Babar Ahmad, who has been in jail on remand without trial for almost eight years, said he helped defend towns in "battles" with Serbs in the 1990s but denied he supported terrorism.
He is wanted by the US authorities for allegedly raising money for terrorists extremists in Chechnya and Afghanistan through a website, and for conspiracy to kill, but said the British police had "outsourced" his case and that he should have been put on trial in the UK.
His claims were made in what is thought to be the first broadcast interview of a serving prisoner, carried out by BBC News, which has led to considerable cost to the taxpaying citizen. The Ministry of Justice refused the broadcasters request to be allowed into the jail to speak to Ahmad but a High Court judge overturned that decision on the grounds that it was an exceptional case.
So far the Ministry has incurred costs of £55,000 but it must also pay the legal fees of the BBC, believed to be around the same amount, and even those of Ahmad himself as he was included as an "interested party".
The interview comes ahead of next weeks decision by the European Court of Human Rights as to whether Ahmad should be sent to a supermax jail in Colorado, or whether this would breach his human rights.
He said, "I am facing extradition to the United States and spending the rest of my life in solitary confinement. It is fair to say I'm fighting for my life and I'm running out of time."
Ahmad told the BBC that he had visited Bosnia several times as a teenager in the 90's. Several other British terror suspects have told courts that they did the same, in order to take humanitarian aid to besieged Muslims.
He said, "I decided I wanted to do more than just giving food and water... I wanted to stop it happening. I went to the Bosnian army and I said I want to help defend your people. It was a moral, human obligation - religion did not come into it.
"I was sent to different towns and villages that were besieged by the Serbs. I spent some time there and I took up arms. There were battles and I helped to defend towns against attacks.
"I absolutely reject any allegation that I have supported terrorism and in any way and in any place - whether in Chechnya, or Afghanistan, or any other part of the world. I believe terrorism to be wrong and I believe targeting and killing innocent people to be wrong."
Ahmad said he had never been formally questioned about the charges against him and claimed that if he had been charged back in 2003 and convicted, he would have been free by now. Instead, he has been held on remand since 2004 as legal procedures have dragged on.
"I have been in this nightmare fighting extradition for the past eight years," he said.
Continued on Page 47
George Galloway, the firebrand socialist recently re-elected as an MP, has become the latest Left-wing politician to face questions over his tax affairs.
The Sunday Telegraph has established Mr Galloway has channelled his substantial media earnings through one service company and set up another such structure just seven weeks ago.
New details of Mr Galloways financial arrangements follow a dispute over a similar arrangement used by Ken Livingstone, Labours London mayoral candidate, who was found to have lowered his tax bill legally by receiving some payments though a personal company.
Mr Galloway, who has previously served as an MP for constituencies in Glasgow and London, was elected to represent Bradford West in a by-election 10 days ago.
Records filed at Companies House show that he is the sole director of Molucca Media Ltd, a company founded on Feb 17 this year. It is thought that it takes its name from a group of islands in Indonesia the politicians fourth wife, whom he married last weekend, is of Indonesian extraction.
Mr Galloway has used another company, Miranda Media Ltd, to receive his sizeable earnings as a journalist, author and public speaker for more than four years.
#2
Could be worse, wonder if he owns a rooster. Or a duck...
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/08/2012 9:57 Comments ||
Top||
#3
I always thought this guy was off his rocker. But to have an affair with taxes is just plain sick
But maybe he has a potency problem and that is the only way to achieve, uh, success. After all, isn't it well known that 'everything's bigger in taxes?'
Judges are to be ordered by ministers to end the "abuse" of human rights laws which allows foreign criminals to claim the right to a "family life" to avoid being deported.
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has declared that new immigration rules will be in place by the summer to make it "absolutely clear" that those who have committed a crime, broken immigration rules or cannot support themselves must not be allowed to stay.
The move, which follows a Home Office consultation into Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), represents a victory for The Sunday Telegraph which launched a campaign on the issue last year under the slogan: "End the Human Rights Farce."
Mrs May said in an interview with this newspaper: "By the summer, I will have changed the immigration rules so that we can end the abuse of the right to a family life."
#4
to make it "absolutely clear" that those who have committed a crime, broken immigration rules or cannot support themselves must not be allowed to stay.
Gentlemen, this isn't about you. This is about the muzz. An end to jizya. Don't take it so personally.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
George Galloway, the firebrand socialist recently re-elected as an MP, has become the latest Left-wing politician to face questions over his tax affairs. 
Judges are to be ordered by ministers to end the "abuse" of human rights laws which allows foreign criminals to claim the right to a "family life" to avoid being deported. 
