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| Torture, detention and ill-treatment past and present | Torture, detention and ill-treatment past and present |
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| The decision to compensate the victims of torture and illegal detention during the Mau Mau insurgency in Kenya (Britain has said sorry to the Mau Mau, 7 June) is heartening and must lend weight to claims for compensation by those whose civil and human rights were abused by British security forces in the first colonial counterinsurgency campaign of the postwar era, in Palestine. | The decision to compensate the victims of torture and illegal detention during the Mau Mau insurgency in Kenya (Britain has said sorry to the Mau Mau, 7 June) is heartening and must lend weight to claims for compensation by those whose civil and human rights were abused by British security forces in the first colonial counterinsurgency campaign of the postwar era, in Palestine. |
| Will the government now apologise for the torture and murder of a 16-year-old boy, Alexander Rubowitz, who was seized by an undercover police squad led by Major Roy Farran in the Rehavia district of Jerusalem on 6 May 1947? Rubowitz was a member of LEHI, the Fighters for the Freedom of Israel, a proscribed underground organisation responsible for numerous assassinations and bombings. But when he was apprehended he was doing nothing worse than distributing anti-British propaganda. He was taken to a deserted area outside Jerusalem, where Farran struck him repeatedly on the head with a rock, causing his death. Farran admitted this to his commanding officer, Colonel Bernard Fergusson, and said the policemen with him had stripped the boy's body and mutilated it. The corpse was never recovered. Farran was subsequently investigated by the Palestine police force and arrested. He fled custody twice. In October 1947 a court martial acquitted him on the grounds that, if there was no body, no murder could be proved. Subsequent attempts by the Rubowitz family to bring Farran to justice using criminal and civil proceedings were all foiled. | Will the government now apologise for the torture and murder of a 16-year-old boy, Alexander Rubowitz, who was seized by an undercover police squad led by Major Roy Farran in the Rehavia district of Jerusalem on 6 May 1947? Rubowitz was a member of LEHI, the Fighters for the Freedom of Israel, a proscribed underground organisation responsible for numerous assassinations and bombings. But when he was apprehended he was doing nothing worse than distributing anti-British propaganda. He was taken to a deserted area outside Jerusalem, where Farran struck him repeatedly on the head with a rock, causing his death. Farran admitted this to his commanding officer, Colonel Bernard Fergusson, and said the policemen with him had stripped the boy's body and mutilated it. The corpse was never recovered. Farran was subsequently investigated by the Palestine police force and arrested. He fled custody twice. In October 1947 a court martial acquitted him on the grounds that, if there was no body, no murder could be proved. Subsequent attempts by the Rubowitz family to bring Farran to justice using criminal and civil proceedings were all foiled. |
| Roy Farran died in Canada in 2006, having enjoyed a successful career as a newspaper publisher and politician. He is regarded as a heroic figure and his wartime exploits in the SAS are legendary. However, his activity in Palestine became a model for British counterinsurgency techniques in Malaya, Kenya, Aden and Northern Ireland, always with disastrous consequences. An apology to the Rubowitz family, who have not given up seeking justice, would acknowledge their cause and signify a repudiation of the covert, semi-legal techniques that have repeatedly dishonoured the British armed forces in operations against insurgents. David Cesarani Research professor in history, Royal Holloway, University of London | Roy Farran died in Canada in 2006, having enjoyed a successful career as a newspaper publisher and politician. He is regarded as a heroic figure and his wartime exploits in the SAS are legendary. However, his activity in Palestine became a model for British counterinsurgency techniques in Malaya, Kenya, Aden and Northern Ireland, always with disastrous consequences. An apology to the Rubowitz family, who have not given up seeking justice, would acknowledge their cause and signify a repudiation of the covert, semi-legal techniques that have repeatedly dishonoured the British armed forces in operations against insurgents. David Cesarani Research professor in history, Royal Holloway, University of London |
| • The government's near-admission of the use of torture against Mau Mau insurgents in the 1950s is welcome but raises wider points. Not only are similar issues of torture against those who sought independence in other former British colonies outstanding, but the question of British history itself is also raised. | • The government's near-admission of the use of torture against Mau Mau insurgents in the 1950s is welcome but raises wider points. Not only are similar issues of torture against those who sought independence in other former British colonies outstanding, but the question of British history itself is also raised. |
| Do we take it that even now Mr Gove is setting up arrangements to make sure that the now admitted actual history of British action against the Mau Mau is taught as part of "our island story"? Keith Flett London | Do we take it that even now Mr Gove is setting up arrangements to make sure that the now admitted actual history of British action against the Mau Mau is taught as part of "our island story"? Keith Flett London |
| • If it is true that the Foreign Office and Ministry of Justice have said any future claims for compensation for mistreatment during the colonial period "could be heard under the secret court system established by the Justice and Security Act" (UK faces more torture claims, 7 June), the government will have some explaining to do. The relevant provisions of the act relate to issues of national security. How can they possibly relate to events that allegedly occurred 50 and more years ago? Jeremy Beecham Shadow justice spokesman, House of Lords | • If it is true that the Foreign Office and Ministry of Justice have said any future claims for compensation for mistreatment during the colonial period "could be heard under the secret court system established by the Justice and Security Act" (UK faces more torture claims, 7 June), the government will have some explaining to do. The relevant provisions of the act relate to issues of national security. How can they possibly relate to events that allegedly occurred 50 and more years ago? Jeremy Beecham Shadow justice spokesman, House of Lords |
| • Last week the UN Committee against Torture released its concluding observations after a review of the UK's record on preventing, punishing and remedying torture and ill-treatment (UN blasts Britain over human rights record since 9/11, 1 June). | • Last week the UN Committee against Torture released its concluding observations after a review of the UK's record on preventing, punishing and remedying torture and ill-treatment (UN blasts Britain over human rights record since 9/11, 1 June). |
| Among the committee's important recommendations is a call on the UK to establish without delay an inquiry into the alleged complicity of UK officials in the torture of detainees held overseas. It says the UK government must address the shortcomings of the previous, deeply flawed detainee inquiry. | Among the committee's important recommendations is a call on the UK to establish without delay an inquiry into the alleged complicity of UK officials in the torture of detainees held overseas. It says the UK government must address the shortcomings of the previous, deeply flawed detainee inquiry. |
| Meanwhile, the UN has echoed a call made by numerous others that the UK government publish the detainee inquiry's interim report, finished almost a year ago, to the fullest extent possible. | Meanwhile, the UN has echoed a call made by numerous others that the UK government publish the detainee inquiry's interim report, finished almost a year ago, to the fullest extent possible. |
| The establishment of a new inquiry offers a genuine opportunity for the UK to draw a line under these alleged violations, to restore public confidence and to set an example to other countries in how to respond to such serious allegations. | The establishment of a new inquiry offers a genuine opportunity for the UK to draw a line under these alleged violations, to restore public confidence and to set an example to other countries in how to respond to such serious allegations. |
| It is crucial that the UK take immediate and meaningful steps to implement the committee's recommendations.The UK must take immediate steps to implement the recommendations. Kate Allen Director, Amnesty International UK, Keith Best Chief executive, Freedom from Torture, Susan Bryant Director, Rights Watch (UK), Shami Chakrabarti Director, Liberty, Cori Crider Legal director, Reprieve, Dadimos Haile Interim director, Redress, David Mepham UK director, Human Rights Watch, Angela Patrick Director of human rights policy, Justice, Muhammad Rabbani Managing director, Cageprisoners | It is crucial that the UK take immediate and meaningful steps to implement the committee's recommendations.The UK must take immediate steps to implement the recommendations. Kate Allen Director, Amnesty International UK, Keith Best Chief executive, Freedom from Torture, Susan Bryant Director, Rights Watch (UK), Shami Chakrabarti Director, Liberty, Cori Crider Legal director, Reprieve, Dadimos Haile Interim director, Redress, David Mepham UK director, Human Rights Watch, Angela Patrick Director of human rights policy, Justice, Muhammad Rabbani Managing director, Cageprisoners |
| • It has been almost a decade since two children, 15-year-old Gareth Myatt and 14-year-old Adam Rickwood, died following the use of painful restraint. Gareth died from asphyxia after being restrained by staff in the G4S-run Rainsbrook secure training centre. Adam hanged himself in Serco-run Hassockfield secure training centre, after being subjected to a karate chop to the nose (termed a "nose distraction"). Adam's nose bled for about an hour afterwards; he left a note asking what gave staff the right to hit a child. Although this technique was eventually banned, the deliberate infliction of pain continues to be authorised by ministers, including when children are being strip-searched. An inspection report published on Ashfield, another Serco-run child jail, revealed that two boys had suffered broken bones while staff forcibly restrained them (Ashfield youth jail condemned over unacceptable levels of violence, 4 June). | • It has been almost a decade since two children, 15-year-old Gareth Myatt and 14-year-old Adam Rickwood, died following the use of painful restraint. Gareth died from asphyxia after being restrained by staff in the G4S-run Rainsbrook secure training centre. Adam hanged himself in Serco-run Hassockfield secure training centre, after being subjected to a karate chop to the nose (termed a "nose distraction"). Adam's nose bled for about an hour afterwards; he left a note asking what gave staff the right to hit a child. Although this technique was eventually banned, the deliberate infliction of pain continues to be authorised by ministers, including when children are being strip-searched. An inspection report published on Ashfield, another Serco-run child jail, revealed that two boys had suffered broken bones while staff forcibly restrained them (Ashfield youth jail condemned over unacceptable levels of violence, 4 June). |
| We urge the UK government to comply with the recommendations made by the UN Committee against Torture that restraint against children be used only as a last resort and exclusively to prevent harm to the child or others; that all methods of physical restraint for disciplinary purposes be abolished; and that the use of any technique designed to inflict pain on children be banned. Deborah Coles Co-director, Inquest, Frances Crook Director, Howard League for Penal Reform, Juliet Lyon Director, Prison Reform Trust, Phillip Noyes Director of strategy and development, NSPCC, Paola Uccellari Director, Children's Rights Alliance for England, Carolyne Willow Children's rights campaigner | We urge the UK government to comply with the recommendations made by the UN Committee against Torture that restraint against children be used only as a last resort and exclusively to prevent harm to the child or others; that all methods of physical restraint for disciplinary purposes be abolished; and that the use of any technique designed to inflict pain on children be banned. Deborah Coles Co-director, Inquest, Frances Crook Director, Howard League for Penal Reform, Juliet Lyon Director, Prison Reform Trust, Phillip Noyes Director of strategy and development, NSPCC, Paola Uccellari Director, Children's Rights Alliance for England, Carolyne Willow Children's rights campaigner |
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