22 May 2014
(London, UK) Leading members of influential parliamentary committees have spoken out against allegations of British complicity in torture and arbitrary detention made by a man named Ahmed Diini who could be imminently extradited to the US. [1]
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, head of parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee called these allegations 'serious' and has summoned intelligence agencies' heads to provide answers, while Baroness Lister of the Joint Committee on Human Rights called them 'shocking' and called for a government investigation.
The information came to light after the Independent [2] published an eight month investigation by campaign group CAGE [3].
Asim Qureshi, Director of Research at CAGE said: 'Extraditing Ahmed Diini now that leading members of the security and human rights committees have called for an investigation would be immoral and a further stain on Britain's global image. It is essential that the British government takes these claims seriously and investigates them.
'Not adequately investigating such claims and offering redress - as was seen with the white-washed Gibson report [4] - will allow British intelligence agencies to operate in a climate of impunity, with full confidence that their actions are above the law.'
Ahmed Diini, currently incarcerated in Turkey says that British secret service agents attempted to coerce him into working for them, but that when he refused he was not allowed to return to the UK where his family resides. He further alleges that he was visited by a British agent while he was arbitrarily detained in Egypt who promised to secure his release if he gave in to their demands. Based on their knowledge of him, Mr Diini also claims that his Egyptian captors were fed intelligence by the British.
[ENDS]
Notes:
1. The full article can be read here:
2. The full article can be read here:
3. CAGE (formerly known as CagePrisoners) is an independent advocacy organisation that works to empower communities affected by the War on Terror and to highlight abuses of due process.
4. More information on the Gibson Inquiry can be seen in this letter from leading NGOs
5. CAGE is able to arrange interviews with family members and the lawyer, and has extensive evidence of Ahmed Diini's treatment. Please get in touch with our media officer below for further information.
PRESS ENQUIRIES:
Contact: Mr Amandla Thomas-Johnson
Phone: +(44) 207 377 6700
Email: \press@cageuk.org
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CAGE
27 Old Gloucester Street
London
WC1N 3XX
<p>22 May 2014</p><p> </p><p>(London, UK) Leading members of influential parliamentary committees have spoken out against allegations of British complicity in torture and arbitrary detention made by a man named Ahmed Diini who could be imminently extradited to the US. [1]</p><p>Sir Malcolm Rifkind, head of parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee called these allegations 'serious' and has summoned intelligence agencies' heads to provide answers, while Baroness Lister of the Joint Committee on Human Rights called them 'shocking' and called for a government investigation.</p><p>The information came to light after <em>the Independent </em>[2] published an eight month investigation by campaign group CAGE [3].</p><p><strong>Asim Qureshi, Director of Research at CAGE said</strong>: 'Extraditing Ahmed Diini now that leading members of the security and human rights committees have called for an investigation would be immoral and a further stain on Britain's global image. It is essential that the British government takes these claims seriously and investigates them.</p><p>'Not adequately investigating such claims and offering redress - as was seen with the white-washed Gibson report [4] - will allow British intelligence agencies to operate in a climate of impunity, with full confidence that their actions are above the law.'</p><p>Ahmed Diini, currently incarcerated in Turkey says that British secret service agents attempted to coerce him into working for them, but that when he refused he was not allowed to return to the UK where his family resides. He further alleges that he was visited by a British agent while he was arbitrarily detained in Egypt who promised to secure his release if he gave in to their demands. Based on their knowledge of him, Mr Diini also claims that his Egyptian captors were fed intelligence by the British. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">[ENDS]</span></p><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Notes:</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">1. The full article can be read here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/british-intelligence-chiefs-asked-to-brief-government-over-allegations-of-torture-9405833.html</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2. The full article can be read here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/exclusive-mi5-stands-accused-of-complicity-in-torture-this-year-after-trying-to-recruit-man-from-egyptian-jail-9399746.html</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">3. CAGE (formerly known as CagePrisoners) is an independent advocacy organisation that works to empower communities affected by the War on Terror and to highlight abuses of due process. </div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">4. More information on the Gibson Inquiry can be seen in this letter from leading NGOs</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">5. CAGE is able to arrange interviews with family members and the lawyer, and has extensive evidence of Ahmed Diini's treatment. Please get in touch with our media officer below for further information.</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">PRESS ENQUIRIES:</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Contact: Mr Amandla Thomas-Johnson</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Phone: +(44) 207 377 6700</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Email: <a href="http://press@cageuk.org/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.3s linear, background; -webkit-transition: color 0.3s linear, background; outline: none 0px; border: 0px none; color: rgb(241, 88, 37);">press@cageuk.org</a></div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Web: <a href="/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.3s linear, background; -webkit-transition: color 0.3s linear, background; outline: none 0px; border: 0px none; color: rgb(241, 88, 37);">cage.ngo</a></div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">CAGE</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">27 Old Gloucester Street</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">London</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: 'open sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">WC1N 3XX</div>
