Assange's Extradition Is Only The Tip Of The Iceberg
No doubt, in the coming days, many more column inches will be dedicated to Julian Assange's battle against extradition to Sweden. His case, however, is the tip of the iceberg. In 2009 more than 4,000 people were extradited under Europe's fast-track extradition system, 700 from the UK alone.
This kind of EU co-operation may help in the fight against crime but the benefits of a streamlined system should be weighed against the heavy toll taken upon an individual when surrendered to another state.
A few days ago, four of Fair Trials International's clients spoke in parliament about their personal extradition ordeals. These examples clearly demonstrate that the European Arrest Warrant is not operating "efficiently and in the interests of justice".
Frank Symeou explained how his 21-year-old son, Andrew, spent a year in horrendous prison conditions in Greece. Eighteen months after he was extradited he is still waiting for the trial to start.
More:
http://www.fairtrials.net/press/article/assanges_extradition_is_only_the_tip_of_the_iceberg
I think the fast train to extradition needs to be slowed. Extradition can be a frustrating and extremely long process. However, there has to be a happy medium between the 'extradite 'em now' crowd and the 'never let them go' bunch.
You better hope you never get caught up in this Kafakaesque system where governments agree or collude on your fate.
