Amnesty accuses UK of "perverted justice"

[Judi Lynn]

Amnesty accuses UK of "perverted justice"
Thu 11 December, 2003 03:47



LONDON (Reuters) - Amnesty International is accusing Britain of perverting justice by detaining foreigners without trial under anti-terrorist legislation.

"The UK government has effectively created a shadow criminal justice system for non-UK nationals that fails to meet international standards for a fair trial," the human rights pressure group said in a statement on Thursday.

Amnesty asked if Britain had a "Guantanamo Bay in our own backyard" in reference to the 660 prisoners held without charge at a U.S. base in Cuba.

In Britain, non-British nationals who have had deportation orders made against them can be detained under sweeping security laws set out in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

Amnesty, heading its report "Justice Perverted," said: "There are currently 14 people held under this legislation, six of whom will have been in detention for two years on December 19". (snip/...)

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Government 'has created UK Guantánamo'

Staff and agencies
Thursday December 11, 2003

The government was today accused of creating a "Guantánamo Bay in our own backyard" in a report by human rights group Amnesty International.
The report said that emergency powers granted to the home secretary, David Blunkett, after the September 11 2001 terror attacks on the US were being used to detain foreigners suspected of involvement in terrorist plots without trial.

Amnesty said that the powers had created a "shadow" criminal justice system.

Sixteen people - all men - have been jailed as suspected international terrorists under the laws, and all are being held at high security prisons. Six will have been detained for two years on December 19.

Amnesty said that the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act, which came into force in November 2001, failed to meet international standards for a fair trial. (snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/humanrights/story/0,7369,1104933,00.html

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