UK confirms extended detentions of up to 90 Afghans

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

British forces are detaining 80 to 90 Afghan nationals in a holding facility at Camp Bastion, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed.

UK lawyers acting for eight of the men said they had been held for up to 14 months without charge in what could amount to unlawful detention.

They compared it to when the public became aware of Guantanamo Bay and want the UK High Court to free the men.

But Mr Hammond said their release would put British troops at risk.

British forces in Afghanistan are allowed to detain suspects for 96 hours.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22699473

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British forces are detaining dozens in Afghanistan, Philip Hammond confirms

Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, has confirmed that dozens of people are being detained by British forces at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan following allegations that the army is running a secret detention facility at the base.

Hammond said 80 or 90 people were being held at the site. He said many of them posed a danger to British troops, and reiterated that they could not yet be handed over to Afghan authorities because of concerns that they would be mistreated.

UK lawyers acting for eight of the men, some of whom they say have been held for up to 14 months without charge, have launched habeas corpus applications in the UK high court in a bid to free them, raising comparisons with the outrage over the Guantánamo Bay prison camp.

Many of the prisoners have not been able to see a lawyer after months in prison, a basic right offered to anyone arrested in the UK. Access to a lawyer was among the first rights that Guantánamo detainees won off the US government. The Afghan detainees have also not been given any kind of trial date, or prospect of one.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/29/british-forces-detainees-afghanistan-philip-hammond

[idwiyo]

1. So, if they are "dangerous" what's the problem with prosecuting them? Or are they "dangerous"

because some arsehole just said so and expects me to believe it without any proof? Or are they afraid to try them because evidence will not stand in court? Yeah, am talking about torture.

[dipsydoodle]

2. UK 'ready to hand over Afghan detainees'

Up to 90 Afghans held at Camp Bastion are set to be returned to the Afghan authorities, the Ministry of Defence has said, after their lawyers argued that their detention could be unlawful.

Eight of the men said they had been held for up to 14 months without charge, according to their legal team.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond had told the BBC that releasing them could endanger British troops.

But later the MoD said it had now found a "safe route" for their return.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22704484