Court rejects extradition of former Argentine President Isabel Peron

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Spain's National Court on Monday rejected a request from Buenos Aires for the extradition of former Argentine President Isabel Peron on charges of human rights abuses. In two rulings, the court said the charges did not constitute crimes against humanity and that the statute of limitations for the offenses she is accused of had expired after 20 years. The rulings may be appealed. Spain received two extradition requests from Argentine judges who want to question Peron over death squad activity during her rule and the disappearance of two young leftists - Hector Aldo Fagetti Gallego and Jorge Valentin Beron - in February 1976. Argentine prosecutors say at least 1,500 people were killed or went missing as a result of the Argentine Anti-communist Alliance, or "Triple A," death squad during Peron's 1974-1976 rule. The court said there was insufficient evidence to show Peron had anything to do with the crimes attributed to the squad. Peron, the third wife of three-time President Juan Domingo Peron, ruled Argentina after the strongman's death for 20 chaotic months until a March 1976 coup.