Government should address core Libya rendition allegations, judge rules – The Guardian

‘The government should address the core allegations of 12 claimants who say they were kidnapped, tortured, subject to control orders or tricked into travelling to Libya where they were detained or mistreated, a high court judge has said.’

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The Guardian, 1st July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Two teenagers who ‘tortured’ a girl in Hertfordshire detained – BBC News

‘Two teenagers who kidnapped then “tortured” a girl aged 14 by pouring salt down her throat and making her perform a sex act have been sentenced.’

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BBC News, 18th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Human Rights Act: What has it done for us? – The Independent

‘The Conservatives want to replace it. Here are five things it has implemented for good.’

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The Independent, 15th May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Al-Saadoon and others v Secretary of State for Defence – WLR Daily

Al-Saadoon and others v Secretary of State for Defence [2015] EWHC 715 (Admin); [2015] WLR (D) 168

‘Individuals in certain test cases who had been shot by British forces in Iraq were within the United Kingdom’s jurisdiction, for the purposes of article 1 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, because they had been shot in the course of security operations in which British forces were exercising public powers normally exercised by the Iraqi government and because shooting someone involved the exercise of physical power over that person.

WLR Daily, 17th March 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

MoD accused of refusing former detainee Yunus Rahmatullah justice – The Guardian

Posted March 31st, 2015 in intelligence services, interception, news, privilege, torture by sally

‘The government has refused to give an undertaking not to take advantage of any intercepted communications between a former detainee, who is suing the Ministry of Defence, and his lawyers.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Men allegedly tortured by UK troops plan to go to court over report – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2015 in armed forces, detention, intelligence services, Iraq, news, torture by tracey

‘Lawyers acting for two men who were jailed for 10 years without trial and say they were tortured after being seized by British troops in Iraq, plan to take the body responsible for investigating the case to court, claiming it is failing to seek potentially vital evidence from the US.’

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The Guardian, 19th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Professionals blamed Oxfordshire girls for their sexual abuse, report finds – The Guardian

‘Police and social workers in Oxfordshire had a tainted perception that girls as young as 11 consented to sex with men who raped and brutalised them, an independent report into the failure to stop their exploitation has said.’

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The Guardian, 3rd March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Al-Sweady file exposes the smearing of British soldiers – Daily Telegraph

‘Evidence drawn up on David Cameron’s orders alleges that Public Interest Lawyers continued to pursue torture and murder claims for a year after realising that they may be “untrue”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st March 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Victim told to write to vicious attacker or face jail herself – Daily Telegraph

‘A mother who was tortured for seven hours and had her throat slashed in front of her twin sons has been forced to write to her attacker, and could face jail herself if she refuses.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Husband given life sentence for ‘ferocious and chilling’ screwdriver attack against his wife – The Independent

Posted February 10th, 2015 in domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing, torture by sally

‘A husband who tortured and killed his wife has been handed a life sentence, after he left her with at least 270 injuries following a “ferocious and chilling” attack.’

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The Independent, 9th February 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Butcher forced to help cut off own toe in ‘Tarantino-style’ torture ordeal – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 5th, 2015 in drug trafficking, grievous bodily harm, news, torture by sally

‘Former butcher Richard Headford told his attackers how to cut off his toe to make sure it was done cleanly.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th February 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Female detainees at Yarl’s Wood routinely humiliated, claims report – The Guardian

‘Women detained in the Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre are routinely humiliated by male staff who monitor them while they are dressing, showering and using the toilet, or are naked in their rooms, a report into the treatment of female asylum seekers reveals. The report, by the charity Women for Refugee Women, noted that many female asylum seekers detained at Yarl’s Wood, in Bedfordshire, have been victims of sexual violence in their home countries.’

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The Guardian, 14th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Al-Sweady Inquiry: Legal battles after fighting ends – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2014 in armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, law firms, murder, news, torture by sally

‘There’s anger, as much as relief and a sense of vindication, inside the Ministry of Defence and the Army at the end of this long public inquiry into allegations of murder and abuse by British soldiers in Iraq in 2004.’

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BBC News, 17th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CIA torture report: Theresa May insists she did not demand redactions – Daily Telegraph

‘Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has insisted she did not request any redactions to the American report which exposed graphic details of CIA torture.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Unlawful detention: UK government ‘can be sued’, court rules – BBC News

Posted November 20th, 2014 in detention, jurisdiction, news, rendition, state immunity, torture by tracey

‘A Pakistani man can sue the UK government over claims he was unlawfully detained and tortured by British soldiers in Iraq, the High Court has ruled. Yunus Rahmatullah was captured in 2004, then sent from British to US custody and held for 10 years without charge.’

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BBC News, 19th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government on Trial – BBC Law in Action

‘The Appeal Court has allowed a Libyan man to proceed with legal action against the British government, despite the government’s claim that the case could damage relations with the United States. Joshua Rozenberg discusses the implications.’

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BBC Law in Action, 4th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Abdel Hakim Belhaj wins right to day in court over his kidnap by MI6 and CIA – The Guardian

Posted October 30th, 2014 in appeals, intelligence services, kidnapping, Libya, news, rendition, torture, trials by sally

‘A Libyan exile who was abducted in a joint MI6-CIA operation has won the right to bring his claim against the government to court.’

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The Guardian, 30th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government not required to disclose full details of defence – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The High Court has ruled that in a case against the state which did not directly affect the liberty of the subject, there was no irreducible minimum of disclosure of the state’s case which the court would require. The consequences of such disclosure for national security prevailed.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 27th October 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Binning the smoke alarm: Why repealing the Human Rights Act would be the biggest mistake of a generation – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Following plans announced at the Conservative Party’s recent conference to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, Harriet Johnson reminds us why we signed it in the first place, and underlines why it remains such an important safeguard over half a century later.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 3rd October 2014

Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk

European Convention on Human Rights: What has it ever done for us? – The Independent

‘As the Tories attempt to dilute the treaty’s authority in the UK, James Cusick takes a look at the difference it has made.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk