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Briton claims UK colluded with Egyptian torturers
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent16.03.09
A BRITISH man detained in Egypt claims he was tortured while being interrogated using information allegedly supplied by the UK, it was reported today.
Azhar Khan, 26, said he was handcuffed, shackled and naked except for a hood over his head. He then claims he was beaten, given electric shocks and forced to stand on the same spot for five days with little rest, according to the Guardian.
Mr Khan, from Slough, said the interrogation by Egyptian intelligence officers last July was based on information that could only have come from Britain. He said he could hear other detainees being tortured, including one man with a British accent.
Mr Khan's former brother-in-law is reported to be Omar Khyam, who was jailed in 2007 for masterminding a plot to blow up targets including the Ministry of Sound nightclub in London and the Bluewater shopping centre. He was arrested in March 2004, at the same time as Khyam, but released without charge.
While in Egypt, he was allegedly asked about associates in east London, Slough, and Crawley, West Sussex. He was also reportedly grilled about the bomb plot which saw five men including Khyam jailed for life. He was allegedly quizzed about suggested discrepancies between a police statement and comments made during talks with friends in prison.
Reader views (5)
Philip, Innocent until proven guilty only applies in England. Once in another country you are subject to their laws.
- Jimbob, Kensington
Philip of London - trial by accusation is all that's required to condemn the Brits, eh? Just like the intelligence agencies talking to each other, so do the opportunist and/or activist lawyers - and so too do the people getting on the 'compensation' gravy-train.
- Rogan, Irving
Jimbob's comment - Do you not think amongst sharing this intelligence that the British Government knew the Egyptians were torturing British citizens?
What happened to "innocent till proven guilty" and a thing called JUSTICE?
- Philip, London
This is what the world has come to in the name of democracy! The double standards in this world is outrageous!
- Lenny, London
"the interrogation by Egyptian intelligence officers last July was based on information that could only have come from Britain"
Do these people not think that intelligence agencies talk to one another?
- Jimbob, Kensington
