• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 15, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Documentary evidence threatens UK government in Libyan rendition and torture case

Tom Coburg by Tom Coburg
18 January 2017
in Global
Reading Time: 4 mins read
167 5
A A
0
Home Global
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Supreme Court has ruled that the British government can be sued by a Libyan national. Abdel Hakim Belhadj claims he was subject to rendition, torture and was held prisoner with the full co-operation of British authorities. Belhadj can proceed with litigation against former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, former senior MI6 official Sir Mark Allen, the Foreign Office, the Home Office, and the UK security services.

This case has dragged on for years because the government has refused to offer an apology to Belhadj and his wife. But there appears to be significant evidence relating to the allegations.

Rendition and torture allegations

Belhadj – also known as Abdullah al-Sadiq – alleges that he and his wife Fatima Bouchar were abducted and tortured with the approval of the British authorities. He claims they were secretly flown to Tripoli, where Muammar Gaddafi’s security forces tortured them.

In an interview with The Independent, Belhadj describes how three British agents interrogated him over two sessions. The two men and a woman questioned him for two hours at a time. Their questions focused on members of the LIFG (Libyan Islamic Fighting Group). This was a group based in the UK, with alleged links to al-Qaeda.

Litigation

Belhadj received amnesty in March 2010.

In January 2012, Belhadj and Sami al-Saadi (another kidnapped Libyan) sued Sir Mark Allen, MI6’s former head of counterterrorism, for civil damages. (Here is the original Letter of Claim Against UK Government [pdf] and Letter of Claim Against Sir Mark Allen [pdf].)

In April 2012, Belhadj and his wife sued former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. They alleged UK complicity in the torture and abuse they suffered at the hands of Thai, US and Libyan officials. In December 2012, the British government paid al-Saadi £2.23m to settle his lawsuit without admitting liability.

In November 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled that the case against Jack Straw and Mark Allen could be heard in an English court. The latest ruling by the Supreme Court confirmed this decision.

The evidence available

Documents [pdf, pp 90/91] found in Tripoli confirm that the British government was directly involved in assisting the Gaddafi regime to take custody of al-Sadiq (Belhadj).

A memorandum [pdf, p98], dated 4 March 2004, from the CIA to the Libyan government states:

[w]e are working energetically with the Malaysian government to effect the extradition of Abdullah al-Sadiq from Malaysia. The Malaysians have promised to cooperate and arrange for Sadiq’s transfer to our custody.

In March 2004, Mark Allen (also known as ‘M’), wrote to Libya’s notorious spy chief Moussa (Musa) Koussa, as follows:

Most importantly, I congratulate you on the safe arrival of Abu Abd Allah Sadiq [Belhadj]. This was the least we could do for you and for Libya to demonstrate the remarkable relationship we have built over the years. I am so glad. I was grateful to you for helping the officer we sent out last week… Amusingly, we got a request from the Americans to channel requests for information from Abu ‘Abd Allah through the Americans. I have no intention of doing any such thing. The intelligence on Abu ‘Abd Allah was British. I know I did not pay for the air cargo. But I feel I have the right to deal with you direct on this and am very grateful for the help you are giving us.

Moussa Koussa was head of Libyan intelligence from 1994 to 2009.

More evidence

Other documents [pdf], sourced in 2011 in Tripoli by Human Rights Watch, relate to the rendition arrangements of Belhadj and his wife.

These documents describe US offers to transfer, or render, at least four detainees into Libyan custody, one with the active participation of the UK. They also detail US requests for detention and interrogation of other suspects. Along with UK requests for information about terrorism suspects and the sharing of information about Libyans living in the UK.

Libyan doc

One document included long lists of questions which MI5 and MI6 had request that Libyan interrogators ask Belhadj. The Daily Mail published a redacted version of this document. Below is the unredacted leaked copy:

Libyan doc

Jack Straw has denied all knowledge of what happened to Belhadj and his wife, saying:

I was never in any way complicit in the unlawful rendition or detention of anyone by other states.

Assuming litigation proceeds, the hearings could prove embarrassing for the British government. Allegations of US rendition and torture may also come up in the hearings.

Get Involved!

– Support Reprieve, an international human rights organisation.

– Read more on the War on Terror.

Featured image via Flickr Creative Commons

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Tories get caught laughing about how hard Brexit will crush ordinary people [VIDEO]

Next Post

Boxing star Manny Pacquiao has come up with the worst solution to the drug war raging in the Philippines

Next Post
Boxing star Manny Pacquiao has come up with the worst solution to the drug war raging in the Philippines

Boxing star Manny Pacquiao has come up with the worst solution to the drug war raging in the Philippines

BREAKING: Facebook has blocked news channel RT [IMAGES]

BREAKING: Facebook has blocked news channel RT [IMAGES]

BREAKING: First RT is blocked by Facebook, now other sites are blocking it too

BREAKING: First RT is blocked by Facebook, now other sites are blocking it too

2017

2017 set to top 2016 in pure, unadulterated wrongness

Social Cleansing These Homes Need People

As a Labour council tries to kick people out of their homes, a Tory minister comes to the rescue [TWEETS]

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

by The Canary
14 May 2025
EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

by Jamie Driscoll
14 May 2025
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Opinion

As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News
The Canary

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis
Ed Sykes

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News
The Canary

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion
Jamie Driscoll

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub