Counter-terrorism and human rights

Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in the USA, the UK has introduced a series of laws to counter terrorism which have had the overall effect of severely undermining the UK's respect for justice and human rights.

This has included, among other things, indefinite detention without trial of terrorist suspects, the use of secret evidence and the admissibility of information extracted through torture as 'evidence' in court.

Counter-terrorism review

We have written to the UK government urging them to ensure that their review of counter-terrorism powers will reform measures that have seriously undermined human rights. We want to see:

• an end to the use of Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIMs), that circumvents and undermine the ordinary criminal justice procedure
  
• a reduction of the current 14 day period for which people suspected of involvement in terrorism can be held without charge
• an abandonment of so-called 'diplomatic assurance' deals in the deportation of foreign nationals.

Read our full submission - 'United Kingdom: Submission for the review of counter-terrorism and security powers' (pdf)

'Rendition' and secret detention

The term 'rendition' is used to refer to a variety of practices that involve transfering individuals from one country to another without consent, or any form of judicial or administrative process such as extradition. The practice of rendition within the 'war on terror' has led to numerous men being secretly flown to countries where they have suffered torture or other ill-treatment and prolonged detention without charge. 

Rendition removes any kind of due process, breaches international law and negates the victim of internationally recognised human rights, including the right to a fair trial.