News Is the UK's Detention of Terrorism Suspects Without Trial Illegal?

[the number 42]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4100481.stm Thursday, 16 December, 2004

"Detaining foreign terrorist suspects without trial breaks human rights laws, the UK's highest court has ruled... The Law Lords said the measures were incompatible with European human rights laws, but Home Secretary Charles Clarke said the men would remain in prison... Most of the men are being held indefinitely in Belmarsh prison, south London. ...The government opted out of part of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning the right to a fair trial in order to bring in anti-terrorism legislation in response to the 11 September attacks in the US. ...Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in his ruling, said: "Indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial is anathema in any country which observes the rule of law. ...the detention had driven four of the [11?] detainees to "madness", saying two were being held in Broadmoor hospital".

 

[the number 42]

The remaining four Britons held (without charge) at Camp Delta are to be released, it is expected to be announced today at noon (GMT). Their release can be taken as testimony to their innocence.

 

[the number 42]

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said "Once they are back in the UK, the police will consider whether to arrest them under the Terrorism Act 2000 for questioning in connection with possible terrorist activity."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4163641.stm

Note that the five Britons released from Camp Delta last year were not considered a threat by the UK authorities, based on brief police questioning upon their release. If the US and UK are fighting for freedom & justice, surely these cases backfire on us massively.

 

[the number 42]

There is now talk at the Foreign Office of deporting some foreign nationals held at Belmarsh on suspicion of terrorism to their native countries. A lot will depend on Britain's relations with the other country though. Its been on the BBC news a couple of times, but no internet links as yet.

 

[vanesch]

If the US and UK are fighting for freedom & justice, surely these cases backfire on us massively.

Can't they simply have a car accident ?

 

[the number 42]

Can't they simply have a car accident ?

That's a chilling thought. C'mon Vanesch, what happened to 'innocent until proven guilty, and then hit by truck in terrible accident while on way back from court'? Kidding aside, the reason we don't have the death penalty in Britain any more is because mistakes can & have been made. And the evidence against a lot of the people detained is apparently very very flimsy. I can understand the need for revenge for 9/11, but let's get the right guys, not just anyone who wears a turban.
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=197cc526ed6961e5cbfeb2febcd6867c