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Hamza 'part of Jihad conspiracy' | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri was part of a global terror network which plotted Jihad against the west, a hearing has been told. | |
On the first day of extradition proceedings against him, Hamza, 48, was accused of involvement in the kidnap of westerners in the Yemen. | |
The United States government wants to put the cleric on trial. | |
But Hamza's barrister said some of its evidence was obtained by torture and the application should fail. | |
'Global conspiracy' | |
He advocated the defence of Islam through unlawful, violent and armed aggression Hugo KeithLawyer for the US government | |
The Egyptian-born cleric, who formerly preached at Finsbury Park Mosque in north London, faces 11 terror charges in the US, which carry a potential jail sentence of 100 years. | |
He is currently serving a seven-year jail term in the UK for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred. | |
Hugo Keith, representing the American government, told the hearing: "The general allegation is that Mr Hamza is a member of a global conspiracy to wage Jihad against the US and other western countries. | |
"Jihad carried out in numerous parts of the world - the UK, Afghanistan, Yemen and US. | |
"He advocated the defence of Islam through unlawful, violent and armed aggression in order to influence the US government." | |
Mr Keith said that a group of westerners including 12 Britons, two Americans and two Australians were abducted in Yemen, partly in order to gain the release of Hamza's stepson Mohsen Ghailan and five others. | |
The hearing was told that Hamza gave advice to the hostage-takers and provided them with a satellite phone. | |
Four of the captives - Britons Margaret Whitehouse, 52, a teacher from Hampshire, Ruth Williamson, 34, an NHS employee from Edinburgh, university lecturer Peter Rowe, 60, from Durham and Australian Andrew Thirsk - were killed after Yemeni authorities tried to rescue them. | |
'Abuse of process' | |
The hearing was told that Hamza provided expenses for Feroz Abbasi, one of the former British Guantanamo Bay detainees, to travel to Afghanistan. | |
The cleric is also accused of helping fund another man's visit to a terrorist training camp in the Middle East, and helping set up a similar camp in Bly, Oregon, in the US. | |
Hamza missed the morning session at Woolwich Crown Court because he was recovering from an operation to remove an inch of bone from his arm. | |
He attended the hearing in the afternoon session but sat with his head bowed as and the stump on his left arm heavily bandaged. | |
Alun Jones, QC, for Hamza, said the evidence against his client had been obtained by torture. | |
Mr Jones added: "This means the extradition request constitutes an abuse of process of the court and shouldn't be received." | |
The House of Lords paved the way for the case after refusing Hamza leave to appeal against his convictions. | |
The hearing, which is expected to last a further three days, was adjourned. |