6th September 2012
The BBC reports that British businessman Karl Watkin brings a private prosecution against Babar Ahmad.
20th September 2012
Talha Ahsan’s poem Grieving wins a platinum award as part of the Koestler Trust’s annual awards. His collection of poems entitled Grieving wins a bronze award. Grieving is exhibited at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank from 20th September.
24 September 2012
The European Court of Human Rights rejects Talha Ahsan’s request for a referral to the Grand Chamber, ruling that there would be ‘no violation of the applicants’ rights if extradited to stand trial in the United States.’ The judgement is objected 26 American Human Rights NGOs including ACLU, CCR and Human Rights First and 150 academics including Noam Chomsky and Jeanne Theoharis. United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez voices concern.
1st October 2012
Talha Ahsan’s lawyers make an application for a High Court injunction to halt his extradition. Hours later, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, announces his refusal to allow a private prosecution brought by Karl Watkin.
2nd October 2012
High Court hears the applications made by the five extradition detainees, including Talha Ahsan. His lawyers seek to judicially review the CPS’ refusal to prosecute him in the UK.
5th October 2012
High Court refuses a judicial review in Talha Ahsan’s case. He is immediately extradited to the US that evening.
6th October 2012
Talha enters a not-guilty plea at a federal district court hearing in New Haven, Connecticut. He is remanded into custody in Supermax prison Northern Correctional Facility in solitary confinement.
19th July 2013
An event marking of 7 years of Talha Ahsan detention without trial entitled Long Walk : Family Struggles for Justice at London Rich Mix centre. Guests include Hillsborough Justice Campaign director Sheila Coleman, Justice for Paps deaths in custody justice campaign, A.L. Kennedy and comedian Ava Vidal. A new awarding winning short film Dinnertime on Ahsan family ordeal is screened for the first time.
25th November 2013
Free Talha Ahsan director Hamja Ahsan is shortlisted for LIBERTY Human Rights Award 2013 stating it for “For his inspiring work leading www.freetalha.org. This creative and innovative campaign highlights the case of Hamja’s brother, Talha, a British-born poet and writer with Aspergers syndrome who was detained without charge or trial for six years in the UK before being extradited to the US in October 2012 where he is currently detained. Hamja has used art, poetry, film and music to bring the issue of summary extradition to wider public and political attention, stating that he is ”…not asking for much, just justice.”
10th December 2013
Talha enters into a plea-bargain with US prosecutors to conspiracy and material support charges, reducing projected 70 year sentence to maximum of 15 years. All other charges are dropped. Repatriation in British prison under British parole rules with UK-based family offered (but not guaranteed) as part of plea-deal.
18th July 2014
Date of Talha Ahsan final sentencing. Talha may be transferred to Metropilitan Correctional Center in New York after sentencing as a transfer prison prior to his possible repatriation.