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Torture Pressure Grows for UK Government Liberty/Tiscali Europe | Feb 1 2006 What does the special relationship stand for now? The Council of Europe says it is highly likely that European governments are aware of the secret transport of up to 100 prisoners through Europe to third countries where they may face torture. Liberty fears that the UK government will be complicit in acts of torture if it fails to more actively investigate the possible use of UK airports for “extraordinary rendition” flights. Director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, said: "It is time for our Government to get its story straight- not about what it did not know, but what its going to do about such serious alleged violations of human rights and UK sovereignty. The Prime Minister has long talked about a wish for his ‘Hugh Grant moment’. Now is the time to send a clear signal to the President that torture flights are completely unacceptable. Otherwise the "special relationship" forged in defence of democracy and human rights will become both extraordinary and ridiculous." Liberty has called on the Government to comply with police inquiries, seek diplomatic reassurances from the US government, and change British law to halt rendition flights. |
