Category: torture

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

Posted January 20th, 2017 in false imprisonment, human rights, Libya, news, rendition, state immunity, Supreme Court, torture, trespass to the person by sally

‘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

Posted January 20th, 2017 in false imprisonment, human rights, Libya, news, rendition, state immunity, Supreme Court, torture, trespass to the person by sally

‘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

Posted January 17th, 2017 in appeals, intelligence services, Libya, ministers' powers and duties, news, rendition, torture by tracey

‘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

Posted November 22nd, 2016 in asylum, detention, government departments, human rights, immigration, news, refugees, torture, victims by sally

‘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

Posted October 7th, 2016 in armed forces, Chagos Islands, compensation, contempt of court, human rights, Iraq, news, torture by tracey

‘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

Theresa May will not allow an ‘industry of vexatious allegations’ against British troops over claims of abuse in Iraq – The Independent

Posted September 21st, 2016 in armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, murder, news, torture by tracey

‘Theresa May has made clear she will not allow an “industry of vexatious allegations” against British troops over claims of abuse in Iraq. But the Prime Minister refused to bow to pressure and dismantle the Government body, the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT), which is handling approximately 1,500 allegations of murder, abuse and torture carried out by British soldiers.’

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The Independent, 21st September 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

War remains inside the court room: jurisdiction under ECHR – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 13th, 2016 in appeals, false imprisonment, human rights, international law, Iraq, news, torture, treaties, unlawful killing, war by sally

‘This is an extremely important judgment from the Court of Appeal on the reach of the ECHR into war zones, in this case Iraq. The CA, with the only judgment given by Lloyd Jones LJ, disagreed in part with Leggatt J.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th September 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Hundreds of compensation claims against British soldiers could be abandoned after controversial law firm announces closure – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 15th, 2016 in armed forces, budgets, compensation, human rights, inquiries, Iraq, law firms, legal aid, legal representation, murder, negligence, news, solicitors, statistics, torture, unlawful killing, war, war crimes by sally

‘Hundreds of compensation claims against British soldiers are likely to be abandoned after a controversial law firm accused of “hounding” troops announced that it is closing.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th August 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

We Need To Talk About…Abu Qatada – RightsInfo

Posted July 13th, 2016 in asylum, deportation, foreign jurisdictions, human rights, immigration, news, terrorism, torture by sally

‘In the first of an occasional series, we discuss a controversial human rights case and argue that there is another side to the way the case was reported.’

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RightsInfo, 7th July 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

Why We Shouldn’t Use Evidence Obtained By Torture – RightsInfo

Posted July 13th, 2016 in evidence, human rights, news, terrorism, torture by sally

‘Torture is wrong, we all know that. But so too is its lesser known sibling – evidence obtained by torture. In this opinion article, Corallina Lopez-Curzi takes us through why this practice cannot be relied on in court and how we are ultimately responsible for making sure this does not happen in the UK.’

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RightsInfo, 28th June 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

Outrage as war crimes prosecutors say Tony Blair will not be investigated over Chilcot’s Iraq war report – but British soldiers could be – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 4th, 2016 in armed forces, Crown Prosecution Service, inquiries, international courts, Iraq, misfeasance in public office, negligence, news, prosecutions, torture, war crimes by michael

‘Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court will examine the Chilcot report for evidence of abuse and torture by British soldiers but have already ruled out putting Tony Blair on trial for war crimes.’

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd July 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Battle to stop Jack Straw facing Libya rendition charges – The Guardian

Posted June 27th, 2016 in civil justice, criminal justice, detention, freedom of information, intelligence services, Libya, news, parliament, police, rendition, statistics, torture by sally

‘The government has spent at least £600,000 of taxpayers’ money trying to prevent a civil case being brought against it by a husband and wife who allege that British intelligence was complicit in their detention, rendition and torture.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service statement: Operation Lydd – CPS News Brief

Posted June 10th, 2016 in Crown Prosecution Service, false imprisonment, intelligence services, news, prosecutions, rendition, torture by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has considered a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police relating to one suspect in connection with allegations made concerning the movement and alleged ill treatment of Abdel Hakim Belhadj and his wife, Fatima Boudchar, and Sami Al Saadi and his wife and children from countries in South East Asia to Libya in 2004.’

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CPS News Brief, 9th June 2016

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

CPS will not bring charges against MI6 over rendition of Libyan families – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2016 in Crown Prosecution Service, documents, evidence, inquiries, intelligence services, kidnapping, Libya, news, police, terrorism, torture by sally

‘Prosecutors are set to announce that they are bringing no charges following a police investigation into MI6’s involvement in the kidnapping of two families who were “rendered” to the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s prisons, despite protests by the victims and their lawyers that the evidence against the agency is overwhelming.’

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The Guardian, 8th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk