Post by Taxigirl on Nov 27, 2004 6:59:09 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4047207.stm
The UK government has been urged to review its policy of detaining foreign terror suspects without trial, by the United Nations Committee on Torture.
It expressed concern at conditions in Belmarsh prison, south London, where suspects have been held indefinitely under the 2001 Anti-Terrorism Act.
The committee called for alternatives to internment to be urgently examined.
The request followed a report to the committee from the UK on its activities - its first for six years.
The committee also said the results of inquiries into the alleged misconduct of UK soldiers during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan should be published.
'Limited acceptance'
Over the past two weeks, the committee has been quizzing UK officials on compliance with the 20-year-old Convention Against Torture.
Members expressed concern at the "limited acceptance of the applicability of the convention to the actions of its forces abroad".
They pointed out that while troops must follow UK law, which outlaws torture, they are not necessarily bound by the UN convention.
More than 150 cases of alleged mistreatment by UK forces of Iraqis are currently being investigated.
These range from traffic accidents to people caught in crossfire.
At an earlier hearing, Martin Howard, a senior Ministry of Defence official, told the committee 17 of these cases could be categorised as alleging inhumane or degrading treatment or torture.
Signatories to the UN convention on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment are required to make regular submissions such as the UK's.
Mental torture
As well as anti-terrorism policy, committee members also looked at the issue of evidence gained though torture.
They want a formal commitment that the UK will not rely on evidence gained when torture is suspected.
The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 allows Home Secretary David Blunkett to detain without trial foreign nationals he suspects of terrorism.
But there has been widespread condemnation by human rights activists, who say the practice is akin to mental torture.
Of the 17 Islamic terrorist suspects detained under the law, 11 remain in custody.
In September, an Algerian known as D was released from Woodhill jail, near Milton Keynes, after nearly three years.
He had been held under the anti-terror laws but was freed when Mr Blunkett said the evidence no longer justified detention.
Government lawyers have argued before the committee that its policy of holding foreign nationals suspected of terrorist activities is justified because there is an emergency threatening the life of the nation.
The UK government has been urged to review its policy of detaining foreign terror suspects without trial, by the United Nations Committee on Torture.
It expressed concern at conditions in Belmarsh prison, south London, where suspects have been held indefinitely under the 2001 Anti-Terrorism Act.
The committee called for alternatives to internment to be urgently examined.
The request followed a report to the committee from the UK on its activities - its first for six years.
The committee also said the results of inquiries into the alleged misconduct of UK soldiers during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan should be published.
'Limited acceptance'
Over the past two weeks, the committee has been quizzing UK officials on compliance with the 20-year-old Convention Against Torture.
Members expressed concern at the "limited acceptance of the applicability of the convention to the actions of its forces abroad".
They pointed out that while troops must follow UK law, which outlaws torture, they are not necessarily bound by the UN convention.
More than 150 cases of alleged mistreatment by UK forces of Iraqis are currently being investigated.
These range from traffic accidents to people caught in crossfire.
At an earlier hearing, Martin Howard, a senior Ministry of Defence official, told the committee 17 of these cases could be categorised as alleging inhumane or degrading treatment or torture.
Signatories to the UN convention on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment are required to make regular submissions such as the UK's.
Mental torture
As well as anti-terrorism policy, committee members also looked at the issue of evidence gained though torture.
They want a formal commitment that the UK will not rely on evidence gained when torture is suspected.
The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 allows Home Secretary David Blunkett to detain without trial foreign nationals he suspects of terrorism.
But there has been widespread condemnation by human rights activists, who say the practice is akin to mental torture.
Of the 17 Islamic terrorist suspects detained under the law, 11 remain in custody.
In September, an Algerian known as D was released from Woodhill jail, near Milton Keynes, after nearly three years.
He had been held under the anti-terror laws but was freed when Mr Blunkett said the evidence no longer justified detention.
Government lawyers have argued before the committee that its policy of holding foreign nationals suspected of terrorist activities is justified because there is an emergency threatening the life of the nation.