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

Victims’ Rights, the EU Charter, and Passport Confiscation – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In recent news, the government outlines proposals for increased rights for the victims of crime, as well as for the revocation and confiscation of passports for ISIS fighters returning to the UK. In other news, the legality of the EU Charter comes back to haunt Chris Grayling once again.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th September 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Government wants impunity from UK courts over torture, judges told – The Guardian

Posted July 22nd, 2014 in immunity, intelligence services, news, rendition, torture by sally

‘The government is determined to prevent ministers and officials from being accountable to the courts for colluding in wrongdoing abroad even if it involves torture, three of the country’s most senior judges were warned on Monday.’

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The Guardian, 21st July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Abdul Hakim Belhaj rendition damages case at Appeal Court – BBC News

Posted July 21st, 2014 in appeals, intelligence services, Libya, news, rendition, torture by sally

‘A damages action brought against the UK over a 2004 rendition case involving a Libyan politician and his wife is being heard at the Court of Appeal later.’

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BBC News, 21st July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Campaign group is ‘appalled’ after proposed case accusing defence companies of torture equipment marketing collapses – The Independent

‘State prosecutors were yesterday accused of “abject failure” to ensure two defence companies answer allegations of marketing torture equipment at the world’s largest arms fair in London after a private case against the firms collapsed.’

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The Independent, 10th July 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High Court grants JR on immunity of ‘torture’ prince – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 15th, 2014 in immunity, judicial review, news, royal family, torture by tracey

‘A judicial review has been granted challenging the prosecution service’s decision to allow the son of Bahrain’s ruler immunity in the UK over torture allegations.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 14th May 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Further torment – New Law Journal

‘Rosalyn Akar Grams reviews the impact of LASPO on the provision of quality legal representation for survivors of torture, as part of an exclusive NLJ online series on legal aid post-LASPO.’

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New Law Journal, 19th February 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Handling of female asylum seekers ‘puts UK to shame’ – The Independent

Posted January 29th, 2014 in asylum, detention, human rights, immigration, news, rape, statistics, torture, women by sally

‘The hidden plight of women asylum seekers detained in Britain is exposed today as a major new report warns that female rape and torture victims are being locked up indefinitely, suffering from depression and being intimidated by male guards.’

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The Independent, 29th January 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Woman who lured man to ‘inhuman’ torture by offering sex is spared jail – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 21st, 2014 in false imprisonment, news, sentencing, suspended sentences, torture by sally

‘Chantelle McCluney, 23, watched on as her boyfriend and another lover tortured and humiliated their victim’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th January 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

State immunity upheld against human rights challenges in Strasbourg – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Strasbourg Court has ruled that the inability of four men to bring torture compensation claims against Saudi Arabia in UK courts did not breach the Convention. The Court held that a “grant of immunity to the state officials in the present case reflected generally recognised rules of public international law” and that there had been no violation of Article 6 (right of access to court).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th January 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Saudi Arabia ‘torture’ Britons told they cannot sue – BBC News

Posted January 15th, 2014 in appeals, damages, human rights, news, Saudi Arabia, state immunity, torture by tracey

‘Four British men have failed to overturn a decision by the UK’s highest court which stopped them suing Saudi Arabia for alleged torture. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that the men’s human rights had not been breached by the British court’s decision.’

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BBC News, 14th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK inquiry on rendition and torture to be handed to ISC – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2013 in inquiries, intelligence services, news, rendition, select committees, torture by tracey

‘The stalled official inquiry into the UK’s involvement in rendition and torture in the years after 9/11 is to be handed to the controversial intelligence and security committee (ISC), the government will announce on Thursday.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inquiry Impasse, Charter Confusion and Competition Time – The Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 25th, 2013 in asylum, detention, EC law, human rights, inquiries, Iraq, news, terrorism, torture by tracey

‘This week, there are criticisms over the delay of inquiries both into the mistreatment of terrorism suspects and the Iraq War. Meanwhile, discussion continues over the relevance of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights for UK law, and a dying asylum seeker on hunger strike will not be released.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 24th November 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The real question about the terror suspect who fled in a burqa: did MI5 bring him here illegally? – The Guardian

Posted November 14th, 2013 in fugitive offenders, intelligence services, news, rendition, torture by tracey

“Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed’s escape was an embarrassment. The alleged torture and rendition that came before it might just be a major scandal.”

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The Guardian, 13th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk