Is Britain trying to cover up torture?

Posted By Brian Fung Tuesday, July 7, 2009 - 5:48 PM Share

The British government may have tried to preempt charges that it has engaged in torture, the BBC reports today:

Rangzieb Ahmed, from Rochdale, said he was offered a shorter jail term if he would drop claims UK officials were involved in his alleged torture.
Ahmed was jailed for life in December for directing terrorism. In the trial, Ahmed said he was tortured in Pakistan.

A government spokesperson goes on to assure that "MI5 agents always operate within the law." But exactly what laws are in question?

Certainly not international law, which categorically prohibits torture outright. Though the House of Lords ruled in 2005 that evidence procured through torture is inadmissible in British court, Human Rights Watch still accuses the Britain of outsourcing its torture to countries like Algeria, Jordan and, yes, Pakistan.

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