UN experts conclude major study into use of secret detention in the fight against terrorism

Despite the fact that international law clearly prohibits secret detention, the practice is widespread and “reinvigorated” by the so-called global war on terror, several independent United Nations experts stated, outlining a series of steps aimed at curbing this human rights violation. In a 222-page study which will be presented to the United Nations Human Rights [...]

ACLU Lawsuit Charges in Amir Meshal v. Higgenbotham et al that an American Citizen Illegally Detained and Mistreated by U.S. Officials in Kenya and Ethiopia

The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit on behalf of a New Jersey man who was illegally detained and mistreated by U.S. officials in Kenya and Ethiopia. After fleeing hostilities in Somalia in 2006, Amir Meshal was arrested, secretly imprisoned in inhumane conditions and subjected to harsh interrogations by U.S. officials over 30 [...]

Romania: Data retention law declared unconstitutional

The Romanian Constitutional Court (CCR) announced on 7 October 2009 that it took the decision to consider unconstitutional the Romanian implementation of the data retention directive. The motivated decision has not been made public yet. More info here.

Romania denies reports of secret CIA prisons in its territory

Romania denied the reports that it hosted a secret prison of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Bucharest. Foreign Ministry spokesman Alin Serbanescu said the Romanian parliament has established a special investigation committee to probe the allegations and the committee has found the reports groundless.The Romanian side has cooperated with the international agencies in [...]

UN Special Rapporteur Releases Report on the Role of Intelligence Agencies in the Fight Against Terrorism

In a new thematic report that will be discussed with states at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on the 10th of March, Martin Scheinin, the UN Special Rapporteur on the protection of Human Rights while countering terrorism, focuses on the role of intelligence agencies in the fight against terrorism and the accountability problems [...]

Romanian data retention law suspendend by the Government

The Romanian Government has decided on 25 February 2009 to suspend the application of the data retention law until the end of the year – 31 December 2009. More at EDRI.

Amnesty International Annual Report on 2008 – focus on terrorism issues

Amnesty International is calling for a New Global Deal on human rights, because of a human rights investment gap by world leaders. “It’s not just the economy, it’s a human rights crisis – the world is sitting on a social, political and economic time bomb,” said Irene Khan. Read the report from May 2009 on [...]

Recent developments in the CoE rendition inquiries

Dick Marty testified at the trial of American and Italian intelligence officials for the 2003 abduction and rendition of Abu Omar. Marty was questioned about his report, in which he argued that the rendition case was part of a global CIA strategy involving several European states. “As in the US and Germany, the doctrine of [...]