The Sikh Federation UK has sent in an update on Paramjeet Singh, given asylum in the UK 15 years ago but remaining in detention in Portugal, awaiting extradition at the request of the Indian authorities.
On Monday January 11th, John Spellar MP (Paramjeet Singh’s local MP in the UK) challenged the Home Office Minister (James Brokenshire) in Parliament.
In Parliament, Soellar accused India of an abuse of the UK Immigration system
Mr John Spellar(Warley) (Lab):
“May I draw the Minister’s attention to an abuse of our immigration system by the Indian authorities in the case of my constituent, Paramjeet Singh, to whom we have granted refugee status from India and indefinite leave to remain in the UK? But while he was on holiday in Portugal last month with his wife and four British children, he was detained with a request for deportation by India.
“Does the Minister agree that if the Indian authorities have a case, they should take it up with the UK Government? Will the Minister put the case to his counterparts in Portugal and the European Commission to secure Paramjeet Singh’s early return to his family in Smethwick?”
James Brokenshire:
"I will look carefully at the case that the right hon. Gentleman has raised, specifically at the facts and circumstances which he has drawn to the attention of the House, and I will write to him."
Spellar also provided an interview to ITV on January 11th, ‘MP to ask Foreign Office to help return West Bromwich father held in Portugal jail'
BBC coverage on 11 January was as follows:
'Terror suspect held for India bombing should be returned to UK'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-35284551
BBC Midlands Today coverage is below:
https://www.facebook.com/Thesikhnetwork/videos/1037817956274435/
A delegation of MPs led by John Spellar met David Lidington, Europe Minister on January 11th.
The Sikh Federation (UK) stated:
“We have been told the meeting with the Minister was very positive. The Minister is producing a record of the meeting that will be released today or tomorrow.
"The Minister stated Portugal was not happy regarding the outcome in the Abu Salem case who was extradited from Portugal to India in February 2004. The Minister drew attention to a two-stage process –the legal process and the political process. The latter is where the UK and Portuguese Governments will have a say.
"Our view is there is no way they will agree to the extradition of Paramjeet Singh given he has been given political asylum in the UK and if India had any new evidence they should have approached the UK authorities who previously meticulously investigated the matter in 2010."
After Abu Salem was extradited, the Indian authorities instituted fresh charges against him which attracted the death penalty. The courts in Portugal cancelled his extradition to India for violation of deportation rules.
In July 2012, the Portuguese Supreme Court of Justice questioned the legal right of Indian authorities to challenge the cancellation of the extradition order. Salem was given life imprisonment in 2015.
Express and Star coverage: 12 January 2016: 'Minister to investigate Smethwick terrorsuspect detention'
On the 12th of January, John Spellar MP raised the case of Paramjeet Singh with Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary in Parliament.
Mr John Spellar (Warley) (Lab):
“May I, through the Secretary of State, thank the Europe Minister for meeting an MPs’ delegation yesterday on the plight in Portugal of Paramjeet Singh, and for his efforts to date? As the case in Portugal moves to the political, ministerial stage, will the Foreign Secretary say how our Government hope to take the matter forward?”
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond :
“We are following the case closely and we have already made the Portuguese authorities aware of Mr Singh’s asylum status in the UK. India has not yet presented Portugal with a formal request for extradition, and as such we are not aware of the full details of the charges that he faces in India.
“We will continue to monitor Mr Singh’s case and will make a decision on further action when all the facts are available. Ultimately, however, it is the Portuguese authorities that have jurisdiction in Mr Singh’s case and will decide whether or not to extradite him to India."
