Judge orders extradition of controversial cleric el-Faisal

Controversial Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah el-Faisal now has 15 days to challenge a judge's decision that he be extradited to the United States (US) to stand trial on terrorism-related charges.

On Monday, Parish Court Judge Broderick Smith signed an extradition warrant ordering that el-Faisal be handed over to US authorities in the state of New York.

However, under the country's extradition arrangements, el-Faisal has 15 days to go to the Full Court to challenge the judge's order.

Failing that, the matter goes to Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, who is required to sign a warrant of surrender for the controversial cleric.

According to an indictment announced by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in New York last August, el-Faisal used a number of Internet-based platforms over the last three years to persuade individuals around the world to travel to Syria to "take up the cause of the jihad".

"The defendant served as the fulcrum of a recruitment effort that encouraged individuals to carry out acts of terrorism in the name of the Islamic State and connected them with other radical supporters who were willing - or already in the process - of doing the same in countries around the world," the Manhattan District Attorney's Office charged.