It has been confirmed that ten foreign nationals have been detained. It is believed that one of those detained is Abu Qatada and that he will be deported to Jordan with whom the British Government has reached an agreement allowing for the deportation of Jordanian nationals suspected of inciting or supporting terrorism.

Commenting on this Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, said:

"What separates us from the terrorists is that we do not torture people or send them to be tortured. It should take more than self serving assurances to demonstrate that countries with a human rights record such as Jordan's are safe. Now is not the time for our Judges to be cowed by the impudent warnings of populist politicians.

"It is far better for public safety that a terrorist suspect be tried than shuffled around world."

Liberty Press Office on 020 7378 3656 or 07973 831 128

NOTES TO EDITORS
Under international conventions the UK government cannot send people back to a country where they might face torture, mistreatment or the death penalty. Downing Street today announced that it has reached a "memorandum of understanding" which removes this bar to deportations.

Liberty and Human Rights Watch recently wrote to the Prime Minister expressing concerns at the British government’s stated intention to seek diplomatic assurances against torture in order to deport terrorism suspects to their home countries or to third countries where they would be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

U.S. State Department has acknowledged persistent allegations of torture in Jordan in its latest country report on human rights practices, included reported methods such as “beating, sleep deprivation, extended solitary confinement, and physical suspension.” Maher Arar, the dual Canadian-Syrian national who was deported by the U.S. to Syria via Jordan in September 2002, following assurances on torture from Syria, claims that in addition to being severely tortured throughout his detention in Syria, he was repeatedly beaten by Jordanian authorities before being transferred to his final destination. The 2004 State Department report details the allegations of torture of several high-profile cases involving terrorism suspects, all tried by the State Security Court under conditions that did not meet international fair-trial standards.