Saturday 10^th November 2012 2pm to 5pm

VENUE: Carrs lane Church Carrs Lane B4 7SX,Birmingham

Speakers include members of the families affected by the decision, campaigners against extradition and community representatives

We very much welcome the decision not to extradite Gary McKinnon – we would not want his family to experience the pain, suffering and sense of betrayal which the family and friends of Babar and Talha have been enduring since they were extradited.

However, questions do need to be asked about why two  British citizens engaged in computer related activity, one of them suffering from Asperger’s syndrome are extradited and less than two weeks later  another British citizen also engaged in computer related activity and similarly suffering from Asperger’s has his extradition revoked.

These are double standards! And Teresa May has laid herself open to accusations of racism

In a letter of support to Talha Ahsan, the Autistic Society Greater Manchester Area ASGMA described what an Asperger’s sufferer like him would go through if detained in the supermax prison environment.

The very idea of being detained without charge could be utterly incomprehensible to someone with Asperger’s, someone whose world is governed by rules, logic and justice.

People with Asperger’s need to know what is going to happen, when it’s going to happen, and why it’s going to happen. If this is not explained, levels of anxiety and stress can rise within minutes, so I can’t begin to imagine the effect of 6 years of uncertainty about one’s own freedom and future.

The supermax prison environment could cause multiple and complex difficulties for someone with Asperger’s- sensory issues alone could be amplified to the point where the environment is literally torturous. To put this in perspective, to someone with Asperger’s, something as supposedly trivial as an itchy jumper can feel like razor blades, the colour of a wall or the height of the ceiling can cause panic attacks, and a flickering light can cause intense physical and mental discomfort.

We wish you well in your cause in that we would not wish anyone to be treated in the way you are highlighting.

 Sarah Layzell 

Aspirations Project 

It therefore makes sense that Gary McKinnon who suffers from the same condition as Talha is not extradited to theUS. The Prime Minister has asserted that “Gary McKinnon is a vulnerable young man and I see no compassion in sending him thousands of miles away from his home and loved ones to stand trial. If he has questions to answer, there is a clear argument to be made that he should answer them in a British court”.

However, the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary did not apply the same compassion to Talha. Why?

Contact: Rightoresist@mail.com

Join us to discuss the racism within the institutions of the state which these double standards reflect.   

Saturday 10^th November 2012 2pm to 5pm

VENUE: Carrs lane Church Carrs Lane B4 7SX,Birmingham

Speakers include members of the families affected by the decision, campaigners against extradition and community representatives