Death penalty bar put on bin Laden extradition

If Osama bin Laden were held in Britain he would not be extradited to any country where he could face the death penalty, the British government has confirmed.

Asked what would happen if America demanded bin Laden’s extradition, British Home Office minister Lord Rooker told peers that the US would have to confirm bin Laden would not face execution to secure extradition from the UK.

This is what the US had done in every other relevant case, he said.

Tory peers’ deputy leader Baroness Blatch had urged the British government to change the law ‘‘in order that known terrorists in the UK, who are wanted by other countries, may be extradited’’.

She said: ‘‘It makes no sense to be more concerned about the human rights of the terrorist and not about the protection of our people and the cost to our taxpayers.’’

Lord Rooker said extradition to a country retaining the death penalty would depend on confirmation from that country ‘‘that the death penalty will not be exercised’’.

He described this policy, which had also applied under the previous Tory government, as ‘‘perfectly normal’’ and ‘‘acceptable to the United States’’.

‘‘It’s not a problem,’’ he said. ‘‘We have not had any difficulties in that respect with people who have sought extradition. There are not many of our extradition partners who still maintain the death penalty.

‘‘That is our position, and we do not intend to deviate from it.’’