The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) ruled on Friday that it did have jurisdiction to investigate a complaint brought by Guantanamo detainee, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, against UK intelligence agencies. The IPT will investigate allegations that UK agencies were complicit in Mr al-Hawsawi’s torture and inhuman and degrading treatment as he was held in and moved between secret prisons and Guantanamo Bay. This will be the first time the IPT investigates a complaint of this nature.
The IPT exercised its discretion to consider the complaint despite the fact that it was brought well outside the 1-year time limit, given the very stringent restrictions placed on Mr al-Hawsawi’s communications, the lack of prejudice to the agencies involved and the fact that the issues underlying the complaint are ‘of the gravest possible kind’.
Mr al-Hawsawi was represented by Edward Craven, Richard Hermer KC and Florence Iveson, instructed by REDRESS.
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