Since my private prosecution against both Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan was announced at the end week (Briton launches prosecution against terror suspects to prevent extradition, 6 September), I have been more than encouraged by the reaction and messages of support I received for the initiative.However, while the Twitter’s coverage was well balanced, some of the reporting elsewhere has incorrectly interpreted my motive. Let me be perfectly clear: I have no interest whatsoever in attempting to derail the extradition of the two detainees, save for rendering the whole extradition action void as a result of the pair securing a proper and honest trial in the UK, as should be their fair as UK citizens.My sole focus is the public interest that this condition represents. Our criminal justice system should deliver on its duty by ensuring that these two British citizens, alleged to have committed very serious crimes in the UK, are tried and, if appropriate, imprisoned here. The US’s attempt to seek jurisdiction, by dint of the accused’s web servers being “based” in the US, seems tenuous at best. If this is the extent of the claim to prosecute in the US, then as a result we’re all subjected to US code irrespective of our nationality and residence. It is not for the US to deliver universal justice to us all, and such a suggestion should worry us all deeply.I have no sympathy for terrorists. I can also know why American justice suits the American psyche. However we are not the 51st state of the union; in the UK, we don’t ballot for American presidents, nor for American poodles. Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan are British citizens born and brought up in the UK; they are accused of crimes allegedly committed here. For all these reasons, a domestic prosecution is clearly warranted and a affair of considerable public interest. I gaze forward to the director of public prosecutions ensuring that the public interest is served.Karl WatkinNewcastle upon TyneExtraditionUK criminal justiceUK security and terrorismGlobal terrorismUnited Statesguardian.co.uk © 2012 Twitter News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Employ of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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