Britain has cut back its counter-terrorism programme in Pakistan due to the fall in the pound’s value, a minister has said, drawing criticism a major “terrorist threat” was being neglected. Programmes in counter-terrorism and radicalisation in Pakistan had been cut as the Foreign Office was
Posts Tagged ‘counter terrorism’
New Torture Photo Shows Prisoner’s Testicles Being Crushed
August 7th, 2009 |
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Note: Top counter-terrorism experts say that releasing the torture photos will NOT harm U.S. national security, but that detaining prisoners indefinitely without trial WILL.Warning! Extremely graphic and disturbing image. Not suitable for children or w…
Saudi ‘rights abuses’ criticised
July 22nd, 2009 |
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By Frank Gardner
BBC Security Correspondent
Amnesty International has strongly criticised Saudi Arabia over abuses allegedly committed under its counter-terrorism programme.
In a new report the human rights group says that since 2001 thousands of Saudis have been detained for years without charge or trial.
The group’s 69-page report describes Saudi Arabia’s human rights record as "shocking" and "dire".
It says the international community has been far too quiet about the abuse.
In the report, entitled "Saudi Arabia: assaulting human rights in the name of counter-terrorism", the organisation accuses the Gulf state of massive and widespread abuse.
ANMESTY REPORT ALLEGATIONS- Thousands of people detained arbitrarily
- Some of those held are prisoners of conscience
- Abuses include beatings, suspension from ceiling, electric shocks
The Saudi authorities have been widely credited with defeating al-Qaeda in their country and Amnesty International concedes that most of the thousands detained without trial are suspected of links to groups that have attacked westerners and others.
But it says their cases are shrouded in secrecy and, quoting numerous examples, it doubts that even basic human rights standards are being met.
The director of Amnesty’s UK office, Kate Allen, said that except for the re-education programme for ex-jihadists, and the carefully co-ordinated mass trials, Saudi Arabia’s habitual cloak of secrecy is wrapped even more tightly than ever in "security" cases.
"We’re calling", she said, "for a fundamental change of policy by the Saudi authorities."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.