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Libyan rendition couple criticise CPS decision not to bring charges Libyan rendition couple criticise CPS decision not to bring charges
(about 3 hours later)
A married couple who were abducted and flown to Tripoli in a joint UK-Libyan rendition operation have spoken of their distress at a decision by crown prosecutors that nobody should be charged over the crime.A married couple who were abducted and flown to Tripoli in a joint UK-Libyan rendition operation have spoken of their distress at a decision by crown prosecutors that nobody should be charged over the crime.
Fatima Boudchar and her husband, Abdel Hakim Belhaj, an opponent of Muammar Gaddafi, were abducted in Thailand following a tipoff from Mark Allen, then head of counter-terrorism at MI6, and flown to Libya a few days before an official visit to the country by Tony Blair in 2004.Fatima Boudchar and her husband, Abdel Hakim Belhaj, an opponent of Muammar Gaddafi, were abducted in Thailand following a tipoff from Mark Allen, then head of counter-terrorism at MI6, and flown to Libya a few days before an official visit to the country by Tony Blair in 2004.
A few days after the visit, in a second UK-Libyan rendition operation, another Gaddafi opponent, Sami al-Saadi, was abducted in Hong Kong and flown to Tripoli along with his wife and four young children.A few days after the visit, in a second UK-Libyan rendition operation, another Gaddafi opponent, Sami al-Saadi, was abducted in Hong Kong and flown to Tripoli along with his wife and four young children.
Allen later signed a fax to Gaddafi’s intelligence chief, Moussa Koussa, in which he claimed credit for the tipoff that led to Belhaj’s abduction. Another fax, from the CIA to Koussa’s office, outlined that agency’s understanding of the UK’s role in the rendition of Saadi and his family.Allen later signed a fax to Gaddafi’s intelligence chief, Moussa Koussa, in which he claimed credit for the tipoff that led to Belhaj’s abduction. Another fax, from the CIA to Koussa’s office, outlined that agency’s understanding of the UK’s role in the rendition of Saadi and his family.
The correspondence came to light during the 2011 revolution that toppled Gaddafi. A British police investigation launched the following January uncovered evidence that Allen had sought political authority for some of his actions.The correspondence came to light during the 2011 revolution that toppled Gaddafi. A British police investigation launched the following January uncovered evidence that Allen had sought political authority for some of his actions.
Despite this, the Crown Prosecution Service announced on Thursday that it did not have sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.Despite this, the Crown Prosecution Service announced on Thursday that it did not have sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.
Boudchar expressed anger at the CPS decision. “I can’t believe it,” she said. “I was heavily pregnant when Britain helped kidnap and deliver me to Gaddafi. My baby weighed four pounds when he was born. I wonder how a British mother would have felt in my situation, if, while she was still carrying her baby, a gang of kidnappers seized her, took her to a secret cell, tortured her, taped her to a stretcher, and delivered her and her baby to a horrendous dictator.Boudchar expressed anger at the CPS decision. “I can’t believe it,” she said. “I was heavily pregnant when Britain helped kidnap and deliver me to Gaddafi. My baby weighed four pounds when he was born. I wonder how a British mother would have felt in my situation, if, while she was still carrying her baby, a gang of kidnappers seized her, took her to a secret cell, tortured her, taped her to a stretcher, and delivered her and her baby to a horrendous dictator.
“I hoped for better from British justice than today’s result, and will keep fighting until my husband, my family, and my son receive it.”“I hoped for better from British justice than today’s result, and will keep fighting until my husband, my family, and my son receive it.”
Belhaj added: “I am very disappointed in the decision. The evidence of the British role in my family’s ordeal is overwhelming. I saw many of the pages with my own eyes. For many years I have waited and put my faith in British justice, but so far I have seen from the government nothing but secrecy and cover-ups.Belhaj added: “I am very disappointed in the decision. The evidence of the British role in my family’s ordeal is overwhelming. I saw many of the pages with my own eyes. For many years I have waited and put my faith in British justice, but so far I have seen from the government nothing but secrecy and cover-ups.
“They say the rule of law in Britain reaches everyone, even the most powerful. Today I wonder whether that idea was a myth.”“They say the rule of law in Britain reaches everyone, even the most powerful. Today I wonder whether that idea was a myth.”
Boudchar spent four months in one of Gaddafi’s prisons. Saadi’s wife and children – the youngest a girl aged six – spent two and a half months in prison.Boudchar spent four months in one of Gaddafi’s prisons. Saadi’s wife and children – the youngest a girl aged six – spent two and a half months in prison.
The two men were held for six years, and they say they were repeatedly tortured. Both have also alleged that they were interrogated by British intelligence officers.The two men were held for six years, and they say they were repeatedly tortured. Both have also alleged that they were interrogated by British intelligence officers.
Some Scotland Yard officers are said to be furious at the CPS decision. The police declined to issue a joint statement with the CPS and instead issued a separate statement in which they said their own response to the kidnappings had been a “thorough and penetrating investigation” that had lasted two and a half years and had been conducted “without fear or favour”.Some Scotland Yard officers are said to be furious at the CPS decision. The police declined to issue a joint statement with the CPS and instead issued a separate statement in which they said their own response to the kidnappings had been a “thorough and penetrating investigation” that had lasted two and a half years and had been conducted “without fear or favour”.
The investigation had resulted in the CPS being presented with a file containing 28,000 pages, the statement added, and the decision not to prosecute had been taken by the CPS alone.The investigation had resulted in the CPS being presented with a file containing 28,000 pages, the statement added, and the decision not to prosecute had been taken by the CPS alone.
Belhaj and Saadi have indicated through their lawyers that they will challenge the CPS’s decision under the victims’ right to review scheme. If that fails to reverse the outcome, they could subsequently initiate a judicial review of the process.Belhaj and Saadi have indicated through their lawyers that they will challenge the CPS’s decision under the victims’ right to review scheme. If that fails to reverse the outcome, they could subsequently initiate a judicial review of the process.
There was no immediate response from the CPS to the couple’s criticisms. The CPS said it had no comment to make on the couple’s criticisms.