Sayfildin Tahir Sharif, Iraqi-born Canadian citizen, faces extradition to the US

GlobalPost

Sayfildin Tahir Sharif, a Canadian who was born in Iraq, should be extradited to the US on terrorism and murder charges, a judge in Edmonton, Alberta, has ruled.

Sharif is accused of involvement in two separate attacks in 2009 that killed five American soldiers and seven other people in Iraq, according to the BBC.

If convicted of terrorism charges in the United States, Sharif could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

More from GlobalPost: Federal Reserve plot renews debate on counterterrorism versus civil liberties

Justice Adam Germain ruled Friday that there is enough evidence to extradite Sharif to the United States, the CBC reported.

The judge said that evidence gathered through wiretaps and internet conversations was "highly suggestive of a conspiracy to commit murder," the CBC said.

Sharif, also known as Faruq Muhammad Isa, is an ethnic Kurd who was born in Iraq but came to Canada as a refugee in 1993, living in Toronto and Edmonton.

He became a Canadian citizen in 1997, the Canadian Press reported.

Sharif's lawyer said they would appeal against the extradition ruling.

More from GlobalPost: Special Report: The Drone Age

Less than .05% of listeners will donate. Can we count on you?

Our coverage reaches millions each week, but only a small fraction of listeners contribute to sustain our program. We still need 224 more people to donate $100 or $10/monthly to unlock our $67,000 match. Will you help us get there today?