Palestinian Jamal Owda, 26, (pictured) will argue he cannot be extradited for alleged people smuggling because being held in a Greek prison would breach his human rights

A Palestinian asylum-seeker allegedly behind a people smuggling gang accused of trafficking 100 Syrian refugees a day into Europe will argue he cannot be extradited because being held in a Greek prison would breach his human rights, a court heard today.

Palestinian Jamal Owda, 26, was one of 23 people held in raids across Europe in December over an operation authorities claim could have made up to £7 million since 2013 by preying on desperate civilians fleeing the civil war.

He was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant by National Crime Agency officers at an asylum shelter in Liverpool.

Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today heard he is applying for asylum in the UK.

Greece is seeking his extradition to stand trial over the alleged smuggling operation it says was based in the country and if found guilty he could face up to 20 years in prison.

But his lawyer said today that prison conditions in the country may breach Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which covers the right to life.

Amelia Nice told the hearing the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture had investigated Greek prisons.

She said: '[The committee's] report says things are not getting better, they are getting significantly worse, so it becomes an Article 2 case.'

She added that Owda's legal team was trying to arrange for an expert to independently inspect a Greek prison before a full hearing in the case.

She also said: 'Subsequent to extradition one of the issues is that he is likely to be sent back to Palestine.

'It might be open to argument that there is a risk extradition will result in deportation that may... result in human rights breaches.'

The court also heard Owda suffers from unspecified mental health problems.

The December raids saw 13 other alleged members of the gang arrested in Greece, seven in Austria and two in Sweden, the NCA said at the time.

Owda (pictured) was one of 23 people held in raids across Europe in December over an operation authorities claim could have made up £7 million since 2013 by preying on desperate civilians fleeing the civil war

During the raids police found £17,500 hidden in a speaker in Owda's room.

Owda is accused of helping over 50,000 migrants enter Greece from Turkey every day for at least 16 months.

Owda, said to be the gang's mastermind, allegedly used an asylum hostel near Sefton Park in Liverpool as a base while claiming asylum after entering the country in the back of a lorry in 2014.

Most of the people in the smuggling network were Greek nationals whose work was co-ordinated by an Albanian working closely with Owda, police said.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court via video link from HMP Wandsworth for a short review hearing today.

He was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant by National Crime Agency officers at an asylum shelter in Liverpool (pictured) and Westminster Magistrates' Court in London heard he is applying for asylum in the UK

District judge Elizabeth Roscoe said: 'I understand that you may be raising similar issues as are being raised in the asylum claim.

'But what has been raised in the asylum claim is surely a matter between Mr Owda and the Home Office. They process the asylum claim.

'I think you have to get on and prepare this case. It may be that it cannot be heard if the asylum decision has not been reached.

'But if asylum is refused, the court would expect this hearing to be very shortly afterwards.'

Owda, who spoke through an Arabic interpreter and wore a grey prison issue jumper, was remanded in custody until the next hearing.

Greece is seeking his extradition to stand trial over the alleged smuggling operation it says was based in the country and if found guilty he could face up to 20 years in prison. Pictured, the asylum centre were he was arrested