US court fight starts for radical cleric sent from Britain

NEW YORK (Reuters) – One-eyed radical Islamist cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri made his first appearance in federal court in New York yesterday after Britain extradited him to the United States to face trial and a potential life sentence on terrorism charges.

The Egyptian-born Hamza, 54, entered US District Court in Manhattan after being refused the prosthetics – including his signature metal hook – that he wears because of his missing forearms.

Hamza is accused by Washington of supporting al Qaeda, aiding a kidnapping in Yemen and plotting to open a training camp for militants in the United States.

He was flown late on Friday to the United States along with four other men also wanted on US terrorism charges.
Hamza is missing both his hands and an eye, injuries he says he sustained while living in Afghanistan in the 1980s and carrying out humanitarian work. Authorities say he was fighting for the Mujahideen against the Soviet Union.

Dressed in blue prison garb, Hamza spoke only once during Saturday’s 10-minute court hearing before Magistrate Judge Frank Maas. Through his court-appointed lawyer, Hamza asked that his prosthetics be returned to him and that he receive proper medical attention. It was not clear why authorities did not allow him the prosthetics in court.

He will not be asked to enter a plea until he returns to court on Tuesday. Under the terms of British and European court rulings authorizing the extradition, the five suspects must be tried in US civilian courts and federal prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty.