(London, UK) An appeals court has today blocked an attempt to hold the UK's first completely secret criminal trial.
The decision means that the two defendants Erol Incedal and Mounir Rarmoul-Bouhadjar. previously referred to as AB and CD respectively, can now be named, and the media and public will now be allowed to access less significant parts of the trial. However, judges maintained that the trial of the two men was of an exceptional nature and that the core of it must still be held in private. [1]
Asim Qureshi, Director of Research at CAGE [2], said:
"This decision does show that bringing public pressure to bear can go some way toward preserving important principles. However, this ruling really only offers the pretence of due process, because the crux of the trial will still be held in secret."
"We must remember that the right to a free and fair trial is a fundamental British value that should be available to anyone regardless of their alleged crime. Unfortunately, the use of secret evidence has been already been established in British courts such as in the Special Immigrations Appeals Commission (SIAC) and so today's decision shows that a two tier system is fast becoming part and parcel of the English legal system." [3]
[ENDS]
Notes:
1. More information about today's decision can be read here:
2. CAGE (formerly known as CagePrisoners) is an independent advocacy organisations that works to empower communities affected by the War on Terror and to highlight abuses of due process.
3. A talk on the rule of law delivered by barrister David Gottlieb at a CAGE seminar can be accessed here:
PRESS ENQUIRIES:
Contact: Mr Amandla Thomas-Johnson
Phone: +(44) 207 377 6700
Email: \press@cageuk.org
Web: cage.ngo
CAGE
27 Old Gloucester Street
London
WC1N 3XX
<div>(London, UK) An appeals court has today blocked an attempt to hold the UK's first completely secret criminal trial.</div><div> </div><div>The decision means that the two defendants Erol Incedal and Mounir Rarmoul-Bouhadjar. previously referred to as AB and CD respectively, can now be named, and the media and public will now be allowed to access less significant parts of the trial. However, judges maintained that the trial of the two men was of an exceptional nature and that the core of it must still be held in private. [1]</div><div> </div><div><strong>Asim Qureshi, Director of Research</strong> <strong>at CAGE</strong> [2], said:</div><div> </div><div>"This decision does show that bringing public pressure to bear can go some way toward preserving important principles. However, this ruling really only offers the pretence of due process, because the crux of the trial will still be held in secret."</div><div> </div><div>"We must remember that the right to a free and fair trial is a fundamental British value that should be available to anyone regardless of their alleged crime. Unfortunately, the use of secret evidence has been already been established in British courts such as in the Special Immigrations Appeals Commission (SIAC) and so today's decision shows that a two tier system is fast becoming part and parcel of the English legal system." [3]</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>[ENDS]</div><div> </div><div>Notes:</div><div> </div><div>1. More information about today's decision can be read here: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27806814">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27806814</a></div><div> </div><div>2. CAGE (formerly known as CagePrisoners) is an independent advocacy organisations that works to empower communities affected by the War on Terror and to highlight abuses of due process. </div><div> </div><div>3. A talk on the rule of law delivered by barrister David Gottlieb at a CAGE seminar can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVvp7Jvvgws">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVvp7Jvvgws</a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>PRESS ENQUIRIES:</div><div> </div><div>Contact: Mr Amandla Thomas-Johnson</div><div>Phone: +(44) 207 377 6700</div><div>Email: press@cageuk.org</div><div>Web: cage.ngo</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>CAGE</div><div>27 Old Gloucester Street</div><div>London </div><div>WC1N 3XX</div><div> </div>
