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McKinnon's mum wins human rights gong

Janis Sharp praised for extradition law reform battle

Gary McKinnon's mum has secured a human rights award for her campaign to reform extradition laws.

Janis Sharp secured recognition by human rights group Liberty for her tireless campaigning on behalf of her son, who is accused of hacking into the Pentagon. McKinnon has Asperger's Syndrome and has been fighting against extradition to the US for the last nine years.

The campaign to secure a UK trial for McKinnon has become a cause celebre as well as inspiring a national debate on extradition arrangements between the US and UK.

A judicial inquiry into extradition law by Sir Scott Baker concluded that the treaty arrangements were not unfair. However Dominic Grieve, the UK's Attorney General, said the review offered “guidelines only” and was not binding on judges, giving a boost to the Save Gary campaign in the process.

Liberty said Sharp was being awarded its Close to Home award "for her passionate and sustained campaign to protect her son ... from extradition to the USA", the Daily Mail reports.

Meanwhile McKinnon's fate lies in the hands of Home Secretary Theresa May, who is considering medical evidence that warns McKinnon would be a suicide risk if faced with the stress of a US extradition, trial and likely imprisonment. ®

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