Between 10 and 13 June 2025 a UK Tribunal will consider the extent of British involvement in the torture of Mustafa al-Hawsawi and Abd Al-Rahim Al Nashiri by US forces.
This trial marks the first time a UK judicial body has scrutinised alleged UK complicity in CIA abuses.
In March 2003, Mr Al-Hawsawi was captured by Pakistani agents and transferred into the custody of CIA, leading to a long ordeal of secret detention, torture and ill-treatment at various CIA “black-site” detention facilities.
The US confirmed in 2014 that he was subjected to several forms of ill-treatment while in US detention, including water dousing, walling, attention grasps, sleep deprivation, cramped confinement, psychological pressures and other forms of physical violence.
In 2021, a complaint was filed before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) against several UK agencies – including MI5, MI6, GCHQ, and the Ministry of Defence – over their possible complicity in Mr Al-Hawsawi’s torture and ill-treatment.
Mr Al-Nashiri was first seized and detained in mid-October 2002 in Dubai. Between October 2002 and 4/5 September 2006 the Complainant was held in incommunicado detention and subjected to various authorised and unauthorised forms of brutal interrogation.
The European Court of Human Rights held that he was tortured while held in Poland (Al-Nashiri v Poland v Poland (2015) 60 EHRR 16). He was also subject to inhuman and degrading treatment while detained in Romania (Al-Nashiri v Romania (2019) 68 EHRR 3).
In 18 October 2019 a complaint was filed against UK agencies – MI5, MI6, GCHQ, and the Ministry of Defence – over their possible involvement in Al-Nashiri’s torture and ill-treatment.
In May and June 2023, the IPT announced that it would investigate Mr Al-Hawsawi’s and Mr Al Nashiri’s complaints. This is the first time that the IPT has conducted a full investigation into those held in CIA’s black sites.
Edward Craven KC and Florence Iveson were instructed by REDRESS, in connection with the presentation of the case Al-Hawsawi before the IPT.
Hugh Southey KC and Robbie Stern were instructed by Ken Carr of Sternberg Reed, in connection with the presentation of the case Al-Nashiri before the IPT.
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