Latest news with #JagtarSinghJohal
Business Mayor
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Mayor
Labour must not rubber-stamp torture policy, say campaigners
Labour has been accused of rubber-stamping torture policy it criticised while in opposition for enabling UK complicity in serious human rights abuses overseas. The policies regulating British support for foreign security and intelligence services were blamed for facilitating injustices in cases such as those of Jagtar Singh Johal and Ali Kololo, and it was hoped Labour would strengthen them in government. But NGOs and senior MPs say 'light-touch' government reviews of the overseas security and justice assistance (OSJA) guidance and 'the principles' that govern intelligence sharing are likely to leave in place 'very serious flaws'. Their biggest concern is that Labour will not remove ministers' ability to approve UK cooperation in situations where there is a real risk of torture or the death penalty. Johal, a British human rights activist, was allegedly tortured in India, where he remains in jail, after a tipoff from UK intelligence services. Kololo was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death over an attack on British tourists after the Met police provided assistance to Kenyan authorities. The Conservative MP and former cabinet minister David Davis said: 'These policies are not a partisan issue; they are vital safeguards designed to prevent UK actions contributing to people being tortured or sentenced to death. 'Ministers should never be able to sign off on intelligence being shared or UK security assistance being granted where there is a risk of torture. 'That was true under the previous Conservative government and it's true now under Labour. We should never forget that it was bogus intelligence acquired under torture that led to the justification of the Iraq war. 'It would be a grave error to leave these failed policies as they are, and the government must avoid anything that looks like a Whitehall stitch-up, not least as this would have profoundly negative consequences for the UK's global reputation.' Reprieve, Amnesty International UK, Freedom from Torture, the Omega Research Foundation, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Unredacted UK have written a joint letter to the foreign secretary, David Lammy, expressing concern that the policy reviews 'may not sufficiently address the very serious flaws with the existing policy'. The Liberal Democrat MP and former cabinet minister Alistair Carmichael said: 'I would never have expected a Labour government to rubber-stamp Boris Johnson's torture policy while paying lip service to human rights concerns, but that appears to be what is happening here. 'There is disturbing evidence that existing policies on intelligence-sharing and overseas security assistance leave the UK at risk of being mixed up in torture in some way. These policies need a proper overhaul, with input from victims of the previous failed approach, not the consultation-in-name-only that is going on at the moment.' The government is being urged to consult Johal's family and others adversely affected by the policies as well as publish terms of reference for the reviews. Sir Andrew Mitchell, a Conservative MP and former deputy foreign secretary, said: 'Any review worth its salt should be learning the lessons of Ali Kololo, and indeed seeking Mr Kololo's input after everything he has been put through. The OSJA policy's abject failure to prevent this case and others suggests it is fundamentally broken. No responsible minister would want to go beyond the law and get mixed up in torture or the death penalty, and the policy should make clear this is never permissible.' Read More Legal bodies and media join taskforce to fight SLAPPs Reprieve's submission to the OSJA review states that under the former government the policy failed to block UK assistance to human rights abusers in Libya, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia. Dan Dolan, Reprieve's deputy executive director, said: 'These two core human rights policies of the British government have in the last decade left a trail of people who have suffered torture and the death penalty, with sadly the UK's assistance. 'If this government fails to follow through on its recognition in opposition that these policies are fatally flawed, then it will let down the survivors of human rights abuses where the UK has played a role.' A Foreign Office spokesperson said it was 'engaging with external stakeholders' and 'recognising the important perspectives of civil society'. They added: 'The guidance will set out how we ensure the UK's overseas security and justice assistance work will meet our human rights obligations and values.'
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labour must not rubber-stamp torture policy, say campaigners
Labour has been accused of rubber-stamping torture policy it criticised while in opposition for enabling UK complicity in serious human rights abuses overseas. The policies regulating British support for foreign security and intelligence services were blamed for facilitating injustices in cases like those of Jagtar Singh Johal and Ali Kololo and it was hoped Labour would strengthen them in government. But NGOs and senior MPs say 'light-touch' government reviews of the overseas security and justice assistance (OSJA) guidance and 'the principles' that govern intelligence sharing are likely to leave in place 'very serious flaws'. Their biggest concern is that Labour will not remove ministers' ability to approve UK cooperation in situations where there is a real risk of torture or the death penalty. Johal, a British human rights activist, was allegedly tortured in India, where he remains in jail, after a tipoff from UK intelligence services. Kololo was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death over an attack on British tourists after the Met police provided assistance to Kenyan authorities. The Conservative MP and former cabinet minister, David Davis, said: 'These policies are not a partisan issue; they are vital safeguards designed to prevent UK actions contributing to people being tortured or sentenced to death. 'Ministers should never be able to sign off on intelligence being shared or UK security assistance being granted where there is a risk of torture. 'That was true under the previous Conservative government and it's true now under Labour. We should never forget that it was bogus intelligence acquired under torture that led to the justification of the Iraq war. 'It would be a grave error to leave these failed policies as they are, and the government must avoid anything that looks like a Whitehall stitch-up not least as this would have profoundly negative consequences for the UK's global reputation.' Reprieve, Amnesty International UK, Freedom from Torture, the Omega Research Foundation, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Unredacted UK have written a joint letter to the foreign secretary, David Lammy, expressing concern that the policy reviews 'may not sufficiently address the very serious flaws with the existing policy'. The Liberal Democrat MP and former cabinet minister, Alistair Carmichael, said: 'I would never have expected a Labour government to rubber-stamp Boris Johnson's torture policy while paying lip service to human rights concerns, but that appears to be what is happening here. 'There is disturbing evidence that existing policies on intelligence-sharing and overseas security assistance leave the UK at risk of being mixed up in torture in some way. These policies need a proper overhaul, with input from victims of the previous failed approach, not the consultation-in-name-only that is going on at the moment.' The government is being urged to consult Johal's family and others adversely affected by the policies as well as publish terms of reference for the reviews. Sir Andrew Mitchell, a Conservative MP and former deputy foreign secretary, said: 'Any review worth its salt should be learning the lessons of Ali Kololo, and indeed seeking Mr Kololo's input after everything he has been put through. The OSJA policy's abject failure to prevent this case and others suggests it is fundamentally broken. No responsible minister would want to go beyond the law and get mixed up in torture or the death penalty, and the policy should make clear this is never permissible.' Reprieve's submission to the OSJA review states that under the former government the policy failed to block UK assistance to human rights abusers in Libya, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia. Dan Dolan, Reprieve's deputy executive director, said: 'These two core human rights policies of the British government have in the last decade left a trail of people who have suffered torture and the death penalty, with sadly the UK's assistance. 'If this government fails to follow through on its recognition in opposition that these policies are fatally flawed, then it will let down the survivors of human rights abuses where the UK has played a role.' A Foreign Office spokesperson said it was 'engaging with external stakeholders' and 'recognising the important perspectives of civil society'. They added: 'The guidance will set out how we ensure the UK's overseas security and justice assistance work will meet our human rights obligations and values.'
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Brother of Scot detained in India 'let down' by UK Government over trade deal
Jagtar Singh Johal's brother met with David Lammy last week but said he was disappointed. THE BROTHER of a Scottish man detained in India has blasted the UK Government for failing to make his release a condition of a new trade deal. Dumbarton man Jagtar Singh Johal, known as Jaggi, has been locked up in India for more than seven years awaiting judgment on nine almost identical cases. Since then his brother Gurpreet has been leading the campaign for his release and insists he is innocent. Last week he met Foreign Secretary David Lammy in the wake of the UK announcing a historic trade deal with India in the hope of positive news about 38-year-old Jaggis' case. But he said he left the talks 'disappointed'. Speaking to the Sunday Mail Gurpreet said: 'It doesn't appear that the government has taken this seriously or progressed matters. 'It was a disappointing meeting in terms of the Foreign Secretary having raised the case with his counterpart in March, but has failed to follow up on that. He had no answers when we asked why. 'It's concerning that, despite it being urgent and there being a small window of opportunity, the Foreign Secretary hasn't taken action.' On Tuesday the Prime Minister announced he had secured a lucrative trade deal with India expected to be worth £34bn over the next 15 years. It will see the cost of exporting goods such as whisky and cars lowered for UK producers. But Gurpreet said his brother's freedom should have been raised as part of the deal. He said: 'I had higher hopes of the government doing more since they've come into power. 'While it's welcomed that the government has got the trade deal with India, which is something the previous government couldn't do, I'm not seeing that same kind of urgency to bring Jagtar back home.' In March Jaggi was acquitted in one of the nine cases brought by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is accusing him of being involved in financing terrorist attacks in Punjab. His lawyers claim he was forced to sign a blank piece of paper admitting to the charges after police tortured him with electricity and threatened to burn him alive. Three years ago the UN demanded his release and said he was being detained arbitrarily - without a valid legal reason. Since the acquittal, Gurpreet said the prison authorities appear to be trying to 'break' Jaggi by keeping him in isolation. He said: 'He's been put on 24 hour guard and is constantly being watched. 'He's been denied his basic necessities and he's on his own. There are no other prisoners in his cell, has limited contact with prisoners and others. 'Jagtar's stated this is causing him mental torture. I think they are trying to break him.' A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'Despite some progress in his cases, Mr. Jagtar Singh Johal has now been detained in India for over seven years without a conviction. 'The Foreign Secretary continues to raise concerns about Mr Johal's prolonged detention with the Government of India at every appropriate opportunity, most recently in his last bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in March, emphasising the need for a prompt, full and just resolution of Mr. Johal's cases within India's independent legal system. 'We continue to provide consular support to Mr. Johal and his family, and the Foreign Secretary recently met with Mr. Johal's brother, a Member of Parliament, and a representative from Reprieve on the 8th of May to discuss the ongoing situation.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
The National
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
MPs urge David Lammy to secure release of Jagtar Singh Johal
The group of 117 parliamentarians have written to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, stressing 'the time has now come to act quickly' to bring Jagtar Singh Johal home to his family in West Dunbartonshire. Jagtar, or Jaggi, is being held in solitary confinement in a prison in India on terrorism charges, despite being cleared in one of the cases against him by a court in Punjab at the beginning of March. READ MORE: 'F***ing hell': LBC journalist exasperated as caller brings up Gaza genocide He still faces eight 'duplicate' cases against him based on what his supporters say are politically motivated allegations that he funded a terrorist plot which resulted in a series of attacks in northwest India from 2016 to 2017. On Thursday, supporters said India's Supreme Court failed to issue a ruling on a petition for bail. Lammy has agreed to meet Johal's brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, for a second time, on May 8. At the first meeting, Gurpreet warned that the UK Government would be held responsible 'if anything untoward were to happen' to Jagtar. Ahead of the meeting next week, the cross-party group of MPs and peers said it was vital the UK Government acted promptly. The letter, spearheaded by Jagtar's local MP Douglas McAllister, was signed by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and senior Tory MP David Davis, and urged the Foreign Secretary to intervene. 'The UK Government, following Jagtar's acquittal, should be using all diplomatic efforts at this critical stage to ensure Jagtar Singh Johal is released on bail as soon as possible, pending the discontinuation of the other outstanding cases,' the letter said. 'The time has now come to act quickly and decisively. With the acquittal, we now have an opportunity to hold urgent diplomatic discussions with your Indian counterparts. 'Taking urgent steps now during this window of opportunity will reassure all those lobbying us on Jagtar's behalf that we are doing all we can to secure his immediate release and return to the UK, and therefore reunited with his family as soon as possible.' READ MORE: Warning as 100,000 Scots face disruption and higher bills over meter switch off McAllister added: 'The failure to grant bail to my constituent, Jagtar Singh Johal, serves to demonstrate the need for greater urgency by the Foreign Secretary and the UK Government to secure my constituent's immediate release and his return to his family in West Dunbartonshire. 'I will be advising the Foreign Secretary when we meet next week of the strength of feeling across both houses that now is the time to act.' Speaking ahead of his second meeting with Lammy, Gurpreet (above) said: 'I'm glad the Foreign Secretary is meeting me again, as it shows he recognises that this is a make-or-break moment for Jagtar. 'The case against my brother has been tested in court and rejected, but the Indian authorities will keep him in prison for decades if the UK Government doesn't act to secure his release. 'We've seen that today at the Supreme Court – just the latest in an endless series of delays. This is the moment of truth for David Lammy: will he live up to his promises, or will he fail Jagtar like the last six foreign secretaries did?' The Foreign Office was contacted for comment.
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
‘Moment of truth' for Lammy on Scot detained in India, says brother
The brother of a Scot detained in India since 2017 has said now is the 'moment of truth' for the Foreign Secretary to push for his release. Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, was arrested while in India for his wedding and has been held by authorities since, despite being acquitted of all charges in a case in the Punjab region of the country in March. He still faces charges at a federal level, which his supporters – who claim an initial confession was as a result of torture – fear could take years to come to a conclusion. On Thursday, supporters say, India's Supreme Court failed to issue a ruling on a petition for bail. Mr Johal's brother Gurpreet Singh Johal will meet with David Lammy next week to discuss the case, as more than 100 MPs and peers signed a letter to the Foreign Secretary calling for 'all diplomatic efforts' to be used to ensure his return home. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Gurpreet said: 'I'm glad the Foreign Secretary is meeting me again, as it shows he recognises that this is a make-or-break moment for Jagtar. 'The case against my brother has been tested in court and rejected, but the Indian authorities will keep him in prison for decades if the UK Government doesn't act to secure his release. 'We've seen that today at the Supreme Court – just the latest in an endless series of delays. This is the moment of truth for David Lammy: will he live up to his promises, or will he fail Jagtar like the last six foreign secretaries did?' The letter, spearheaded by Mr Johal's local MP Douglas McAllister, was signed by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and senior Tory MP David Davis, and urged the Foreign Secretary to intervene. 'The UK Government, following Jagtar's acquittal, should be using all diplomatic efforts at this critical stage to ensure Jagtar Singh Johal is released on bail as soon as possible, pending the discontinuation of the other outstanding cases,' the letter said. 'The time has now come to act quickly and decisively. With the acquittal, we now have an opportunity to hold urgent diplomatic discussions with your Indian counterparts. 'Taking urgent steps now during this window of opportunity will reassure all those lobbying us on Jagtar's behalf that we are doing all we can to secure his immediate release and return to the UK, and therefore reunited with his family as soon as possible.' Mr McAllister added: 'The failure to grant bail to my constituent, Jagtar Singh Johal, serves to demonstrate the need for greater urgency by the Foreign Secretary and the UK Government to secure my constituent's immediate release and his return to his family in West Dunbartonshire. 'I will be advising the Foreign Secretary when we meet next week of the strength of feeling across both houses that now is the time to act.' Mr Johal wrote about alleged human rights abuses of Sikhs by the Indian government while living in the UK and was accused of financially supporting terror attacks in Punjab, which he denies. The Foreign Office have been contacted for comment.
