Posted on 09/04/2002 10:11:02 PM PDT by MadIvan
The British Government has been accused of contravening fundamental human rights with the anti-terrorist laws established in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
Amnesty International said the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act, passed in November 2001, breached fundamental human rights.
In a report published on Thursday, the charity attacks the power given to the home secretary to detain foreign nationals indefinitely, without charge or trial, if they are deemed to be a risk to national security.
Amnesty is also demanding the release of terrorist suspects being held by the US at Camp X-Ray in Cuba unless they were charged and tried.
The report claims the home secretary's new power is "inconsistent with the right to liberty and security" guaranteed in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights."
It says the Act effectively created "a shadow criminal justice system" devoid of a number of crucial safeguards present in the ordinary criminal justice system.
It says those held under the Act suffered "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment" and cited Mahmoud Abu Rideh, a 31-year-old Palestinian refugee, who was allegedly punished for having a haircut.
'Denied appeal'
And terrorist suspects are locked up in their cells for 22 hours a day in high security prisons, with only one hour of exercise a day and one hour of leisure, it adds.
They were also subjected to "abuse and intimidation" and dubbed "Bin men" by prison officers.
Awwww, widdle tewwowists can't stand being called "Bin Men"! Who's a big boy now! - Ivan
Prisoners were denied the right to appeal or the means to contact lawyers, said the report.
And it found those at Belmarsh prison were strip-searched before and after family visits, which were without physical contact.
Eleven people were held under the legislation but two have now left Britain.
In July, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) ruled the law used to detain nine alleged international terrorists without trial breached the European Convention on Human Rights.
They are now appealing against their detention.
'No evidence'
And in February, Lotfi Raissi, a 27-year-old Algerian was released after five months in Belmarsh prison.
He was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 on the suspicion he may have been involved in the September 11 attacks.
But a district judge ruled there was no evidence to substantiate his involvement in terrorism.
The Amnesty report said: "The organisation is concerned that the case of Lotfi Raissi is a powerful illustration that the FBI's wide sweep in its hunt for conspirators in the attacks in the USA or for members of the al Qaida network, innocent people could get caught up, violating their rights and those of their relatives to liberty and livelihood."
There is concern for the seven UK nationals held at Camp X-ray in Guantanamo Bay, who face indefinite detention without the prospect of charge or trial.
Amnesty claims the men are in "legal limbo", without the right to counsel, limited contact with their families and facing the death sentence.
It calls for the UK Government to press the US for an independent and impartial court, without the threat of the death penalty, if the Britons are charged.
I highlighted a section because earlier I was saying how much contempt the law enforcement people in Britain have for these blighters - this is just showing some of their real feelings about these people.
And I dare say the bloke on the street feels the same way.
Regards, Ivan
Amnesty International, the group that decided against criticizing the 9/11 attacks against the U.S., as well as against criticizing the Palestinian use of the death penalty for collaborators (with Israel). In other words, your typical anti-U.S. communist front organization.
I get a kick out of European portrayals of Guantanamo Bay. "open pens exposed to the elements, etc. etc." Yeah. In one of the world's most salubrious climates. I took my children camping in conditions more primitive than that!
Are innocent people sometimes arrested? Yes. But the Gitmo prisoners were captured waging war against the US. I guess we could have just shot them....
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