Human Rights Groups Demand Inquiry into Lee Murray's Conviction
Murray, 47, is a British-Moroccan former MMA fighter. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Morocco over his involvement in the 2006 Securitas depot robbery of nearly £53 million in Kent, the biggest robbery in UK history.
Nicknamed 'Lightning' Lee, Murray started his MMA career in 1999 with a knockout, before building an impressive record that led him to his first UFC victory in 2004.
Murray was arrested on June 25, 2006 in Rabat in a joint operation conducted by Moroccan and British authorities.
In a statement on July 16, the two organizations argued that the crime took place entirely on UK soil. And that when the extradition of Murray was denied under Moroccan law, British authorities supplied Moroccan prosecutors with police intelligence, case files, and evidence to pursue the conviction.
'Governments should not make 'quid pro quo' trade, security, or diplomatic deals just to secure the extradition or foreign prosecution of individual targets,' Radha Stirling, CEO of Due Process International and founder of Detained in Dubai, wrote on X .
Radha cited 'serious human rights issues' including the absence of legal counsel during the appeal process, which led to increasing his sentence from 10 to 25 years.
Due Process International has also called on the UK government to support a royal pardon for Murray, urging British authorities to advocate for his release following nearly two decades of prison.
The UK government has not made any official response to the groups' demands. Tags: human rightslee murrayMMA
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