Britain has apologised ‘unreservedly’ to a husband and wife who were kidnapped then tortured in Libya after a UK tip-off.
Abdul Hakim Belhaj and his wife Fatima Boudchar suffering ‘appalling’ treatment under Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, while Ms Boudchar was five months pregnant.
The dissidents had been on the run for three years, but were captured by the US in Malaysia and sent back to the North African country after a tip-off from MI6. Ms Boudchar will receive £500,000 in compensation in a ‘full and final’ settlement.
Her husband, 52, always made clear that he was not seeking monetary compensation and will not receive any.
Attorney General Jeremy Wright told the House of Commons today that Prime Minister Theresa May has written to them to apologise for the ‘appalling’ treatment they received.
In Libya they were interrogated by Libyan forces, as well as British agents. Belhaj was beaten black and blue, hung from walls and cut off from human contact and daylight.— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) May 10, 2018
He was sentenced to death after a 15 minute trial. She was released just before giving birth.
In her letter saying sorry, Mrs May said that the UK Government believes their account of the events and told them: ‘Neither of you should have been treated in this way.’
The Prime Minister wrote: ‘The UK Government’s actions contributed to your detention, rendition and suffering.
The UK Government shared information about you with its international partners.
‘We should have done more to reduce the risk that you would be mistreated. We accept this was a failing on our part.
‘Later, during your detention in Libya, we sought information about and from you.
We wrongly missed opportunities to alleviate your plight: this should not have happened.
‘On behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, I apologise unreservedly.
We are profoundly sorry for the ordeal that you both suffered and our role in it.’
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