BTW Fahrenheit 451and Larry E Arnold notwithstanding I have just made my
feelings open to the NAS on this.
Larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:DISABILITY-
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of m.hersh
> Sent: 16 October 2012 23:02
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: oppose extradition of autistic man Tahla Ahsan,
>
> Could I ask people to write in support of Tahla Ahsan, an autistic man
threatened with
> extradition to USA. Information below is from another email list.
> Marion
>
>
>
> In response to today's decision to halt the extradition of Gary McKinnon
on human
> rights grounds the Free Talha Ahsan Campaign requests the following:
>
> - Comment on the preferential treatment McKinnon received compared to
Talha Ahsan.
> Send the BBC a SMS to 61124, or tweet @BBC_HaveYourSay or post here
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19962844
> <http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-
> 19962844&h=RAQGNodqRAQHMPNA-
> MsnNGTB3zfjhy_h9m8m3mBo2MuPaRg&s=1>
>
> - Contact the National Autistic Society who called for McKinnon's
extradition to be
> stopped, whilst refusing to act for Talha Ahsan, despite having the same
diagnosis,
> citing "lack of capacity." Tweet @NASInfoCentre or email [log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> - Write letters to all the national and local newspapers covering this
story and comment
> on their websites.
>
> *Points to mention:*
>
> - Talha Ahsan has the same Asperger diagnosis and risk assessment as Gary
McKinnon.
>
> - Despite this whilst McKinnon was bailed for ten years, Talha was
detained without
> charge or trial for over 6 years in high security prisons in legal limbo,
in conditions
> particularly difficult for an Aspergers sufferer to endure.
>
> - Both were accused of computer related activity. McKinnon admitted his
guilt whilst
> Ahsan pleaded not guilty.
>
> - The alleged crimes in both cases were committed on British soil yet the
forum bar has
> only been expediently introduced on the day of the McKinnon decision, only
ten days
> after Ahsan was extradited. Had this been applied earlier then the
extradition of Ahsan
> and Ahmad would not have proceeded.
>
> - Expert advice was noted in McKinnon's case and led to extradition being
halted but
> were ignored in Ahsan's. Dr Quinton Deeley recommended Talha receive
specialist care
> for his condition after he was diagnosed in 2009: "It should be noted that
by virtue of
> his Asperger's syndrome and depressive disorder, (Talha) is an extremely
vulnerable
> individual who, from a psychiatric perspective, would be more
appropriately placed in
> a specialist service for adults with autistic disorders and co-morbid
mental health
> problems, with a level of security dictated by his risk assessment."
>
> - Despite this diagnosis, Talha now faces life in prison in solitary
confinement.
>
> - Prime Minister David Cameron had previously stated: "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".
>
> - Mark Lever, chief executive of the National Autistic Society, said
"People with
> Asperger syndrome can be vulnerable and the NAS argued long and hard for
the home
> secretary to take Gary's condition and its associated challenges into
account when
> making this decision." He said the extradition could have "serious and
potentially tragic
> ramifications".
>
> These statements apply equally to Ahsan.
>
> - The following statements of support for Talha Ahsan can be referred to:
>
page.
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