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Government appeals torture ruling Judges criticised in torture case
(about 15 hours later)
Three of England's most senior judges are to hear an appeal by the government against letting the public know about allegations of torture. The government has accused two senior judges who ruled that intelligence on torture allegations should be made public, of irresponsibly "charging in".
Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed says a secret summary of his treatment must be released in the UK. Ministers are appealing against a High Court ruling that the public should know about allegations made by former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed.
He says the British colluded in his mistreatment by providing questions in 2002 for his secret interrogations. Mr Mohamed says a secret summary of his treatment must be released in the UK.
But the Foreign Secretary says the summary is so sensitive it would "seriously damage national security". But the foreign secretary told the Appeal Court the summary would "seriously damage national security".
The government's appeal is being opposed by both Mr Mohamed and the British and international media. The High Court judges - Lord Justice Thomas and Mr Justice Lloyd Jones - are under what is being seen as an unprecedented attack by a government minister on the senior judiciary.
The case is being heard by Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice; Lord Neuberger, the Master of the Rolls; and Sir Anthony May, President of the Queen's Bench Division. What's happened over the last year-and-a-half is that government has been conspiring with the United States to cover-up the criminal offence of torture Clive Stafford-Smith, Reprieve
BINYAM MOHAMED Detained in Pakistan in 2002, questioned there by MI5 officerTransferred to Morocco, claims he was tortured in US custody and asked questions supplied by MI5Later interned in Guantanamo Bay and eventually released in 2009 Jonathan Sumption QC, appearing for Foreign Secretary David Miliband, told the Court of Appeal that the judges' stance was "both, in many respects, unnecessary and profoundly damaging to the interests of this country".
Ethiopian-born Binyam Mohamed is a legal resident of the UK - and returned to London after he was released earlier this year from the US's detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay. Mr Sumption added: "I would go so far as to say their views were irresponsible."
Mr Sumption said that since Mr Mohamed had now been released from Guantanamo Bay, he was no longer affected by today's legal proceedings which had "essentially been taken over to serve a wider, and in some respects, political agenda".
The government's appeal is being opposed by both Mr Mohamed and media organisations.
The case is due to last three days and a judgement is expected in the new year.
Ethiopian-born Binyam Mohamed is a legal resident of the UK who was returned to London following his release earlier this year from the US jail at Guantanamo Bay.
He was first held in Pakistan in 2002 - and then taken to secret prisons in Morocco and Afghanistan.He was first held in Pakistan in 2002 - and then taken to secret prisons in Morocco and Afghanistan.
BINYAM MOHAMED Detained in Pakistan in 2002, questioned there by MI5 officerTransferred to Morocco, claims he was tortured in US custody and asked questions supplied by MI5Later interned in Guantanamo Bay and eventually released in 2009
Mr Mohamed says he was tortured at the behest of the CIA - and MI5 provided questions and material for his interrogations.Mr Mohamed says he was tortured at the behest of the CIA - and MI5 provided questions and material for his interrogations.
Earlier this year two High Court judges said they wanted to release a seven-paragraph summary of what Washington had told London about Mr Mohamed's treatment. Earlier this year Lord Justice Thomas and Mr Justice Lloyd Jones said they wanted to release a seven-paragraph summary of what Washington had told London about Mr Mohamed's treatment.
They said this summary was critical to the former detainee's case against the government and the US.They said this summary was critical to the former detainee's case against the government and the US.
But Foreign Secretary David Milliband has angrily refused to release the information, accusing the court of acting beyond its powers. But Foreign Secretary David Milliband has refused to release the information, accusing the court of acting beyond its powers.
Critical secrets
In its appeal, the government will repeat its argument that the judges have no right to release the summary because it is drawn from intelligence documents that can never be disclosed without permission from the US.In its appeal, the government will repeat its argument that the judges have no right to release the summary because it is drawn from intelligence documents that can never be disclosed without permission from the US.
HIGH COURT RULING (Oct 09) Summary Full judgement Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
Releasing the material would damage national security, says the government, because the US would no longer be prepared to share critical secret information if it thinks British judges will later published it.Releasing the material would damage national security, says the government, because the US would no longer be prepared to share critical secret information if it thinks British judges will later published it.
Lawyers for the foreign secretary will tell the court releasing the summary would be an "unprecedented" breach of confidence. Lawyers for the foreign secretary are expected to tell the court that releasing the summary would be an "unprecedented" breach of confidence.
HIGH COURT RULING (Oct 09) Summary Full judgement Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The High Court earlier rejected this claim, ruling the summary was not secret information - and did not give away anything sensitive such as the names of officers.The High Court earlier rejected this claim, ruling the summary was not secret information - and did not give away anything sensitive such as the names of officers.
A separate police investigation is still investigating whether a MI5 officer, known only as Officer B, was complicit in Binyam Mohamed's mistreatment.A separate police investigation is still investigating whether a MI5 officer, known only as Officer B, was complicit in Binyam Mohamed's mistreatment.
You can't learn from history if you don't know what that history is Clive Stafford-Smith Campaigners have described as "bizarre" the government's refusal to disclose the allegations.
Clive Stafford-Smith of legal charity Reprieve, which represents Mr Mohamed, said: "I find it bizarre that the government is still trying to cover up what's in these paragraphs. Clive Stafford-Smith of legal charity Reprieve, which represents Mr Mohamed, said: "What's happened over the last year-and-a-half is that government has been conspiring with the United States to cover-up the criminal offence of torture.
"If there is one lesson we should have learned from Richard Nixon in Watergate is that the cover-up is often worse than the crime. "While Binyam has told his story, there are people out there who deny it.
"What's happened over the last year-and-a-half is that government has been conspiring with the United States to cover-up the criminal offence of torture. "It's very important that if there is official evidence out there that shows he is telling the truth, that he was tortured, then the world has a right to know."
"You can't learn from history if you don't know what that history is. While Binyam has told his story, there are people out there who deny it. It's very important that if there is official evidence out there that shows he is telling the truth, that he was tortured, then the world has a right to know."