News from 2012

The Times reports that the Commons Defence Select Committee are to investigate the use of drones in Afghanistan. But the inquiry already has all the hallmarks of a whitewash.

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers, (IADL) condemns in the strongest possible terms the current aggression by Israel against the people of the Gaza Strip. This attack is not self-defense against rockets from Gaza

SACC calls on the British Government, the Scottish Government and civil society organisations to demand an immediate halt to Israel's assault on Gaza.

Statement from Humza Yousaf MSP, Scottish Government Minister for External Affairs, on the crisis in Gaza

Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan have been in US custody for over 3 weeks, but their families have so far received neither phone calls nor letters from them. Please contact your MP to raise your concerns over this.

The decision to block Gary McKinnon’s extradition to the US is welcome, but the Government's double standards show contempt for human rights, justice and Britain’s Muslim

Babar Ahmad, Talha Ahsan, Abu Hamza, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled al-Fawwaz were rushed out of the country in a panic, lest a fresh legal challenge could be mounted.

"Justice has been undone today" - Statement from the Muslim Council of Britain

Home Secretary Theresa May has a duty to suspend the extradition of Babar Ahmad, Talha Ahsan and others until she can make arrangements to guarantee that they will not be subject to long-term solitary confinement.

Juan Mendez, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, last night wrote to the Government warning that the extradition on Babar Ahmad and others would breach the UN Convention Against Torture. The High Court hearing on the extradition will continue tomorrow morning.

Barbara Dowling's trial for alleged non-compliance with the census has been adjourned until 19 February 2013.

Monday's decision by the European Court of Human Rights not to allow the appeal of Babar Ahmad and others against their extradition to be heard by its Grand Chamber is a stunning setback for international human rights law

A peace activist will be appearing in Glasgow Sheriff Court tomorrow, accused of refusing to answer questions in last year's census

SACC welcomes the news that lawyers acting for Abu Hamza have asked for his appeal against extradition to the US to be referred to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights. Abu Hamza's request provides an opportunity for the court to look again at an earlier decision that risks giving international legitimacy to the abhorrent US practice of holding prisoners in solitary confinement for years or decades.

Letter from John Porter to Strathclyde Police, complaining of their mishandling of the 'Refugees Are Welcome Here' rally on 16 June

Noam Chomsky says no one should be extradited to the US on charges related to alleged terrorism

A fantastic demo in support of refugees was ended prematurely by a bizarre decision of the police to protect a small bunch of racist thugs.

Some 83 refugees in Glasgow have been told they will be evicted from their accommodation between now and the end of August by their housing provider,

The trial of Barbara Dowling, a Glasgow woman accused of failing to send in a properly completed census form last year, has been adjourned until 25 September

A HUMAN rights group is calling for a public inquiry into the decision to award the census contract to a firm whose parent company is linked with a notorious Iraqi prison.

SACC welcomes the announcement that Phillip Harkins, a Scot accused of murdering a man in Florida, has lodged a request for the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights to consider his appeal against extradition to the US.

Do you have a website or blog with a .com, .net or .org address? Do you have some responsibility in your workplace for a website that does? Is your website, whatever its address, hosted by provider based in the US?

6 terrorist suspects will be "handed over to the US authorities as quickly as possible"

It will come as a considerable surprise to the inmates of ADX Florence that the their grim isolation could be considered only "relative" and its continuance as justiciable.

Babar Ahmad case a "travesty of justice " says lawyer Aamer Anwar

A judgement due to be handed down by the European Court of Human Rights on 10 April is likely to be a landmark in the development of international human rights law

The Crown Office says that it has brought proceedings against just 5 people for not complying with Scotland's 2011 census.

Revised 30 Jan - In a surprise development that could undermine census trials throughout the UK, the trial of a Glasgow woman was adjourned at the request of the Procurator Fiscal

The first person to be tried for non-cooperation with Scotland's 2011 census will be appearing in Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday.

SACC says it is disappointed by the decision earlier this week by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to allow the extradition of a Scottish man, Phillip Harkins, to the US to face a murder charge

Today, the 10th anniversary of Guantánamo's inauguration, SACC is calling for the immediate release of all the prisoners still held there