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Blunkett
welcomes court decision on torture-extracted evidence
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CAIRO, August 12 (IslamOnline.net) - British appeal court ruled Wednesday,
August 11, that British courts could use evidence extracted under
torture, as long as "British agents were not complicit in the
abuse", British newspapers reported Thursday, August 12.
The
verdict came in the court's decision to reject appeals from foreign
nationals held by the British security authorities for more than two
years without charges, The Guardian and The Independent said.
The
controversial verdict that gave the green light to torture is expected
to bring
Britain
into a conflict with human rights groups and make the rule of law and
human rights a victim of the global "war on terror".
Home
Secretary David Blunkett welcomed the judgment as it gives "a
push to his policy on terrorism".
"As
Home Secretary. I must balance legal theory with the practical job of
protecting people," Blunkett was quoted by The Independent.
However,
the controversial verdict caused a row among the British judges as
some hailed the verdict, saying the home security service is not
obliged to inquire into the methods of how the information was
obtained to protect the national security while others refused the
ruling as it would weaken
Britain
's case before terrorists.
"Democratic
societies, faced with terrorist threats, should not readily accept
that the threat justifies the use of torture, or that the end
justifies the means," Lord Justice Neuberger said.
Amnesty
International, for its part, branded the verdict as it contradicts to
the rule of law and harms the basic human rights.
"The
rule of law and human rights have become casualties of the measures
taken in the aftermath of September 11. This judgment is an
aberration, morally and legally."
The
verdict comes a week after three British
Guantanamo detainees said they were mistreated to admit they were
meeting up with Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden while the three men
had evidence, confirmed by the British security services, that they
were in Britain at the time.
Britain
is a signatory to the European convention on human rights which
enshrines a series of fundamental rights, including "freedom from
torture, inhuman and degrading treatment."
