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Tory MP demands torture statement | Tory MP demands torture statement |
(10 minutes later) | |
A senior Conservative says ministers must urgently respond to allegations that Britain was complicit in torture. | A senior Conservative says ministers must urgently respond to allegations that Britain was complicit in torture. |
David Davis said a High Court ruling on Wednesday alleged a British resident held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba had been tortured. | David Davis said a High Court ruling on Wednesday alleged a British resident held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba had been tortured. |
The ruling suggested the US threatened to withdraw intelligence help from the UK if details were released, Mr Davis claimed in the House of Commons. | The ruling suggested the US threatened to withdraw intelligence help from the UK if details were released, Mr Davis claimed in the House of Commons. |
The BBC's Nick Robinson said the claims were "extraordinarily serious". | The BBC's Nick Robinson said the claims were "extraordinarily serious". |
Allegations | Allegations |
The allegations relate to Binyam Mohamed, a British resident held in Guantanamo, who alleges he was tortured in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan. | The allegations relate to Binyam Mohamed, a British resident held in Guantanamo, who alleges he was tortured in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan. |
Mr Davis said a High Court ruling, which pointed to complicity by the UK and US authorities in his torture, was prevented from being published after the US put pressure on the UK. | Mr Davis said a High Court ruling, which pointed to complicity by the UK and US authorities in his torture, was prevented from being published after the US put pressure on the UK. |
He said the US had threatened to withdraw intelligence co-operation from the UK if this happened. | He said the US had threatened to withdraw intelligence co-operation from the UK if this happened. |
The former shadow home secretary raised the case in a point of order in the House of Commons. | The former shadow home secretary raised the case in a point of order in the House of Commons. |
He [David Miliband] should explain what degree of complicity we have in this David Davis Nick Robinson on the allegations | |
He said Foreign Secretary David Miliband should make a statement to MPs about the issue as soon as possible to "explain what the devil is going on". | He said Foreign Secretary David Miliband should make a statement to MPs about the issue as soon as possible to "explain what the devil is going on". |
Mr Davis said the US authorities should not interfere with the UK judicial process. | Mr Davis said the US authorities should not interfere with the UK judicial process. |
He also said the UK government should make it "plain" that it did not support torture in any circumstances. | He also said the UK government should make it "plain" that it did not support torture in any circumstances. |
Mr Mohamed, 30, has been held in Guantanamo for four years on terrorism charges. | Mr Mohamed, 30, has been held in Guantanamo for four years on terrorism charges. |
The US authorities accuse him of conspiring with Al-Qaeda leaders to plan a series of terrorist attacks. | The US authorities accuse him of conspiring with Al-Qaeda leaders to plan a series of terrorist attacks. |
But Mr Mohamed - who once lived in Britain but is not a British citizen - says documents support the fact that the evidence against him was obtained through torture. | But Mr Mohamed - who once lived in Britain but is not a British citizen - says documents support the fact that the evidence against him was obtained through torture. |
Last August, Lord Justice Thomas said that evidence relating to the case should be disclosed, saying it was "essential". | Last August, Lord Justice Thomas said that evidence relating to the case should be disclosed, saying it was "essential". |
However, the British government argued that the disclosure of certain material would cause "significant damage to national security of the United Kingdom". | However, the British government argued that the disclosure of certain material would cause "significant damage to national security of the United Kingdom". |
'Threats' | 'Threats' |
Mr Davis said the Judge had made it clear in Wednesday's ruling that information in the case was in the public interest although it was "potentially embarrassing" to the government. | Mr Davis said the Judge had made it clear in Wednesday's ruling that information in the case was in the public interest although it was "potentially embarrassing" to the government. |
He said the Judge had stated that the US government had "threatened" its UK counterpart about the repercussions should details of the case be made public. | He said the Judge had stated that the US government had "threatened" its UK counterpart about the repercussions should details of the case be made public. |
He said Mr Miliband must explain why this had happened and whether the new Obama administration supported its predecessor's stance on the issue. | He said Mr Miliband must explain why this had happened and whether the new Obama administration supported its predecessor's stance on the issue. |
"While he is at it, he [the foreign secretary] should explain what degree of complicity we have in this," he told the BBC. | "While he is at it, he [the foreign secretary] should explain what degree of complicity we have in this," he told the BBC. |
Mr Davis said the government had taken a "highly principled stand" against torture but it was unclear whether British agencies used information obtained from torture committed by others. | Mr Davis said the government had taken a "highly principled stand" against torture but it was unclear whether British agencies used information obtained from torture committed by others. |