London, Feb 20, IRNA – British police are investigating allegations that members of Britain’s secret services were complicit in the torture of Shaker Aamer, the last remaining British resident being held at Guantanamo Bay, it was reported Saturday.
Investigating officers have applied to the high court for the release of classified government documents relating to when Aamer, a Saudi national who has a British wife, was detained in Afghanistan in 2002.
British security and intelligence officers are being accused of being aware of his torture in the US custody at Bagram airport prison before being sent to Guantanamo Bay.
Police are already investigating claims of MI5 complicity in the ill-treatment of British resident Binyam Mohamed after he was arrested in Pakistan in 2003. A third case involves MI6 and another unidentified possible victim of torture.
It was revealed Saturday that the government’s own human rights watchdog has added its voice to calls for a public inquiry into claims that British intelligence agencies were complicit in the torture of more than 20 detainees in the War on Terror.
In a letter to Justice Secretary Jack Straw, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said that it could no longer ignore the growing body of allegations against MI5 and MI6.
On Friday, Foreign Secretary David Miliband faced protests calling on him press for the release of Aamer, who has been detained in Guantanamo for more than seven years without any charge.
Calls for an inquiry into whether the UK’s intelligence agencies or government were complicit in the torture of British terror suspects abroad have been led by former attorney general Lord Goldsmith.
Accusations of Britain’s alleged collusion in torture have been raised in more than two dozen cases surrounding British residents and nationals, including several cases going to court to seek redress.