Gary McKinnon, 43, has been denied leave to appeal to the new UK Supreme Court against his extradition to the US.
The prime minister and home secretary Alan Johnson should “do the right thing” and block the extradition of computer hacker Gary McKinnon.
Both the Lib Dems and the Conservatives have criticised the UK’s extradition treaty with the US. They say it is unfair to British citizens because of the lack of reciprocity shown by the American authorities.
Following the failure of Mr McKinnon’s appeal on Friday 10th October, Mr Clegg told the BBC his case demonstrated “precisely why we, the Lib Dems, were so staunchly opposed to this treaty right from the beginning”.
“This is wrong. It must be stopped, and Gordon Brown and Alan Johnson can stop it by trying Gary McKinnon here under British law rather than shipping him off to a jail in America,” he said.
“There is no excuse not to do the right thing and the only right thing to do is to prevent this vulnerable man being sent over to America.”
But this week the High Court said it was not of “general public importance” that McKinnon have a chance to appeal against his extradition. His last hope now seems to rest in the European Court of Human Rights, though whether or not he’ll be able to even take his case there is not known.
If McKinnon had actually acted in a malicious way eg: altered or detroyed files, published passwords online, or worse, then the clamour to have him prosecuted in the US would be understandable. However, he was simply looking for evidence of UFOs – the misguided actions of someone whose grasp of fantasy and reality have been blurred by a medically recognised condition.Aspergers Syndrome.
The major factor here seems to be one of having to save face, where neither Gordon Brown nor Alan Johnson are willing to step in and help this very vulnerable man.
Therefore its left to us the public, to remind politicians that we the voters and taxpayers believe that this is very much of “general public importance”
We ask the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Home Secretary Alan Johnson to intervene on the publics behalf and put an end to the seven year suffering of Gary McKinnon and his family.
This video is of Garys Mum Janis Sharp, outside the Royal Courts Of Justice after Gary has been denied leave to appeal to the new UK Supreme Court against his extradition to the US.
Yes, Janis is angry, (as we all would be) this has destroyed her family and pushed Gary close to suicide, her despair at the Courts decision is evident. We believe that the current Extradition Treaty will continue to destroy individuals and families unless it is either revoked or amended.
We will continue to fight for Gary McKinnnon and his family because its the right thing to do, and contrary to the words of The High Court that it was not of “general public importance”. We disagree, it is very much of General Public Importance. Why? Because we are the public!