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MI5 denies Binyam case 'cover-up' MI5 denies Binyam case 'cover-up'
(about 3 hours later)
The head of MI5 has denied his staff withheld documents relating to the alleged torture of a UK resident from a House of Commons scrutiny committee.The head of MI5 has denied his staff withheld documents relating to the alleged torture of a UK resident from a House of Commons scrutiny committee.
The Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee said it had been assured by director-general Jonathan Evans that no material was withheld. It has been suggested that a senior judge believed MI5 "deliberately misled" the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee.
It has been suggested that a senior judge believed MI5 officials "deliberately misled" the committee. But MI5 director-general Jonathan Evans told the Daily Telegraph the claim was "the precise opposite of the truth".
The material concerns former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed.The material concerns former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed.
Ethiopian-born Mr Mohamed, 31, alleges that UK authorities knew he was tortured at the behest of US authorities after his detention in Pakistan in 2002.Ethiopian-born Mr Mohamed, 31, alleges that UK authorities knew he was tortured at the behest of US authorities after his detention in Pakistan in 2002.
On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal ruled that the government must publish a seven-paragraph summary of exactly what British intelligence officials were told about his treatment.On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal ruled that the government must publish a seven-paragraph summary of exactly what British intelligence officials were told about his treatment.
The summary revealed that his treatment was "cruel, inhuman and degrading" and included deliberate sleep deprivation.The summary revealed that his treatment was "cruel, inhuman and degrading" and included deliberate sleep deprivation.
'Culture of suppression''Culture of suppression'
It also emerged on Wednesday that a paragraph contained in the Court of Appeal's draft judgement was removed following complaints from a senior government lawyer.It also emerged on Wednesday that a paragraph contained in the Court of Appeal's draft judgement was removed following complaints from a senior government lawyer.
Jonathan Sumption QC told the judges it would be "exceptionally damaging" if published because it would give the impression "that the Security Service does not in fact operate a culture that respects human rights or abjures participation in coercive interrogation techniques".Jonathan Sumption QC told the judges it would be "exceptionally damaging" if published because it would give the impression "that the Security Service does not in fact operate a culture that respects human rights or abjures participation in coercive interrogation techniques".
The director-general has confirmed to us that no document concerning Binyam Mohamed has been withheld from us Intelligence and Security CommitteeThe director-general has confirmed to us that no document concerning Binyam Mohamed has been withheld from us Intelligence and Security Committee
He said the paragraph would be read as meaning that "officials of the Service deliberately misled the Intelligence and Security Committee" in a way that "reflects a culture of suppression in its dealings with the committee, the foreign secretary and indirectly the court".He said the paragraph would be read as meaning that "officials of the Service deliberately misled the Intelligence and Security Committee" in a way that "reflects a culture of suppression in its dealings with the committee, the foreign secretary and indirectly the court".
The words to which Mr Sumption objected did not appear in the version of the judgement that was eventually published.The words to which Mr Sumption objected did not appear in the version of the judgement that was eventually published.
But Channel 4 News reported on Thursday night that the redacted section related to US documents concerning Mr Mohamed's treatment which MI5 failed to disclose to the committee.But Channel 4 News reported on Thursday night that the redacted section related to US documents concerning Mr Mohamed's treatment which MI5 failed to disclose to the committee.
However in a joint statement, chairman of the committee Kim Howells and senior Conservative Michael Mates said: "The director-general has confirmed to us this evening that no document concerning Binyam Mohamed and his treatment by the US authorities has been withheld from us."However in a joint statement, chairman of the committee Kim Howells and senior Conservative Michael Mates said: "The director-general has confirmed to us this evening that no document concerning Binyam Mohamed and his treatment by the US authorities has been withheld from us."
Arrested in Pakistan 'Highly unusual'
The MPs said allegations that MI5 officers were "careless in their observance of their obligations towards the human rights of detainees" were very grave.The MPs said allegations that MI5 officers were "careless in their observance of their obligations towards the human rights of detainees" were very grave.
"These are extremely serious allegations which, if true, would call into question the trust that exists between between the committee and the intelligence services," they said."These are extremely serious allegations which, if true, would call into question the trust that exists between between the committee and the intelligence services," they said.
But they said Mr Evans had assured them that "his staff understand and are complying with all their obligations in this regard under which they perform their difficult and sometimes dangerous duties". Mr Evans said MI5 was protecting the country from "enemies" who would use "all the tools and their disposal", including propaganda.
He wrote in an article in the Telegraph: "We will do all that we can to keep the country safe from terrorist attack. We will use all the powers available to us under the law.
"For their part, our enemies will also seek to use all tools at their disposal to attack us. That means not just bombs, bullets and aircraft but also propaganda.
"Their freedom to voice extremist views is part of the price we pay for living in a democracy, and it is a price worth paying."
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says it is a highly unusual intervention by the head of the security service that reflects deep concern at MI5 about the way the Appeal Court ruling has been reported and interpreted.
Mr Mohamed, an Ethiopian granted refugee status in Britain in 1994, was initially arrested in Pakistan in 2002 over a visa irregularity and was handed over to US officials. He was secretly flown to Morocco in 2002.Mr Mohamed, an Ethiopian granted refugee status in Britain in 1994, was initially arrested in Pakistan in 2002 over a visa irregularity and was handed over to US officials. He was secretly flown to Morocco in 2002.
There, he says, he was tortured while interrogators asked him about his life in London - questions, he says, that could have come only from British intelligence officers.There, he says, he was tortured while interrogators asked him about his life in London - questions, he says, that could have come only from British intelligence officers.
Mr Mohamed was sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, run by the US in Cuba, in 2004, until being released without charge in February 2009.Mr Mohamed was sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, run by the US in Cuba, in 2004, until being released without charge in February 2009.