Libyan in deal bid to settle legal case with Jack Straw

4:00pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Sophia Rahman, Reporter

A LIBYAN politician suing Jack Straw MP for damages, amid claims a tip-off led to him being kidnapped and tortured, has said he will drop his case against the former Foreign Secretary for £1, an apology, and an admission of liability.

Abdel Hakim Belhaj, a leader in the rebel forces before dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed, is also taking legal action against the government and Sir Mark Allen, former head of counter-terrorism at MI6.

He said he was willing to make the same deal with them.

In 2004, Mr Belhaj was leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, opposing the dictator, when he and his wife were detained by American intelligence officers at Bangkok airport in Thailand.

He was allegedly tortured for several days while his wife, Fatima Boudchar, who was five months' pregnant, was chained to a wall at a secret prison at the airport.

It is claimed British intelligence was responsible for a tip-off that led to their capture. Mr Straw said yesterday that he was unable to comment for legal reasons.

In a letter sent to Mr Straw, David Cameron and Sir Mark, Mr Belhaj said: “I am making an open offer to settle our litigation.

“My wife and I are willing to end our case against the UK government and Messrs Straw and Allen, in exchange for a token compensation of a British pound from each defendant, an apology and an admission of liability for what was done to us. We have come to court in Britain because we believe your courts can deliver justice.”

Reprieve legal director Cori Crider said: “It is time to put the ghosts of Tony Blair’s toxic ‘deal in the desert’ with Gaddafi to rest, and this is the perfect opportunity for David Cameron to do so. The next time the Government repeats its mantra that secret courts will save the public purse, remember this family was willing to walk away for £3.”

Comments (7)

5:48pm Tue 5 Mar 13

phil kernot says...

Did you know terrorists are being paid compensation only because ,in the eyes of the law any witness has to identify themselves the spooks as we call em these days can't be identified as it would blow there cover , and now the systems being taken advantage off , bad days ahead for justice
Did you know terrorists are being paid compensation only because ,in the eyes of the law any witness has to identify themselves the spooks as we call em these days can't be identified as it would blow there cover , and now the systems being taken advantage off , bad days ahead for justice phil kernot

6:22pm Tue 5 Mar 13

happycyclist says...

Don't settle for anything. Take Straw to the cleaners.
Don't settle for anything. Take Straw to the cleaners. happycyclist

10:44pm Tue 5 Mar 13

tim otay71 says...

They have come to court in Britain as they will probably get legal aid! Let's get it right!! The American Intelligence Officers tortured you ALLEGEDLY!! So they are the one's you should want an apology from! Why only want a pound? I think you only after the admission of liability so you can then go further for compensation!!
They have come to court in Britain as they will probably get legal aid! Let's get it right!! The American Intelligence Officers tortured you ALLEGEDLY!! So they are the one's you should want an apology from! Why only want a pound? I think you only after the admission of liability so you can then go further for compensation!! tim otay71

11:18pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Good call says...

See, torture and murder is good when the west does it, but when Assad in Syria does it, he is an evil dictator who needs to be overthrown.A few years back , it came out that PSNI officers were being sent to train Lybian police officers,you couldn't make it up could you.
See, torture and murder is good when the west does it, but when Assad in Syria does it, he is an evil dictator who needs to be overthrown.A few years back , it came out that PSNI officers were being sent to train Lybian police officers,you couldn't make it up could you. Good call

11:11am Wed 6 Mar 13

district01 says...

True details are at last beginning to be known!

The conduct of Tony Blair is very slowly being noticed for what it was. There is soon to be a detailed investigation as to the truth regarding the reason for the invasion of Iraq. Was there really any ‘weapons of mass destruction’ that Tony Blair and Jack Straw gave as the reason for the invasion that caused unknown deaths of innocent women, children and family members. If just one pound was given in compensation for each of those effected by the ‘weapons of mass destruction’ then the now very wealthy Tony Blair and Jack Straw would now be broke!

Tony Blair. The reason for the downfall of what was a Labour party. All that‘s now left are his hangers on trying to forget the past!
True details are at last beginning to be known! The conduct of Tony Blair is very slowly being noticed for what it was. There is soon to be a detailed investigation as to the truth regarding the reason for the invasion of Iraq. Was there really any ‘weapons of mass destruction’ that Tony Blair and Jack Straw gave as the reason for the invasion that caused unknown deaths of innocent women, children and family members. If just one pound was given in compensation for each of those effected by the ‘weapons of mass destruction’ then the now very wealthy Tony Blair and Jack Straw would now be broke! Tony Blair. The reason for the downfall of what was a Labour party. All that‘s now left are his hangers on trying to forget the past! district01

4:15pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Jack Herer says...

Good call wrote:
See, torture and murder is good when the west does it, but when Assad in Syria does it, he is an evil dictator who needs to be overthrown.A few years back , it came out that PSNI officers were being sent to train Lybian police officers,you couldn't make it up could you.
I'd choose a different user name if I was you, because you appear to be a moron.

First, torture and murder isn't good when the West does it. Tony Blair's actions in Iraq were shameless, along with a whole host of other things he did. It created a far worse situation than before, and makes doing the right thing, far far harder than it would be if he'd not been such a bellend.

Second, in Syria, Assad is killing his own people in droves. Kids, mums, the lot. Torture, missiles, weapons of mass destruction, the lot. Today the number of refugees passed 1,000,000. A city was liberated on Monday, crowds came out to celebrate; Assad bombed and killed them for it.

But you are saying somehow that Assad isn't an evil dictator? Do you think he is just misunderstood? Was Hitler too?

Like I say, you should consider a name change.
[quote][p][bold]Good call[/bold] wrote: See, torture and murder is good when the west does it, but when Assad in Syria does it, he is an evil dictator who needs to be overthrown.A few years back , it came out that PSNI officers were being sent to train Lybian police officers,you couldn't make it up could you.[/p][/quote]I'd choose a different user name if I was you, because you appear to be a moron. First, torture and murder isn't good when the West does it. Tony Blair's actions in Iraq were shameless, along with a whole host of other things he did. It created a far worse situation than before, and makes doing the right thing, far far harder than it would be if he'd not been such a bellend. Second, in Syria, Assad is killing his own people in droves. Kids, mums, the lot. Torture, missiles, weapons of mass destruction, the lot. Today the number of refugees passed 1,000,000. A city was liberated on Monday, crowds came out to celebrate; Assad bombed and killed them for it. But you are saying somehow that Assad isn't an evil dictator? Do you think he is just misunderstood? Was Hitler too? Like I say, you should consider a name change. Jack Herer

4:26pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Jack Herer says...

The Labour party do have some serious, serious shame on their hands don't they.

I see even today, on Syria, they are calling for more diplomacy. How much longer than two years is needed to stop a dictator bombing his own kids?

I honestly think Labour's policy is to just disagree with what the others are saying. They have no policy beyond that.

Clueless, and of course shameless.
The Labour party do have some serious, serious shame on their hands don't they. I see even today, on Syria, they are calling for more diplomacy. How much longer than two years is needed to stop a dictator bombing his own kids? I honestly think Labour's policy is to just disagree with what the others are saying. They have no policy beyond that. Clueless, and of course shameless. Jack Herer

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