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Terror detainee
calls for release
A foreign national held
in the UK under terror laws has called for his release following a
Law Lords' ruling that nine men were being detained illegally. The
country's highest judges ruled that detaining foreign terrorism
suspects without trial breaks human rights laws, and said the
detainees could appeal.
The detainee said the government should "release me and the other
internees to return to our families and loved ones". He called for
the "illegal law" under which he is held to be scrapped.
Most of the nine detainees are being held in Belmarsh prison, south
London.
'Enough is enough'
The law lords said the "draconian" measures were incompatible with
European human rights laws and the government must pay the appeal
costs.
In a statement released by his lawyer Gareth Peirce after the ruling
the detainee, known as "A", said: "I am very pleased at this
decision.
"It proves that however erroneous the policies of the government are
there will always be an independent judiciary that will be there to
say that enough is enough," he said.
"This ruling should send a message to the legislators that 'national
security' can never take precedent over human rights."
Ms Peirce, who represents eight of the detainees, also called for
the government to act quickly and release the men.
Liberty Director Shami
Chakrabarti "It will provoke an enormous constitutional crisis if
the government fail to act swiftly," she said. "The government has
to take steps to withdraw the legislation and release the detainees.
If there is no swift action from the government then the detainees
could ask the European Court of Human Rights to be involved" She
went on "It would be unconstitutional for the government to hold out
against such a strong judgment, such a very strong judgment."
Ms Peirce claimed that the detention had driven four of the
detainees to "madness" and that two were in Broadmoor.
The ruling was also welcomed by civil rights groups.
'Act honourably'
Before the ruling, civil rights groups including Liberty, Amnesty
International and the Civil Liberties Trust had said the powers used
to hold the suspects denied the fundamental human rights of
detainees.
Director of Amnesty International UK Kate Allen said the ruling was
"hugely welcomed". "Morally, legally, a very clear message has been
sent to the government," she insisted, adding: "We are very hopeful
that the new home secretary will take the opportunity to ensure that
human rights are firmly back on the agenda."
The Director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti said she wad "delighted"
at the ruling. "By acting as judge, jury and jailer, the government
has flouted the very values it claims to defend. It must now act
honourably and charge or release all those currently held."
It would be "unprecedented" if the government chose to ignore the
Law Lords ruling, she said.
Ms Chakrabarti also called on the new Home Secretary Charles Clarke
to "act promptly to end the policy of detention without trial".
Source: BBC News
16 December 2004
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