Torture writ for Home Office
Government facing legal action over claims MI5 agents complicit in torture of Briton in Bangladesh
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Wednesday, 27, May 2009 05:48
The government is facing legal action over claims MI5 agents were complicit in the torture of a Briton in Bangladesh.
Lawyers for Jamil Rahman have told Jacqui Smith of their client's intention to sue for complicity in assault, unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and human rights breaches over his alleged treatment over two years.
The former civil servant, who relocated to Bangladesh to live with his wife, claims he was arrested in 2005 by local police and repeatedly beaten.
Confessions he gave to Bangladeshi officers where he admitted to masterminding the July 7th 2005 terror attacks in London were later retracted when he met with two MI5 agents who introduced themselves as Liam and Andrew, his lawyers claim.
But once the two agents left the room the beatings resumed, Mr Rahman says, adding that he was told his wife was in another room and would be raped by police officers.
The claims are the latest allegations of collusion in torture of British nationals abroad, mostly in Pakistan and Egypt.
The Home Office confirmed that lawyers had written to the home secretary and she would respond at a later date.
Britain officially denies any complicity in torture, although the Metropolitan police are currently investigating claims made by former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed that he was repeatedly tortured by US operatives despite MI5 being aware of his situation.