Europe

Europe

Amnesty International raps UK govt.

18 November 2011 03:34 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Amnesty International has slammed British intelligence agencies’ use of methods involving â€œtorture, rendition and secret detentionâ€ after UK Foreign Secretary praised MI5 and MI6, APA reports quoting Press TV.

â€œWilliam Hague is perfectly justified in praising the work of those that help to keep this country safe, but it’s not acceptable if this task is done with methods that include torture, rendition and secret detention,â€ said Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen, responding to a speech made by Hague.

In the speech arranged to praise the work of British intelligence services, Hague admitted that MI5 and MI6 officers had been involved in the extraordinary rendition scandal resulting in the illegal detention, abuse, and torture of terror suspects.

Furthermore, in an effort to hit at the Detainee Inquiry-an independent inquiry aimed at investigating Britain’s role in the torture and abuse of detainees in the so-called â€œwar on terrorâ€-Hague called for restricting the ability of courts to investigate the work of British intelligence services.

Hague’s proposals come as an all-party parliamentary group urged an information tribunal to release intelligence documents containing information about the British government’s role in secret rendition of UK residents to Guantanamo Bay.

Nevertheless, Amnesty International questioned the integrity of the Detainee Inquiry saying it â€œfalls well short of international standards for proper investigations and will not be able to deliver justice for the victims of these abuses, reassure the public or indeed hold accountable anyone involved.â€

Moreover, Allen raised concerns over Hague’s intention to overlook the brutal offences committed by Britain’s intelligence agents saying Hague’s speech â€œglosses over the danger of failing to properly hold the agencies to account.â€