February 10, 2010

We Don't Torture: Update

David Miliband, Britain’s foreign secretary, on Wednesday lost his battle to prevent the publication of evidence relating to the alleged torture of a British resident at the behest of the American authorities eight years ago.

In a judgment that may test the intelligence sharing relationship between the US and UK, Britain’s Court of Appeal gave the green light for the publication of a seven paragraph summary of the alleged torture of Binyam Mohamed, a former Guantanamo detainee, in 2002...

Seven paragraphs on the FCO website

"The following seven paragraphs have been redacted

[It was reported that a new series of interviews was conducted by the United States authorities prior to 17 May 2001 as part of a new strategy designed by an expert interviewer.

v) It was reported that at some stage during that further interview process by the United States authorities, BM had been intentionally subjected to continuous sleep deprivation. The effects of the sleep deprivation were carefully observed.

vi) It was reported that combined with the sleep deprivation, threats and inducements were made to him. His fears of being removed from United States custody and “disappearing” were played upon.

vii) It was reported that the stress brought about by these deliberate tactics was increased by him being shackled in his interviews

viii) It was clear not only from the reports of the content of the interviews but also from the report that he was being kept under self-harm observation, that the inter views were having a marked effect upon him and causing him significant mental stress and suffering.

ix) We regret to have to conclude that the reports provide to the SyS made clear to anyone reading them that BM was being subjected to the treatment that we have described and the effect upon him of that intentional treatment.

x) The treatment reported, if had been administered on behalf of the United Kingdom, would clearly have been in breach of the undertakings given by the United Kingdom in 1972. Although it is not necessary for us to categorise the treatment reported, it could readily be contended to be at the very least cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by the United States authorities]"

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Don't forget the UK Security Services complicity/knowledge of the torture of Salahuddin Amin, the resulting squeezed evidence formed the case for the CPS prosecution of the Crevice lot.

All in a spooks days work, of course.