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| Abu Hamza suffering from depression and sleep deprivation, court told | Abu Hamza suffering from depression and sleep deprivation, court told |
| (12 days later) | |
| The Islamist cleric Abu Hamza is suffering from depression and chronic sleep deprivation owing to harsh prison conditions, the high court has been told. | The Islamist cleric Abu Hamza is suffering from depression and chronic sleep deprivation owing to harsh prison conditions, the high court has been told. |
| The 48-year-old, who was detained in Belmarsh jail in south-east London for eight years, was woken every hour of the night in the high-security unit, his barrister, Alun Jones QC, said. | The 48-year-old, who was detained in Belmarsh jail in south-east London for eight years, was woken every hour of the night in the high-security unit, his barrister, Alun Jones QC, said. |
| A medical report drawn up in August recorded that he is suffering from type 2 diabetes and has to shower twice a day because of excessive sweating. | A medical report drawn up in August recorded that he is suffering from type 2 diabetes and has to shower twice a day because of excessive sweating. |
| The court is considering applications from Hamza and four other terrorist suspects who are seeking to extend injunctions preventing their extradition to the US, where they are wanted on al-Qaida-related charges. | The court is considering applications from Hamza and four other terrorist suspects who are seeking to extend injunctions preventing their extradition to the US, where they are wanted on al-Qaida-related charges. |
| Hamza is also suffering from memory loss and is unfit to plead at any trial, Jones told the court. | Hamza is also suffering from memory loss and is unfit to plead at any trial, Jones told the court. |
| "He has been kept in utterly unacceptable conditions for eight years," Jones said. "His sleep deprivation is primarily because he is woken every hour by prison officers who turn on the light to check on him." Belmarsh's high-security unit, he explained, is the "most restrictive regime in the prison estate" in the UK. | "He has been kept in utterly unacceptable conditions for eight years," Jones said. "His sleep deprivation is primarily because he is woken every hour by prison officers who turn on the light to check on him." Belmarsh's high-security unit, he explained, is the "most restrictive regime in the prison estate" in the UK. |
| Doctors who examined him have requested that he be given an MRI scan to assess whether he has a degenerative medical condition. | Doctors who examined him have requested that he be given an MRI scan to assess whether he has a degenerative medical condition. |
| But one of the judges hearing the case, Sir John Thomas, said: "It could be said that the sooner he stands trial, the better for his condition. I don't see how delay can be in the interests of justice." Good medical treatment is available in the US, he added. | But one of the judges hearing the case, Sir John Thomas, said: "It could be said that the sooner he stands trial, the better for his condition. I don't see how delay can be in the interests of justice." Good medical treatment is available in the US, he added. |
| The radical cleric is, additionally, said to feel "persecuted" by the press. Jones said Hamza had become a figure of such public notoriety that he had been reduced to the status of "pantomime villain". | The radical cleric is, additionally, said to feel "persecuted" by the press. Jones said Hamza had become a figure of such public notoriety that he had been reduced to the status of "pantomime villain". |
| On 21 September, Hamza was moved to Long Lartin prison, where the other suspects fighting deportation are being held. The Home Office is in the final stages of preparations for deporting the five men. | On 21 September, Hamza was moved to Long Lartin prison, where the other suspects fighting deportation are being held. The Home Office is in the final stages of preparations for deporting the five men. |
| Lawyers for two of the other men, Babar Ahmad and Syed Talha Ahsan, condemned the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to charge them in the UK as "irrational". | Lawyers for two of the other men, Babar Ahmad and Syed Talha Ahsan, condemned the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to charge them in the UK as "irrational". |
| Phillippa Kaufmann QC, for the two men, questioned the refusal of the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, to consent to a private prosecution. Ahmad and Ahsan are accused of setting up terrorist fundraising websites. Ahmad has been detained in a British jail for eight years without charge. | Phillippa Kaufmann QC, for the two men, questioned the refusal of the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, to consent to a private prosecution. Ahmad and Ahsan are accused of setting up terrorist fundraising websites. Ahmad has been detained in a British jail for eight years without charge. |
| "They have both admitted responsibility for involvement in the Azzam website," Kauffman said, "and of possession of the items found during searches of their homes." | "They have both admitted responsibility for involvement in the Azzam website," Kauffman said, "and of possession of the items found during searches of their homes." |
| But Thomas commented: "There's no admission of any offence here. The defendant is trying to dictate where he is prosecuted." | But Thomas commented: "There's no admission of any offence here. The defendant is trying to dictate where he is prosecuted." |
| James Eadie QC, for the British government, said that under the law the home secretary could proceed with their deportation whatever the decision on a private prosecution. | James Eadie QC, for the British government, said that under the law the home secretary could proceed with their deportation whatever the decision on a private prosecution. |
| The home secretary, Theresa May, has given an undertaking that the five men will not be deported before the court reaches its judgment, expected on Friday. | The home secretary, Theresa May, has given an undertaking that the five men will not be deported before the court reaches its judgment, expected on Friday. |
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