human rights news

Up one level

Bridgewater two fight to keep all compensation — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 30-01-2007 06:28

Two men who spent 18 years in jail for the murder of Carl Bridgewater, before being cleared, are fighting to be allowed to keep all their compensation.

Migrant dumped with no money and no English is jailed for stealing food — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 18-11-2006 07:07

A man who ended up in Carmarthenshire despite paying a people trafficker to take him from Morocco to France has been recommended for deportation.

Government breaks guidelines in unnecessarily detaining 2000 child asylum seekers a year, says report — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 12-07-2006 09:10

The government is contravening legal guidelines by detaining children whose parents are seeking asylum, a report for a coalition of charities says. The report for the No Place for a Child campaign, co-written by a Labour peer and two opposition MPs, highlights concerns over the issue.

Forest Gate terrorism raids: Second enquiry is into neighbours' police assault claims — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 10-07-2006 16:41

A second independent inquiry will be conducted into last month's anti-terror raid in Forest Gate. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it will investigate claims by neighbours of the raided house that they were assaulted. One man claims he was hit with a machine gun.

Order to disclose sex abuse victim's medical records was unlawful — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 05-07-2006 09:51

Senior judges have ruled that a court order that demanded a 14-year-old girl who was sexually abused disclose her medical records was unlawful. The man accused of the abuse applied to Stafford Crown Court for an order requiring South Staffordshire Health Trust to reveal the girl's records. Two High Court judges ruled on Tuesday the crown court acted unlawfully in making the order against the trust.

Five arrested on people trafficking charge — by Conrad Murray — last modified 03-07-2006 03:32

Five people have been charged with smuggling people into Britain to work as prostitutes. The three women and two men are in police custody after being arrested in raids on premises in Surrey, Kent and London. They will appear before magistrates in Reigate, Surrey, on Monday.

Home affairs committee says longer detention may be needed — by Conrad Murray — last modified 03-07-2006 03:25

The 28-day limit for police to hold terror suspects without charge, agreed after a government proposal for ninety days was thrown out by Labour rebels in November, will almost certainly need to be extended a Home Affairs Committee report says. But it warns any such move would require extra safeguards to be put in place. Committee chairman John Denham said evidence leading to detention without charge needed to be "compelling".

Public enquiry slams prison service and government on racist cell murder — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 29-06-2006 15:44

The murder of Asian prisoner Zahid Mubarek by a racist cellmate could have been prevented, an inquiry has ruled. Naming 19 individuals and 186 failings the inquiry found psychopathic killer Robert Stewart should have been identified as a risk two years before.

Press Complaints Commission revises rules on suicide reporting — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 29-06-2006 05:59

Journalists are to be issued with new guidelines governing the reporting of suicides, in an attempt to prevent "copycat" deaths prompted by publicity.

British Medical Association rejects assisted dying — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 29-06-2006 15:42

The British Medical Association conference in Belfast has altered its position regarding laws which would allow terminally ill patients to be helped die. In a narrow vote last year, the BMA adopted a neutral stance on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide but now the decision has been overturned after 65% of doctors at the BMA's meeting in Belfast voted against assisted dying.

'Mercy death' claim journalist 'wasted police time' — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 27-06-2006 06:34

A woman who claimed she helped her terminally ill aunt die in a so-called "mercy killing" faces charges of wasting police time, it has emerged.

Paralysed race-attack victim seeks assisted death — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 25-11-2006 06:02

A man left paralysed after a racist attack in Germany ten years ago says he is seeking an assisted death to honour a suicide pact he made with his terminally ill wife.

Tortured asylum victims awarded damages — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 22-06-2006 18:07

The Home Secretary was ordered to pay damages to two asylum seekers after the Home Office failed to ensure they received prompt medical examinations. The two, who were detained at Oakington Reception Centre, Cambs, claimed they had been tortured in their own country. A High Court judge said the government had breached rules which stated each person must be examined within 24 hours of admission to a detention centre. The Home Office said it was "committed to learning lessons from the incident".

Guantanamo four can sue in the US — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 12-05-2006 14:14

Four former Guantanamo Bay detainees have been given the right to bring a lawsuit against the US government for violating their religious beliefs. The suit has been brought by the so-called Tipton Three, Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal and Rhuhel Ahmed and Jamal Al-Harith, from Manchester. They claim they were forced to shave off their beards and were harassed as they worshipped in the camp in Cuba.

Assisted dying bill to be debated by Lords — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 12-05-2006 05:52

A bill which would allow terminally ill people in England and Wales to be helped to die by a physician is to be debated by peers. Lord Joffe's assisted dying bill would apply to patients set to die within six months and suffering unbearably, but still able to make decisions. The bill is not set to become law, but 81 peers are due to speak on the issue. The debate highlights divisions between supporters of the right to die and those who want better palliative care.

Afghan hijackers win court challenge — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 10-05-2006 15:29

Nine Afghan asylum seekers who hijacked a plane to Britain have won a High Court challenge to the government's failure to grant them refugee status. The ruling relates to the Afghan hostage drama at Stansted Airport in 2000 which led to a four day stand-off. A total of 78 people from the plane went on to make formal applications for asylum in the UK.

Embryos should be 'checked' for inherited breast cancer — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 09-05-2006 07:35

Embryo testing should be extended to check for faulty genes not guaranteed to cause disease, a report by the UK fertility watchdog recommends. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority currently allows embryos to be screened for inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis. But it now says it would be "appropriate" to screen for susceptibility genes linked to cancer. The recommendations will be considered for final approval on Wednesday.

Law change 'would let 650 die with dignity' — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 12-05-2006 05:51

About 650 terminally ill people every year would choose to ask doctors to help them die under a new law to be debated in the House of Lords this week, say its supporters. The proposed measure would allow a GP to prescribe lethal drugs to patients who request them and who are suffering "unbearably" from a terminal illness likely to result in death within six months.

Perth inmate drops Sega console action — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 21-04-2006 14:34

A prisoner has failed in a bid to sue ministers over a faulty computer games console given to him in jail. Adam Shannon claimed compensation from prison chiefs because his Sega Dreamcast console was broken. Shannon, serving more than five years in Perth Prison for attacking his own friend, also wanted cash for the 15 games he wanted to play in his cell.

Film-maker murder action halted — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 20-04-2006 14:53

The government has turned down calls for immediate court action over the death of a Devon man shot dead by Israeli soldiers in Gaza. James Miller, 34, from Braunton, was shot in May 2003. A British inquest jury ruled he was murdered.