Afghanistan in 2001, and conspiring to establish a jihad training camp in Bly, Oregon, between June 2000 and December 2001.

If he is guilty, then he will have to answer in court and I have no sympathy with him.

His antics have only prolonged his agony.

What concerns me most is that we have thrown overboard the principles of the Magna Carta on account of our subservience to American hegemony G Bulmer, Billingham.