BASQUE EXTRADITION HEARING - SPANISH WARRANT 'DEFECTIVE'
A former member of the Basque paramilitary group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) attended a second court hearing on Thursday (11th December 2008) in Belfast as a consequence of attempts by the Spanish authorities to extradite him to Spain to answer charges of 'praising terrorism'.
Inaki de Juana Chaos, who served 21 years in prison in Spain for murder and other crimes, was released in August 2008 and later moved to the Republic of Ireland, before appearing at a Laganside Court in Belfast last month to answer the charges being brought against him by the Spanish authorities. The Spanish authorities had contacted INTERPOL to help them find Mr Chaos after it was alleged that he had written a letter while still in prison that glorified terrorism“ a criminal offence in the state of Spain.
However, Mr Chaos' lawyer said that there was no equivalent crime in UK law under the Terrorism Act and that the warrant for his extradition to Spain was defective. The Celtic League wrote to INTERPOL Secretary General, Ronald K. Noble, in August to point out that the allegations against Mr Chaos were 'questionable' in terms of International human rights law.
Mr Chaos denies being behind the letter and Judge Tom Burgess reserved judgment, while setting no future date for a verdict.
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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 13/12/08
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