Leading human rights organisations call on Theresa May to set up torture inquiry

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Amnesty International

A group of leading human rights organisations have issued a fresh call for an inquiry into the the UK’s involvement in rendition and torture.

Handing a 27,000-signature petition in to Downing Street yesterday, the campaigners – Amnesty International, Freedom from Torture, Liberty and Reprieve – called on Theresa May to order an independent, judge-led inquiry into the issue.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the campaigners say “a judge-led inquiry remains the only way to draw a line under the UK’s regrettable involvement in the rendition and torture of people during the US-led ‘war on terror’, and ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

The call comes after the publication in June of two damning but incomplete parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) reports into the UK’s involvement in numerous cases of rendition and torture.

While outlining the scale of the issue – involving numerous cases where MI6 or MI5 suggested, planned or agreed to overseas rendition operations, and more than 200 cases where they sent questions to overseas governments and interrogators knowing or suspecting that detainees were being mistreated – the ISC said it had been blocked by the Government from accessing all the necessary evidence and prevented from conducting a credible, thorough inquiry.

Last week, the prominent Conservative MP David Davis added his voice to cross-party calls for a judge-led inquiry.

Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK’s Director, said: “A curtain has been lifted to reveal some of the grisly reality of UK officials’ involvement in torture, but now we need to see a proper inquiry into it – to understand the full extent of what happened, learn lessons and ensure people are held accountable for their actions.”

Simone Abel, Director of Operations, Policy and Resources at Reprieve, said: “After the Prime Minister’s unprecedented apology to Abdul Hakim Belhaj and Fatima Boudchar earlier this year, we now know that there were hundreds of other cases where UK personnel were allowed to become involved in torture and rendition. But we are far from knowing the full truth, after the Prime Minister blocked the Intelligence and Security Committee from hearing and seeing key evidence. Only an independent, judge-led inquiry, with full powers to interview witnesses and secure all the evidence, can draw a line under this dark period of Britain’s recent history.”

Sonya Sceats, Chief Executive of Freedom from Torture, said: “MPs on all sides are now calling for the accountability that we have long been demanding for the sake of those who have survived torture. Britain needs to stand up against torture, not be complicit.  The Prime Minister must act to ensure this can never happen again.”

Sam Grant, Policy and Campaigns Manager for Liberty, said:  “Eight years after it was promised, we are shamefully still waiting for the judge-led inquiry into the UK’s involvement in torture and rendition. A proper, independent investigation with full access to witnesses is the only way to get to the bottom of our country’s part in the unforgiveable mistreatment of people around the world and to make sure it never happens again. The Prime Minister must now finally make good on this promise – it cannot be ignored any longer.”

‘Elevenses torture’ stunt opposite Downing Street

The petition hand-in took place after campaigners had staged an “Elevenses torture” stunt opposite Downing Street. This showed a “Theresa May” figure seated on garden furniture drinking tea while ignoring three “torture victims” – activists in torn clothes and “torture” make-up. Activists also brandished “Don’t turn a blind eye to torture” and “Torture inquiry now” banners.

Amnesty International is a non-governmental organisation focused on human rights with over 7 million members and supporters around the world. The stated objective of the organisation is “to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.”