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November 14, 2005
Torture bill
A letter published in the Pakistan Daily Times
Sir: Just as the CIA have their notorious programme whereby the ‘suspect’ is sent for further questioning to key torture destinations around the world, there is plenty of evidence that British intelligence agencies do the same. Earlier, in September, in a statement to the Law Lords by the head of MI5, Eliza Manningham-Buller argued for the efficacy of torture in preventing a terrorist plot.
Former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, cites a few examples from Uzbekistan — a woman who was raped with a broken bottle and died after ten days of agony; the old man who was suspended by wrist shackles from the ceiling while his children were beaten before his eyes; the man whose fingernails were pulled off and who was immersed to his armpits in boiling liquid; and the 18-year-old whose knees and elbows were smashed and whose hand was immersed in boiling liquid until the flesh started to peel from the bone.
In light of this, the British anti-terror Bill seems hypocritical. It makes their stance on human rights a lot less credible.
MARYAM PARACHA
Posted by andrew on November 14, 2005 11:15 AM in the category UK Policy