24 Aug 2006

Today the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) determined that Algerian terror suspect 'Y' should be forcibly returned to Algeria. 'Y' can appeal this decision next month.

Liberty is gravely concerned that the UK will fail in its obligation under the UN Convention Against Torture if he is forcibly deported. The Convention stipulates that a state must not return a person to another state where there are substantial grounds for believing that he might be tortured. 
 
Liberty’s Policy Director Gareth Crossman said: 
 
“In a classic case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, the Home Office is actively seeking to deport ‘Y’ to Algeria, despite Foreign Office reports that Algerian civilians continue to be abducted, tortured or killed by the Algerian security forces. 
 
If the UK government knows that Algeria practices torture and excludes independent monitors, under international and domestic law we must not return him.” 

In an effort to circumvent its obligations against torture, the UK Government has secured “Memorandums of Understanding” with Jordan, Libya and the Lebanon to return foreign nationals held in the UK to those countries. Despite similar diplomatic efforts with the Algerian government, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not disclosed that such an agreement has been reached. 
 
Crossman said: 

“While these diplomatic assurances against torture are not worth the paper they’re written on, it appears that now we’re not even allowed to see the paper.” 
 
Jen Corlew on 020 7378 3656 or 07973 831 128 
 
Notes to Editors
 
1. The UK government claims that “Y” poses a threat to national security. This is based in part on evidence that has not been disclosed to the suspect. “Y” was accused of conspiring in the “ricin plot” in 2003 but was acquitted in 2005.
 
2. It is believed that 14 additional Algerians are currently being held or are under conditional release in Britain on suspicions of terrorism. 
 
3. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2005 voiced the following concerns about human rights in Algeria: “Alongside the violence committed by the Islamic armed groups over the last decade are numerous documented allegations of human rights abuses by the security forces and state-armed militias, including the enforced disappearances of at least 6,000 people, abductions, torture and extra-judicial killings. The UK Government continues to urge the Algerian Government to comply fully with all its obligations under international human rights law, including the investigation of human rights violations, and to grant a visit to Algeria by the UN Special Rapporteur’s on torture and on extra-judicial killings.” 
 
3. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) is an immigration tribunal empowered to hear appeals by foreign nationals facing deportation because they are accused of posing a threat to the national security of the UK. SIAC is allowed to conduct closed hearings which exclude the deportee and legal representatives.