UK Torture Record Challenged by Own Watchdog

Pressure is mounting on ministers to disclose what the Security Service knew about the alleged torture of Britons abroad.

Last week the Court of Appeal ordered the disclosure of seven paragraphs of evidence showing that MI5 was aware that Binyam Mohamed, a former Guantánamo Bay detainee, was being mistreated by the CIA.

Now Jack Straw faces calls for an investigation, this time from the Government’s own human rights watchdog. The Equality and Human Rights Commission wants an independent inquiry into more than 20 cases alleging that the Government was complicit in the torture of Britons abroad.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says that it can no longer ignore the growing body of allegations against MI5 and MI6.

The existence of classified material alleging the Security Service (MI5) knew Mohamed was being tortured while in US custody only emerged when the case reached the courts.

In an open letter to Human Rights Watch, Mr Howells denied there were "cultural failings" within MI5 which meant complicity in torture was widespread. And he hit back over claims his committee had failed to properly investigate allegations of complicity.

Last week the Court of Appeal allowed previously secret intelligence detailing the "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" of Mohamed to be made public.