Tahawwur Rana, a defendant in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has appealed against his extradition to India, citing dangers to his health and the potential for torture in the country.
Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani descent, was found guilty in the US for assisting the prohibited Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and is sought in India for his purported involvement in the Mumbai attacks that claimed the lives of more than 174 individuals. His extradition has been a longstanding request from India.
However, US President Donald Trump affirmed Rana’s extradition to India during a press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House last month. “Tahawwur Rana is returning to India, where he will face justice,” he stated. PM Modi also thanked Trump for making the move.
Nonetheless, Rana has now appealed to the US Supreme Court in a final attempt to stall his extradition, pointing out the dangers of being tortured in India. He also referenced his religion, Pakistani heritage, and human rights documentation to prevent his transfer.
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The petition stated that he is a Muslim from Pakistan and a former soldier in the Pakistani Army, making him vulnerable to torture in detention and that his health condition could lead to his death.
Rana asserted that he has a 3.5 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm that could rupture at any moment, Parkinson’s disease, and potential bladder cancer.
He claimed that the Indian government is becoming more autocratic, referencing the Human Rights Watch 2023 World Report, which accuses it of systematic discrimination and stigmatization against religious minorities, especially Muslims in India.
Tahawwur Rana is a recognized affiliate of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who is among the key plotters of the November 26, 2008 assaults in Mumbai.
Headley provided testimony against Rana in a US courtroom, stating that he visited India five times from 2007 to 2008 and surveyed potential targets in Mumbai.
