Scotland ‘could be prosecuted over American torture flights’

[struggle4progress]

By Rachelle Money
Law lecturer urges lord advocate to instruct police to investigate secret US use of Scottish airports

SCOTLAND IS in breach of human rights law and could be taken to court over "extraordinary rendition" flights, according to a Glasgow law expert who has written to the lord advocate demanding urgent action be taken over them.

Dr William Henderson, lecturer in human rights and European law at Glasgow Caledonian University, has sent a letter to Elish Angiolini QC asking for new guidance to be given to chief constables so they can investigate claims of rendition.

Dr Henderson attended a meeting with justice secretary Kenny MacAskill in August, along with representatives of Amnesty International Scotland and human rights groups Reprieve and Liberty, to discuss Scotland's role in rendition flights. At that time MacAskill condemned the flights, but since then the government has not made any further statement.

Dr Henderson's letter states: "The Scottish ministers have been placed at risk to litigation under the European Convention of Human Rights through a lack of any independent or effective investigation into what are exceptionally serious allegations." ...

http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1775331.0.scotland_could_be_prosecuted_over_american_torture_flights.php