Document Library - All Other Documents

On 31 July 2009 the High Court revised its earlier judgment in the case involving Binyam Mohamed.  The revisions are highlighted in the this judgment.

The APPG visited the US in May 2009 to discuss rendition and related issues with the US Adminstration.  This is a report of the visit.

On 27 January 2009 the APPG published its Annual Review 2008.  The review sets out the work of the APPG and developments in the campaign against extraordinary rendition and UK involvement in it during 2008. This includes the two rendition flights through Diego Garcia; the High Court's judgments in the case of British resident Binyam Mohamed; the publication of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Reports into the Overseas Territories and its Human Rights Annual Report 2007; the Group's investigation of the MOD's policy on the transfer of detainees captured by UK Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan; and the launch of the APPG's internation information campaign.

In December 2008 Redress published this report entitled 'The United Kingdom, Torture and Anti-Terrorism: Where the Problems Lie'.

The APPG publishes a Legal Opinion on detainee handovers by UK Forces, prepared by Michael Fordham QC and Tom Hickman, barristers at Blackstone Chambers specialising in human rights law, on instruction from solicitors Michael Davison and Emma Colquhoun, at the law firm Lovells LLP. The Opinion makes clear that any assurances given by the US authorities that an individual handed over by UK forces to the US authorities would not be mistreated or unlawfully rendered, would not absolve the UK government of the obligation to examine whether the assurances provide a sufficient guarantee that the individual will be protected against the risk of ill-treatment.  Importantly, the Legal Opinion highlights 'specific concerns about the legality of the UK having accepted such assurances' from the US.

The APPG publishes a briefing note prepared by the United Nations Association of the UK, on the UN System and Extraordinary Rendition.  The note addresses relevant international law prohibitions on rendition and opportunities for redress under the UN system.

On 3 July 2008 the Foreign Secretary published the list of flights the FCO had sent to the US Administration for specific assurances that they were not involved in rendition operations at the time of their transit through UK airspace.  This list of 391 flights was sent to the US following the revelation that two rendition flights had used the British island of Diego Garcia.

The APPG published its Annual Review for 2007.  The review covers the publication of the ISC Report into Rendition; the Westminster Hall Debate on Rendition; the publication of the APPG's proposed measures on legislative reform; changes in the Government's policy on record keeping; submissions to and collaboration with the FAC, US Committees, the Council of Europe, and the European Parliament; and the release of Bisher al-Rawi and Jamil el-Banna from Guantanamo Bay.

Reprieve submission to the Foreign Affairs Committee entitled: 'Enforced Disappearance, Illegal Interstate Transfer, and Other Human Rights Abuses Involving the UK Overseas Territories', October 2007.

The APPG spearheaded the development of legal measures to address rendition.  Working with key actors in an Expert Working group draft measures were finalised, published, and provided to the Foreign Office (FCO).  The FCO is currently considering these proposals.