The extradition of an autistic Scot accused of hacking into US military networks is a "disgrace", MPs have been told.
The extradition of an autistic Scot accused of hacking into US military networks is a "disgrace", MPs have been told.
David Heath, for the Liberal Democrats, said Gary McKinnon was "being cynically handed over" to the US authorities as part of a "one-sided" extradition treaty between the UK and America.
He called on Home Secretary Alan Johnson to block the extradition of Mr McKinnon, 43, originally from Glasgow and now living in London, to allow him to be tried in Britain.
Former Labour minister Tom Watson also weighed in, demanding Mr McKinnon be tried in the UK as removing him would be a "brutal act".
But Commons leader Harriet Harman said it was not a matter for Mr Johnson and that the case had been decided by the courts.
Mr McKinnon, a computer expert, is seeking judicial review of the then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's decision last October to order extradition after previous legal challenges failed.
The US government said he was responsible for the "biggest military hack of all time", involving 97 government computers belonging to organisations including the US Navy and Nasa.
His supporters say he acted through "naivety" caused by Asperger's Syndrome - a form of autism that leads to obsessive behaviour - and should not be considered a criminal.
During questions on future parliamentary business, Mr Heath said: "The Home Secretary, I thought somewhat disingenuously, says he cannot instruct prosecution.
"That is absolutely right, but what he can do is to stop the extradition and allow the circumstances in which this unfortunate gentleman can be tried in this country.
"Many of us feel that this one-sided extradition treaty is a disgrace to Britain. This use of that disgraceful treaty is a further disgrace and a shame."
Ms Harman told him: "This is a matter not for the Home Secretary's decision, it is a matter that has been for decision by the courts."
Meanwhile, a man is attempting to avoid extradition because his human rights could be breached by being fed "potentially life threatening" onions in an Irish jail.
The High Court in London was told Peter Ivan Dunne, 45, of Coventry, had an intolerance to onions - red onions in particular - and could suffer a severe allergic reaction.
Two judges heard that Dunne, a convert to Judaism, feared there was "a real risk, or near certainty" that he would be killed "by the ingestion of red onions".
Dunne was convicted in his absence in October 2007 of having sex with a mentally impaired person.
He claimed there were substantial grounds for believing he would suffer inhuman or degrading punishment through the failure of the Irish prison authorities to provide him with "a red onion-free Kosher diet".
However, the High Court rejected his appeal against a decision allowing an extradition request made by the Irish High Court.
