Guantanamo inmates want secret information unlocked

Calcutta News.Net
Tuesday 27th October, 2009

The UK courts have said they will hear from seven former Guantanamo Bay detainees who have asked for the rejection of a government request to have allegations of torture against the men heard secretly.

Britain's government has asked that a claim for damages against it be heard in private.

Lawyers for the detainees, now living in the UK, said that it was the first time in the country's legal history that secret evidence and closed hearings had ever been used against a civil claim for damages.

The seven men have alleged that Britain was complicit in their torture overseas.

The UK government also wants to restrict access to certain documents that may have information relating to the detainees' mistreatment, saying their release could breach national security.

The seven men, who have alleged they were tortured or abused at Guantanamo Bay, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Morocco are suing the UK government for its alleged collusion in their torture.

The UK government has denied the allegations and has said it has no objection to the secret documents being read by special court-appointed advocates, to examine the material on behalf of the detainees.

A total of 14 detainees have returned to Britain from Guantanamo.

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