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

Cage director pleads not guilty to terror offence over privacy issue – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2017 in confidentiality, human rights, news, privacy, search & seizure, terrorism, torture by sally

‘The international director of the campaign group Cage has pleaded not guilty to a terror offence after refusing to give police the passcode to his mobile phone at Heathrow airport last year.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pair guilty of Jimmy Prout murder after forcing him to eat own testicle – BBC News

‘Two people have been found guilty of murdering a vulnerable man who was tortured for months and forced to eat his own testicle.’

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BBC News, 19th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Halstead boiling water burglary duo jailed for life – BBC News

Posted April 4th, 2017 in assault, burglary, conspiracy, news, sentencing, torture by sally

‘Two “barbaric” men have each been given life sentences for beating a couple and dousing them with boiling water during a burglary at their home.’

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BBC News, 3rd April 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Torture victims in high court challenge to Home Office over detentions – The Guardian

Posted March 8th, 2017 in detention, health, human rights, judicial review, news, torture, victims by tracey

‘Seven victims of torture who have been locked up in immigration detention are at the high court, challenging as unlawful a government policy that allows some torture survivors to be imprisoned.’

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The Guardian, 7th 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

UK prisons ‘holding child inmates in solitary confinement against UN torture rules’ – The Independent

‘British prisons are holding child inmates in solitary confinement in an alleged breach of UN torture rules and British law, The Independent has found. Lawyers in one case have launched legal action against the Government in the High Court.’

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The Independent, 21st February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Iraq lawyer Phil Shiner struck off over misconduct – BBC News

‘A human rights lawyer who brought abuse claims against UK troops after the Iraq War has been struck off for misconduct.’

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BBC News, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Phil Shiner’s legal firm ‘made £1.6m with improper fee deal over Iraq troop abuse claims’ – Daily Telegraph

‘A disgraced human rights lawyer accused of hounding British troops earned his firm more than £1.6m from an improper deal carving up fees from pursuing abuse claims against British troops, a tribunal has heard.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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

Rapper sentenced to 23 years after raping and torturing a woman – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2017 in false imprisonment, grievous bodily harm, news, rape, sentencing, torture by sally

‘A man who raped and tortured a woman while keeping her prisoner for three days last February has been jailed for 23 years.’

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The Guardian, 10th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge grants lifelong anonymity to brothers who tortured two boys – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2016 in anonymity, news, torture, young offenders by sally

‘Two brothers who beat and tortured another pair of boys when they were aged 10 and 11 will remain anonymous for the rest of their lives, a court ruled on Friday.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Home Office ordered to review policy on torture survivors – The Guardian

‘Hundreds of asylum seekers who are detained in UK immigration centres could be released after a high court judge ordered the government to review its policy on incarcerated torture survivors.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Torture evidence ignored by Home Office, says charity – BBC News

Posted November 21st, 2016 in asylum, evidence, news, torture by sally

‘The Home Office is “disregarding and mistreating” medical evidence of torture in UK asylum claims, a report by a charity suggests.’

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BBC News, 21st November 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Supreme court case reopens debate over battlefield human rights – The Guardian

Posted October 25th, 2016 in Afghanistan, appeals, armed forces, bills, detention, human rights, news, Supreme Court, torture by michael

‘The political row over whether human rights law can be extended to the battlefield will be reopened this week in a supreme court case over the legality of detaining a Taliban suspect in Afghanistan.’

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The Guardian, 25th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Developments in the oversight of British Troops abroad – the Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The oversight of the conduct of British soldiers in Iraq has been subject of two recent developments. The first is political, as Prime Minister Theresa May has renewed criticism of investigations into allegations of criminal behaviour of British troops. The second is legal, with the Court of Appeal offering clarification as to the role of the ECHR in conflicts abroad. However, comments by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon have since thrown into doubt the future role of the ECHR in conflicts abroad.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 5th October 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Theresa May trying to protect soldiers who murder prisoners and torture civilians, says top human rights lawyer – The Independent

Posted October 6th, 2016 in armed forces, human rights, murder, news, torture, treaties by tracey

‘Geoffrey Robertson QC, a former UN judge, hits back after Prime Minister vows to defend Armed Forces personnel from “activist left-wing human rights lawyers.” ‘

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The Independent, 5th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

How often must we investigate torture? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 21st, 2016 in appeals, armed forces, detention, human rights, Iraq, news, torture, war by tracey

‘Al-Saadoon & Ors v. Secretary of State for Defence [2016] EWCA Civ 811, 9 September 2016. This post concerns the extent of any obligations imposed on the UK to investigate violations of non-refoulement (under Article 3, ECHR) and arbitrary deprivation of liberty (Article 5, ECHR). The non-refoulement issue arose from two individuals whom had been captured by British forces in Iraq claimed they were transferred to American custody and subsequently ill-treated. The Article 5 issue arose from the detention by British forces in Iraq of several individuals who claimed to have had their Article 5 rights violated whilst in British custody.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 20th September 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com