Scotland: UK and other EU countries shamed for role in US renditions programme

The preliminary report by the Rapporteur of the European Parliament's Temporary Committee investigating CIA activity in Europe, Claudio Fava, confirms Amnesty International’s conclusions that complicity by European countries, including the UK, has allowed CIA renditions to occur in Europe.

The draft report found national security services in various countries were not being held accountable for their role in renditions. The report also highlights the failure of EU institutions and member states – including the UK - to fully cooperate with the investigation as well as their failure to carry out independent investigations into the role played by their authorities in the US programme of renditions.

Amnesty International’s Programme Director, Rosemary Burnett said:
"This report is a damning indictment of the UK’s complicity in CIA renditions and its failure to fully cooperate with the European Parliaments’ investigation.

"It is vitally important that the Scottish Executive stops ignoring this issue and allows a full, independent investigation into all aspects of rendition involving Scottish airports. The people of Scotland have clearly demonstrated that they do not want to be a part of a CIA practice which breaks international law and puts people at risk of torture."