APPG News

The Court of Appeals ruled that the case was not barred by the 'act of state' doctrine because public policy considerations - namely the potentially grave violations of human rights and international law - favoured the court exercising jurisdiction over the case.  The Government previously argued that allowing the case to proceed would damage international relations, an argument that the Court has rejected.  More can be read here and here.

Justice Department attorneys will have until 12 December to offer its rationale for withholding as many as 2,100 previously undisclosed photographs depicting torture by members of the US military of detainees in overseas detention centres.  More can be read here. 

An editorial by the New York Times urges President Obama to reject publicly the use of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners anywhere in the world.   More can be read here.

According to one source quoted by McClatchy News, the report is "not about the White House.  It's not about the president.  It's not about criminal liability.  It's about the CIA's actions or inactions."   More can be read here.   Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/10/16/243669_senates-inquiry-into-cia-torture.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Alleged Libyan rendition victims Sami al-Saadi and Abdul Hakim Belhaj have requested that the Government disclose its policies governing when the Government and intelligence services can intercept confidential lawyer-client communications.   More can be read here.

Yunus Rahmatullah was detained and mistreated in Iraq by UK forces in 2004.  The Pakistani citizen was handed to US troops and subsequently rendered to Bagram in Afghanistan, where he was held for 10 years.  He has brought claims against the UK Government for its alleged role in his detention and mistreatment by UK personnel.  More can be read here and here.