New anti-terror legislation may stop Finnish extraditions to USA

George W. Bush

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The new counter-terrorism legislation being introduced in the United States may put a stop to deportations and extraditions from Finland to the USA, the Finnish Channel Four newscast reports.
      Finnish legislation, as well as various international treaties, prohibits Finland from handing people over to countries where they may be subjected to torture or may otherwise be dealt with in an inhumane fashion.
      A private citizen has filed a complaint over the matter, and the chancellor of justice has to respond to whether Finland may henceforth deport or extradite people to the USA.
     
Just over a week ago, the American President George W. Bush, with the support of the Republican Party, forced through an expansion to the so-called Patriot Act anti-terrorism law, which has been criticised as heavy-handed and vague.
      In principle the law complies with the Geneva Conventions forbidding grave human rights violations when interrogating terror suspects, but it also leaves the President plenty of room for interpretation as to which interrogation methods can be considered legal.
      According to Finland's Directorate of Immigration, the American policy change will be taken into consideration when deciding if people can still be deported there.
     
The Ministry of Justice, on the other hand, disagrees with the Directorate. According to the Ministry, which is the ruling body in deciding on deportations, Finland has to trust that the United States will abide by international treaties.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  President Halonen criticises proposed US terror legislation (26.9.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat