Libyan rendition case and Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja’s health concerns
In Blog
The UK must ensure full accountability for its role in rendition, torture and unlawful detention, Amnesty International said as a Libyan man subjected to rendition in 2004 allegedly with MI6 involvement launched a civil claim for damages against UK ex-Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for torture and misfeasance in public office.
“The allegations and concrete evidence of UK involvement in renditions to Libya have long been mounting,” said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director.
“This latest announcement of legal action by a rendition victim could be an important step towards accountability through the civil courts, and is an ongoing reminder of the failure by UK authorities to establish a human rights compliant inquiry into these and wider allegations of UK involvement in torture and other human rights violations, in Libya and elsewhere.”
“Today’s legal action is a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring that cases such as these, where the UK is alleged to have been involved in serious human rights violations, should not be draped in a cloak of secrecy but subject to an open, transparent and fair process.”
Following his rendition from Thailand, Abdel Hakim Belhaj was detained in the notorious Abu Salim Prison in Tripoli until his release in March 2010. His current position is Head of the Tripoli Military Council. Delegates from Amnesty International met with Abdel Hakim Belhaj in September 2011, and also visited Abu Salim prison in May 2009 when Abdel Hakim Belhaj was held there.