LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A Croatian woman facing extradition for war crimes after living for years in Kentucky is asking a judge to release her from federal custody.
Azra Basic has been battling her extradition in federal court since authorities arrested her last March. She is wanted in Bosnia on charges of committing war crimes against ethnic Serb civilians in 1992.
A petition filed by her attorney on Tuesday says Basic is being held in violation of her rights as a U.S. citizen. But Magistrate Judge Robert Wier ruled last month that treaties are in place to allow the 52-year-old to be returned to Europe.
Prosecutors say Basic was a Croatian Army soldier who killed a prisoner and tortured others by forcing them to drink human blood and gasoline.