The Justice and Security Bill has just gone through a second debate in the House of Commons.  This bill has been introduced on the basis that at present, during trials involving the government, some material cannot be made public on “national security grounds” therefore the government is at a disadvantage to lawsuits brought against them.  With this bill, the government is at no obligation to reveal such evidence and a case can be brought against an individual without he/she being aware of the details of case, limiting their ability to produce a sufficient defence or even attempt to challenge the evidence. This bill is incredibly detrimental to the human rights system of this country and if it is passed, any sense of justice in fair trials that existed previously will be lost.  But unfortunately, it remains that not enough people have even heard of this bill and the dangers that it poses to us all. 

Talha Ahsan and Babar Ahmed were among those imprisoned without trial under the US-UK Extradition Act 2003 for six and eight years respectively, for alleged crimes committed in the UK. Whilst under arrest, Babar was subjected to torture by the Metropolitan Police. The four officers charged with the assault were acquitted, and no apology made despite the Police admitting full liability.

After four years of deliberation, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the accused were not at risk of torture or ill-treatment in solitary confinement in supermax prisons the US, despite these conditions being widely believed to constitute torture. 

On 5th October 2012, this ruling led to the extradition of five Muslim men, including Babar and Talha. The timing of Home Secretary’s decision to block Gary McKinnon’s extradition and propose a “forum bar” - just two weeks after their extradition - has led to accusations of double standards and mainstream media complicity.

At this event we aim to draw on the diversity and experience of the invited panel in order to explore the above issues, hear first-hand about how extradition affects peoples lives, and finally propose ways of campaigning to redress the balance and bring about justice. 

The doctrine of the separation of powers, by which governance is divided among three branches — the executive, legislative and the judiciary — is an old concept which was first developed in ancient Greece that continues to form the foundation of governance in most liberal democracies today.

Yassine Ferchichi is a Tunisian national who faced persecution in his country of origin because of his religious practice. Fearing for his life, he eventually fled Tunisia after he was tortured by the security forces in 2005. 

Cageprisoners has welcomed the European ruling against deportation of Abu Qatada to Jordan.

Director of Public Prosecutions

Rose Court
2 Southwark Bridge
London
SE1 9HS

8^th February 2011

Re: Crime report of my detention, rendition and torture in GTMO not allowed

While secret evidence and Special Advocate procedures vary, they tend to have the same basic underlying features.

The 45 year old was sentenced to life imprisonment (in his absence) for alleged terrorist attacks dating back to 1998.

Last week, the Court of Appeal approved the deportation of eight men to Algeria and Jordan. Andy Worthington examines the ruling, with its double standards on the use of secret evidence in control order cases and in deportation cases.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev [news archive] on Thursday signed into law a bill that will grant controversial new powers to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the Russian Federation's successor to the former USSR's KGB.