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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Britain’s role in our torture and detention must be investigated | Britain’s role in our torture and detention must be investigated |
| (2 months later) | |
| We, the former British nationals and residents who were imprisoned by the US government at secret prisons in Kandahar, Bagram and Guantánamo, call on the British government to order a comprehensive and transparent judge-led public inquiry into the perpetrators of this abuse, and the individuals who ordered it, following the report by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) released last week (Revealed: true scale of UK role in torture and rendition, 29 June). | We, the former British nationals and residents who were imprisoned by the US government at secret prisons in Kandahar, Bagram and Guantánamo, call on the British government to order a comprehensive and transparent judge-led public inquiry into the perpetrators of this abuse, and the individuals who ordered it, following the report by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) released last week (Revealed: true scale of UK role in torture and rendition, 29 June). |
| Despite its limitations, the report confirms everything we have been saying over the course of almost two decades: that British intelligence services were wilfully complicit in our kidnap, false imprisonment, torture and other mistreatment. | Despite its limitations, the report confirms everything we have been saying over the course of almost two decades: that British intelligence services were wilfully complicit in our kidnap, false imprisonment, torture and other mistreatment. |
| The statistics revealed in the ISC report have astounded even us but we know that this is the tip of the iceberg. | The statistics revealed in the ISC report have astounded even us but we know that this is the tip of the iceberg. |
| We are, however, painfully aware that reports and inquiries of the government by the government into its own abuses have not resulted in justice. For example, the US Senate published a report in 2014 that admitted CIA agents had extraordinarily renditioned and tortured 119 prisoners during the course of the “war on terror”. Despite admitting these war crimes, no prosecutions against the perpetrators have ever taken place. | We are, however, painfully aware that reports and inquiries of the government by the government into its own abuses have not resulted in justice. For example, the US Senate published a report in 2014 that admitted CIA agents had extraordinarily renditioned and tortured 119 prisoners during the course of the “war on terror”. Despite admitting these war crimes, no prosecutions against the perpetrators have ever taken place. |
| On the contrary, since then the US has elected a president who believes that “torture works” and who has appointed someone who ran a torture facility to head the CIA, despite reports alleging she ordered the destruction of evidence documenting torture. He has also signed an executive order to keep Guantánamo open. Therefore, there must be meaningful accountability in the very highest corridors of power to ensure that such crimes never recur. | On the contrary, since then the US has elected a president who believes that “torture works” and who has appointed someone who ran a torture facility to head the CIA, despite reports alleging she ordered the destruction of evidence documenting torture. He has also signed an executive order to keep Guantánamo open. Therefore, there must be meaningful accountability in the very highest corridors of power to ensure that such crimes never recur. |
| Between us, we have spent close to 90 years imprisoned without charge or trial. We have endured cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. However, we really do want to put this episode behind us. | Between us, we have spent close to 90 years imprisoned without charge or trial. We have endured cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. However, we really do want to put this episode behind us. |
| We were pleased to learn about the prime minister’s recent apology given to Libyan torture survivors Abdel Hakim Belhaj and Fatima Boudchar. It is now time that we, citizens and residents of this country, also receive a long overdue apology and see the perpetrators of our abuse brought to account.Moazzam BeggShaker AamerAsif IqbalJamil El-BannaRuhal AhmedBisher al-RawiBinyam MohamedShafiq RasulOmar DeghayesTarek Dergoul | We were pleased to learn about the prime minister’s recent apology given to Libyan torture survivors Abdel Hakim Belhaj and Fatima Boudchar. It is now time that we, citizens and residents of this country, also receive a long overdue apology and see the perpetrators of our abuse brought to account.Moazzam BeggShaker AamerAsif IqbalJamil El-BannaRuhal AhmedBisher al-RawiBinyam MohamedShafiq RasulOmar DeghayesTarek Dergoul |
| • This letter was amended on 5 July 2018 to add a signatory to the list and the standfirst adjusted accordingly | • This letter was amended on 5 July 2018 to add a signatory to the list and the standfirst adjusted accordingly |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Rendition | Rendition |
| Moazzam Begg | Moazzam Begg |
| MI5 | MI5 |
| UK security and counter-terrorism | UK security and counter-terrorism |
| CIA | CIA |
| Guantánamo Bay | Guantánamo Bay |
| MI6 | MI6 |
| letters | letters |
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