International Torture Day: UK inquiry welcome
June 25, 2010 10:00 AM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP
Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford will tomorrow (Saturday 26 June) attend a demonstration organised by the London Guantanamo Campaign to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Sarah Ludford said:
"Twenty-three years to the day after the international Convention against Torture came into force, torture is still widespread and Western countries including the UK have shamefully collaborated with or even practised it."
"We must show solidarity with victims of the post-9/11 system of kidnap, disappearance and torture that became known as 'extraordinary rendition'. Much of the worst torture was cynically outsourced to despicable regimes in at attempt at 'out of sight, out of mind'."
"Guantanamo remains very much open despite Obama's pledge to close it down, and there is no sign of a fair hearing for the inmates left to rot. Shaker Aamer, a London resident incarcerated there, has still not been returned home despite having been cleared for release 3 years ago."
"The new coalition government's announcement of a judge-led inquiry into alleged British involvement in torture and extraordinary rendition is very welcome. Such an inquiry needs to lay bare the true extent of UK complicity, and take steps to ensure it never happens again."
ENDS
Note to Editors
The demonstration will be held outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in Mayfair from 2pm to 4pm. Sarah Ludford will address the gathering towards the beginning of the event
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