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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Government to compensate ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees | Government to compensate ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Around a dozen men who accused British security forces of colluding in their torture overseas are to get millions in compensation from the UK government. | Around a dozen men who accused British security forces of colluding in their torture overseas are to get millions in compensation from the UK government. |
| Some of the men, who are all British citizens or residents, were detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba. | Some of the men, who are all British citizens or residents, were detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba. |
| At least six of them alleged UK forces were complicit in their torture before they arrived at Guantanamo. | At least six of them alleged UK forces were complicit in their torture before they arrived at Guantanamo. |
| The Commons will debate the payout when Justice Secretary Ken Clarke makes a statement on Tuesday afternoon. | |
| A written ministerial statement on the out-of-court settlement, which had been expected to be released on Tuesday morning, was withdrawn by the Ministry of Justice. | |
| BBC chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg explained that there was some concern whether a written statement was sufficient for an issue that was causing so much concern. | |
| Lengthy negotiations | Lengthy negotiations |
| It is believed the government wanted to avoid a lengthy and costly court case which would also have put the British secret intelligence services under the spotlight. | |
| Bisher al-Rawi, Jamil el Banna, Richard Belmar, Omar Deghayes, Binyam Mohamed and Martin Mubanga were among those who had begun High Court cases against the government. | Bisher al-Rawi, Jamil el Banna, Richard Belmar, Omar Deghayes, Binyam Mohamed and Martin Mubanga were among those who had begun High Court cases against the government. |
| They had claimed that UK intelligence agencies and three government departments were complicit in their torture and should have prevented it. | They had claimed that UK intelligence agencies and three government departments were complicit in their torture and should have prevented it. |
| In May, the Court of Appeal ruled that the government was unable to rely on "secret evidence" to defend itself against the six cases. | In May, the Court of Appeal ruled that the government was unable to rely on "secret evidence" to defend itself against the six cases. |
| Then, in July, the High Court ordered the release of some of the 500,000 documents relating to the case. | Then, in July, the High Court ordered the release of some of the 500,000 documents relating to the case. |
| At least 60 government lawyers and officials have been working through the documents. | At least 60 government lawyers and officials have been working through the documents. |
| The settlement was believed to have been agreed after lengthy negotiations. | The settlement was believed to have been agreed after lengthy negotiations. |
| BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the Intelligence and Security Committee and the National Audit Office would be briefed about the payments. | BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the Intelligence and Security Committee and the National Audit Office would be briefed about the payments. |
| He said the government would now be able to move forward with plans for an inquiry, led by Sir Peter Gibson, into claims that UK security services were complicit in the torture of terror suspects. | He said the government would now be able to move forward with plans for an inquiry, led by Sir Peter Gibson, into claims that UK security services were complicit in the torture of terror suspects. |
| Mr Mohamed's solicitor, Sapna Malik, refused to comment on reports that her client will receive more than £1m in compenstation. | |
| She told the BBC: "I can't confirm any details about the settlement package. All I can say is that the claims have been settled and the terms are confidential." | |
| She added: "Our client was horrendously treated over a period of almost seven years, with a significant degree of collusion from the security services in the UK." | |
| Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said of the payments: "It's not very palatable but there is a price to be paid for lawlessness and torture in freedom's name. There are torture victims who were entitled to expect protection from their country. | Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said of the payments: "It's not very palatable but there is a price to be paid for lawlessness and torture in freedom's name. There are torture victims who were entitled to expect protection from their country. |
| "The government now accepts that torture is never justified and we were all let down - let's learn all the lessons and move on." | "The government now accepts that torture is never justified and we were all let down - let's learn all the lessons and move on." |
| Severely tortured | Severely tortured |
| The Cabinet Office said: "The prime minister set out clearly in his statement to the House (of Commons) on July 6 that we need to deal with the totally unsatisfactory situation where for 'the past few years, the reputation of our security services has been overshadowed by allegations about their involvement in the treatment of detainees held by other countries'." | The Cabinet Office said: "The prime minister set out clearly in his statement to the House (of Commons) on July 6 that we need to deal with the totally unsatisfactory situation where for 'the past few years, the reputation of our security services has been overshadowed by allegations about their involvement in the treatment of detainees held by other countries'." |
| The UK security services have always denied any claims that they have used or condoned the use of torture. | The UK security services have always denied any claims that they have used or condoned the use of torture. |
| Last month, the head of MI6, Sir John Sawers described torture as "illegal and abhorrent" and defended the service's need for secrecy. | Last month, the head of MI6, Sir John Sawers described torture as "illegal and abhorrent" and defended the service's need for secrecy. |
| Mr Mohamed, from west London, was held in Pakistan in 2002 before US agencies moved him to Morocco, where he was severely tortured, before he was sent on to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. | Mr Mohamed, from west London, was held in Pakistan in 2002 before US agencies moved him to Morocco, where he was severely tortured, before he was sent on to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. |
| It later emerged that a British intelligence officer visited him in detention in Pakistan and that the CIA had told London what mistreatment he had suffered. | It later emerged that a British intelligence officer visited him in detention in Pakistan and that the CIA had told London what mistreatment he had suffered. |
| Mr Mohamed, 32, had alleged that his torturers in Morocco had asked questions supplied by MI5. | Mr Mohamed, 32, had alleged that his torturers in Morocco had asked questions supplied by MI5. |
| He was released in 2009, when allegations of British involvement in torture returned to prominence. | He was released in 2009, when allegations of British involvement in torture returned to prominence. |
| What does this decision mean for the future of Guantanamo? Will it make a difference? Send us your comments using the form below | What does this decision mean for the future of Guantanamo? Will it make a difference? Send us your comments using the form below |