Government ‘not liable for torture’ – The Independent

“The Government cannot be held legally liable for British colonial atrocities committed during the Mau Mau Uprising, the High Court heard today.”

Full story

The Independent, 7th April 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MoD lobbied secretly to cut legal aid for cases against its treatment of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan – The Guardian

“The Ministry of Defence lobbied behind closed doors to restrict the provision of legal aid to claimants questioning the treatment of military detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan, the high court has heard.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Foreign Office issues guidance on torture – Daily Telegraph

“The Foreign office has issued guidance to all its staff for the first time on how to spot signs of torture.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd March 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Narrowing the definition of torture to the point of hypocrisy – The Guardian

“The secret services, backed by a little-noticed judgment, have given the go-ahead to using torture-induced intelligence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Terrorist who alleged torture in custody loses appeal – The Guardian

“Appeal court rejects Rangzieb Ahmed’s claim that British authorities ‘outsourced’ his torture to Pakistan.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Torture inquiry is legally flawed, say rights groups as NGOs ponder boycott – The Guardian

“An inquiry set up by David Cameron to examine Britain’s involvement in torture and rendition since 9/11 is running into trouble even before it has begun hearing evidence, with human rights organisations warning that it will fail to meet the UK’s obligations under international and domestic law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Torture victim fights decision to deport her back to Sudan – The Independent

“A Darfuri torture victim is today set to be deported back to Sudan, where she believes she could be killed, due to what her supporters claim is a ‘bureaucratic blunder’ by the Home Office.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th February 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MI5 and MI6 secrecy move ‘threatens press freedoms’ – The Guardian

“Proposals by MI5 and MI6 to extend courtroom secrecy to civil trials would unfairly restrict the right of the media to act as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the public, the supreme court heard today (25 January).”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th January 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Intelligence agencies go to supreme court over ruling on secret evidence – The Guardian

“MI5 and MI6 will argue in a test case before the supreme court tomorrow that in future no intelligence gathered abroad, even if initially obtained through torture, should ever be disclosed in a British court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd January 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK faces legal challenge from family of Bangladeshi allegedly tortured by ‘death squad’ – the Guardian

“The British government faces a legal challenge over allegations it was complicit in the torture of Bangladeshi MP Salauddin Chowdhury, who was arrested by the country’s security forces earlier this month.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK ‘complicit in al-Qaeda man’s torture’ – BBC News

“A man convicted of serious terrorism offences in the UK has launched an appeal, telling judges the UK was complicit in his torture abroad.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Al-Qaida terrorist’s appeal argues that Britain was complicit in his torture – The Guardian

“A man convicted of serious terrorism offences is to launch an appeal against his conviction today on the grounds that the British government was complicit in the torture he suffered before being put on trial.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

No charges for MI5 officer accused over Binyam Mohamed – BBC News

“The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped its investigation into an MI5 officer accused of complicity in the mistreatment of Binyam Mohamed.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bill for settling Guantanamo Bay ‘torture’ cases could top £30m – The Independent

“Compensation payments and legal costs for 16 British citizens and residents who claim they were tortured at Guantanamo Bay could leave the Government footing a bill of up to £30m.”

Full story

The Independent, 17th November 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Guantánamo Bay detainees to be paid compensation by UK government – The Guardian

“The government will announce today that it will pay millions of pounds in compensation to former Guantánamo Bay detainees following weeks of negotiations between lawyers for the government and the former prisoners.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Interrogation techniques at ‘Britain’s Abu Ghraib’ revealed – The Guardian

“Evidence of systematic and brutal mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners at a secret British military interrogation centre that is being described as the UK’s Abu Ghraib emerged today during high court proceedings brought by more than 200 former inmates.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Tortured’ Iraqi civilians go to High Court – Daily Telegraph

“Lawyers acting for more than 140 Iraqi civilians who allege they suffered torture and inhuman and degrading treatment at the hands of British soldiers and interrogators go to the High Court today seeking a wide-ranging public inquiry.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th November 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MI6 chief Sawers: we have nothing to do with torture and rights abuses – The Guardian

“MI6 chief Sir John Sawers says that MI6 avoids actions leading to torture – but wants courts banned from disclosing info from service or CIA.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Humiliate, strip, threaten: UK military interrogation manuals discovered – The Guardian

“Methods devised in secret in recent years may breach international law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs set out list of torture inquiry demands in letter to judge – The Guardian

“An all-party group of MPs has written to the judge heading the inquiry into the UK’s role in torture and rendition setting out the steps they believe are needed to establish the truth.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Blair knew of Guantanamo torture in 2002, lawyers claim – The Independent

“Tony Blair was alerted to allegations of torture involving UK nationals held in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay within months of the ‘War on Terror’ beginning, lawyers claimed yesterday.”

Full story

The Independent, 29th September 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Torture guidance does not breach law, says coalition – The Guardian

“The coalition government appeared to be heading for a clash with the country’s official human rights watchdog today after insisting its newly-published guidance on torture does not breach UK or international law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th September 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New government guidance on torture breaches law – The Guardian

“The UK’s official human rights watchdog has warned the government that its newly published guidance on torture may be unlawful and open to challenge in the courts.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th September 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New anti-terror laws could see religious and political groups banned: Liberty – The Guardian

“Coalition ministers are to be warned today that their current plans to overhaul counter-terrorism powers risk tacitly condoning torture and banning a wide range of political and religious groups.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New rules on universal jurisdiction – Ministry of Justice

“The Government is proposing new rules about how courts in England and Wales deal with people accused of serious human rights violations.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 22nd July 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Torture inquiry chairman is ‘compromised’ – BBC News

“The judge leading the inquiry into claims UK security services colluded in the torture of terror suspects abroad must be removed, a charity has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th July 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Army ‘involved in torture mission with US troops’ – The Independent

“Claims that British soldiers used water torture on a badly beaten Iraqi man before unlawfully handing him over to US interrogators are being investigated by the Ministry of Defence. The troubling case includes the first evidence before a UK court of British soldiers being directly involved in a joint torture operation with US forces.”

Full story

The Independent, 16th July 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Classified documents reveal UK’s role in abuse of its own citizens – The Guardian

“The true extent of the Labour government’s involvement in the illegal abduction and torture of its own citizens after the al-Qaida attacks of September 2001 has been spelled out in stark detail with the disclosure during high court proceedings of a mass of highly classified documents.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New interrogation policy faces early legal challenge – The Guardian

“The government’s interrogation guidelines for intelligence officers are facing their first legal challenge, less than a week after they were published as part of David Cameron’s attempt to signal a break with the counter-terrorism practices of the Labour administration.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

David Cameron must not compromise on torture – The Guardian

“The coalition should wait for the results of the torture inquiry before proposing legislation that bows to transatlantic pressure.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Interrogation guidelines published for the first time – Daily Telegraph

“The rules governing the interrogation of prisoners abroad have been published by the government for the first time.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th July 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Torture inquiry will not lead to any prosecutions – The Guardian

“Sir Peter Gibson’s task in chairing the inquiry, David Cameron told MPs, will be to establish whether the British government and its intelligence agencies were involved in improper treatment of detainees held by other countries, and if so, to what extent. Gibson, a former appeal court judge, is trusted by MI5 and MI6 as the commissioner for the intelligence services, who draws up a short annual report on the work of the agencies based on evidence given to him in private.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Torture inquiry: Pressure from courts and victims forced government’s hand – The Guardian

“The scope of the torture inquiry outlined by David Cameron today (6 July) followed weeks of negotiations between Cameron and Nick Clegg; talks that were influenced by conversations not only with senior civil servants, but also with the security services, eminent judges and experts in international law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government to compensate torture victims as official inquiry launched – The Guardian

“David Cameron today (6 July) ordered an unprecedented inquiry into evidence and allegations of British complicity in the torture and abuse of terror suspects.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tortured terror suspects to get official inquiry at last – The Guardian

“David Cameron is tomorrow expected to announce the terms of a long-promised, judge-led inquiry into allegations of MI5’s complicity in the torture of terror suspects and into how British citizens and residents are to be compensated for being detained at Guantánamo Bay.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Torture’ man wins appeal right – BBC News

“A Briton who says he was tortured in Pakistan with the complicity of UK security services has won the right to appeal against his terror convictions.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th June 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

David Cameron agrees terms of UK torture inquiry – The Guardian

“David Cameron and the foreign secretary, William Hague, are understood to have agreed the terms of a judge-led inquiry into claims that British security services were complicit in torture of terrorism suspects.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government urged to publish ‘terror guidelines’ – BBC News

“The government is facing growing demands to publish guidance given to UK intelligence officers interrogating terrorist suspects overseas.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th June 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Partial victory’ on Taliban prisoners challenge – The Independent

“An anti-war activist today won ‘a partial victory’ in her High Court challenge over Britain’s policy of transferring captured Taliban suspects to the Afghan authorities.”

Full story

The Independent, 25th June 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rangzieb Ahmed to appeal terrorism conviction – The Guardian

“Media organisations want appeal of Manchester man, who complained that MI5 was complicit in his torture in Pakistan, to be heard in open court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Teenager-repellent ‘mosquito’ must be banned, says Europe – The Guardian

“A device that uses high-frequency sound to disperse teenage gangs is illegal under human rights law and is ‘degrading and discriminatory’ to youngsters, a report this week claims.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Council of Europe welcomes UK inquiry into torture and rendition – The Guardian

“The coalition government’s decision to hold an inquiry into the UK’s involvement in torture and rendition was today hailed by the Council of Europe as ‘a proper response’ which could offer an example to other nations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Baha Mousa inquiry to quiz Geoff Hoon and Adam Ingram – BBC News

“Two former Labour defence ministers are to be questioned at a public inquiry about the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by British troops.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th May 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Second James MacKeith Lecture: Torture old and new – The Guardian

“Read in full Justice Arthur Chaskalson’s lecture on the accountability of professionals for torture in the war against terror.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rape and torture robber jailed indefinitely – The Independent

“A violent robber who was part of a gang that raped and tortured a couple in their home in a ‘horrendous and barbaric attack’ was jailed indefinitely for the public protection today.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st May 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Torture claims investigation ordered by William Hague – The Guardian

“A judge will investigate claims that British intelligence agencies were complicit in the torture of terror suspects,  William Hague, the foreign secretary, said tonight.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

SIAC: striking the balance between national security and human rights – The Guardian

“Analysis of the court ruling yesterday on deporting suspected terrorists on the basis of confidential assurances because they would face torture or death.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New coalition government must address human rights – The Guardian

“Those hoping for a major change of direction on human rights by the new government will have answers soon. As we discovered with Labour, the strongest measures a government takes on the protection of human rights are likely to be those it takes in its first few weeks, so what is in the first Queen’s Speech is very important. Five areas may be critical.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Manchester and Liverpool ‘terror’ students decision day – BBC News

“Five Pakistani students who were accused of planning a bomb attack will hear if they have won appeals against deportation from the UK.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th May 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Men jailed for Essex Pin number murder – BBC News

“Two men who bound, gagged, strangled and stabbed a man who refused to give them his bank card details have been jailed for life for his murder.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th May 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MI5 faces allegations over torture of British man in Bangladesh – The Guardian

“Security service accused of involvement in abuse of Birmingham businessman Gulam Mustafa, who was arrested in Dhaka.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Former Guantánamo detainees set for payouts after winning secrecy appeal – The Guardian

“British residents held at Guantánamo Bay could be offered millions of pounds in compensation for wrongful imprisonment and abuse after the court of appeal today dismissed an attempt by MI5 and MI6 to suppress evidence of alleged complicity in torture.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government cannot use secret evidence in Guantánamo torture case, court rules – The Guardian

“Secret evidence cannot be used in a civil damages claim being brought by six former Guantánamo Bay detainees, the court of appeal ruled today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Guantanamo damages claimants to hear evidence ruling – BBC News

“Six former Guantanamo Bay detainees are to hear if an appeal has succeeded against government use of secret evidence to fight their damages claim.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th May 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK torture inquiry demanded by victims’ care groups – The Guardian

“Three organisations that care for victims of torture have called on the leaders of the UK’s main political parties to agree to hold a judicial inquiry into the UK’s role in the rendition and mistreatment of terrorism suspects following the 11 September 2001 attacks.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk