Article by Jonathan Lewis – Victim status under the Human Rights Act 1998 – Henderson Chambers

Posted August 10th, 2021 in disclosure, human rights, inquiries, judicial review, news, rendition, victims by sally

‘Reprieve, a legal action non-governmental organisation, and two MPs judicially reviewed the Prime Minister’s decision not to hold a public inquiry into the alleged complicity of British state agents in the unlawful rendition, detention, and mistreatment of individuals by other states in the years following the attack on New York in September 2001. The Court of Appeal held that the claimants were not victims within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA 1998) and that Article 6(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) therefore did not apply to the claim. It further decided that the claimants were not entitled to disclosure in accordance with the standard set in SSHD v AF (No 3). Written by Jonathan Lewis, barrister at Henderson Chambers.’

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Henderson Chambers, 3rd August 2021

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Trial set for “most serious allegations” made against solicitors in civil courts – Legal Futures

Posted May 6th, 2021 in kidnapping, news, rendition, solicitors, torture by sally

‘What a High Court judge said yesterday were among “the most serious allegations ever levelled against English solicitors in civil proceedings” will be heard in January 2023, he has decided.’

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Legal Futures, 6th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court rules on preliminary issues in challenge relating to alleged UK involvement in torture – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In R (Reprieve & Ors) v Prime Minister [2020] EWHC 1695 (Admin), the High Court made a preliminary ruling that Article 6(1) of the ECHR does not apply to the forthcoming judicial review of the Government’s decision not to establish a public inquiry into allegations that the UK intelligence services were involved in the torture, mistreatment and rendition of detainees in the aftermath of 9/11. It was further held that the claimants are not entitled to the level of disclosure of open material outlined in SSHD v AF (No 3) [2009].’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th July 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK intelligence torture case to be held in secret after challenge fails – The Guardian

‘A judicial review aimed at overturning a decision to ditch a judge-led inquiry into the involvement of British intelligence in torture and rendition will be heard in secret after a challenge involving two MPs failed.’

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The Guardian, 30th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Whitehall held secret review into 15 possible cases of torture or rendition – The Guardian

‘Fifteen potential cases of torture or rendition involving British intelligence at the height of the “war on terror” were examined last year in a secret Whitehall review, whose existence was revealed in court proceedings on Tuesday.’

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The Guardian, 9th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UN warns of rise of ‘cybertorture’ to bypass physical ban – The Guardian

‘Psychological torture is being exploited by states to circumvent the more widely understood ban on physically inflicting pain and may open the way to a future of “cybertorture”, the UN torture rapporteur has said.’

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The Guardian, 21st February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rendition: refusal to hold UK public inquiry to face judicial review – The Guardian

Posted December 2nd, 2019 in inquiries, intelligence services, judicial review, news, rendition, terrorism, torture by sally

‘The government’s refusal to hold a public inquiry into allegations that the security services were complicit in the torture and abduction of terror suspects after 9/11 is to be subjected to a full scale legal challenge.’

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The Guardian, 2nd December 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministers accused of issuing ‘torture warrants’ to spies – The Guardian

‘Ministers are routinely providing legal cover for the intelligence services where there is a possibility of information being extracted through torture abroad, under a so-called “James Bond clause”, a human rights group has alleged.’

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The Guardian, 6th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

MPs press for new inquiry into UK role in rendition and torture – The Guardian

Posted July 3rd, 2018 in human rights, inquiries, intelligence services, news, rendition, torture by sally

‘The UK government will give “careful consideration” to calls for a renewed judge-led inquiry into the country’s involvement in human rights abuses after 9/11, the Foreign Office minister Alan Duncan told MPs on Monday.’

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The Guardian, 2nd July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK ‘knew US mistreated rendition detainees’ – BBC News

Posted June 29th, 2018 in intelligence services, news, rendition, terrorism by tracey

‘The UK tolerated “inexcusable” treatment of US detainees after the 9/11 attacks, MPs have found. The Intelligence and Security Committee said British agencies continued to supply intelligence to allies despite knowing or suspecting abuse in more than 200 cases.’

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BBC News, 28th June 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs and peers call for judge-led inquiry into UK rights abuses – The Guardian

Posted June 12th, 2018 in human rights, inquiries, news, parliament, rendition, torture by sally

‘An all-party group of MPs and peers has written to Theresa May demanding a judge-led inquiry into the UK’s role in human rights abuses since September 11.’

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The Guardian, 11th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK ‘settles rendition case’ with former Libyan dissident – BBC News

Posted May 10th, 2018 in human rights, intelligence services, news, rendition, torture by sally

‘The UK government has reached a settlement with former Libyan dissident Abdul Hakim Belhaj over a long-running rendition case, the BBC understands.’

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BBC News, 9th May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Foreign Office wants rendition case against Jack Straw to be held in private – The Guardian

‘The Foreign Office is asking the high court to sit in secret when former foreign secretary Jack Straw faces a damages claim over his alleged role in the abduction and torture of a Libyan dissident and his pregnant wife.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rendition: government evidence to be heard in secret in UK for first time – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2017 in closed material, news, rendition by sally

‘Government evidence in a rendition case will be heard in secret for the first time following a high court ruling.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Anger as government applies for secret hearing of rendition case – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2017 in Afghanistan, closed material, detention, news, rendition, torture by sally

‘The government has been accused of attempting to bury the truth about Britain’s role in the CIA’s extraordinary rendition process by seeking to have a case, brought by two men detained by the US, heard in secret.’

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The Guardian, 5th March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

You win some, you lose some…Rahmatullah (No.2) in the Supreme Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 24th, 2017 in appeals, human rights, news, rendition, state liability, Supreme Court, war by sally

‘In Rahmatullah (No 2) v MOD; Mohammed v MOD [2017] UKSC 1, the Supreme Court gave a further important judgment in the litany of cases arising out of the UK’s intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Court held unanimously that the doctrine of Crown act of state defeated claims brought by non UK citizens seeking to sue the Government in the English courts in respect of alleged torts committed abroad.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 24th January 2017

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The long arm of the law: Belhaj and Rahmatullah (No.1) – UK Human Rights Blog

‘This blog is the first covering the series of three important judgments given on Tuesday by the Supreme Court on issues arising out of the War on Terror and the United Kingdom’s interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Belhaj and another v Straw and others) and Rahmatullah (No 1) v Ministry of Defence and another [2017] UKSC 3 involved the alleged complicity of United Kingdom officials in allegedly tortious acts of the UK or other states overseas. The torts alleged include unlawful detention and rendition, torture or cruel and inhuman treatment and assault.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 20th January 2017

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Angela Patrick: Blushes and Torture: Act of State Doctrine and Justiciability – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘In a week when Supreme Court watchers expected to dissect the Brexit judgment, the Justices instead handed down their long awaited decision in the joined cases of Belhaj & Ors v Straw & Ors; Rahmatullah (No 1) v Ministry of Defence & Ors [2017] UKSC 3. These appeals both involved unsuccessful attempts to strike out claims based on allegations of UK complicity in international wrongs – including torture and rendition and arbitrary detention – on the basis that our domestic courts should not exercise their jurisdiction in either case.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 19th January 2017

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Libyan wins right to sue ex-Foreign Secretary Jack Straw – BBC News

‘Ex-Foreign Secretary Jack Straw faces being sued over allegations of abduction and torture brought by a former Libyan dissident.’

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BBC News, 17th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS decision in Abdel Hakim Belhaj rendition case faces legal challenge – The Guardian

‘The decision by the director of public prosecutions not to charge a former MI6 official for the 2004 abduction and rendition of a Libyan dissident, Abdel Hakim Belhaj, is to be challenged in court.’

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The Guardian, 1st November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk