Amnesty blasts Brits

2005-11-27 22:22

London - Blindfolded human rights campaigners accused the British government on Sunday of "turning a blind eye to torture" as they protested against deportation agreements with countries like Jordan and Libya.

Organisers Amnesty International accused Prime Minister Tony Blair's government of being complicit in torture by allowing failed asylum seekers and others to be extradited to countries where they could face mistreatment.

"Agreements have already been signed with Jordan and Libya and the government is seeking further agreements with other known torturers such as Algeria," Amnesty said in a statement.

Under international agreement, Britain does not send people back to countries where they could be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment or the death penalty.

But home secretary Charles Clarke has stated that London has sought reassurances that those deported would be well-treated and defended the agreements as vital in the fight against terrorism.

It emerged last weekend that 15 failed asylum seekers from Iraq were being sent home to Irbil in the Kurdish north, a decision Britain's refugee council condemned as "appalling".

- AFP