Government to apologise to Libyan for role that led to his torture

MINISTERS are expected to apologise to a Libyan man today over claims Tony Blair’s government and MI6 were complicit in the rendition and torture of him and his pregnant wife.

Jeremy Wright, the Attorney General, will make a statement in the House of Commons after the Supreme Court reached a decision in the longrunning civil case brought against the Government by Abdul-hakim Belhaj and his wife Fatima Boudchar. Sources told this newspaper that the minister is expected to apologise to Mr Belhaj over its involvement in his treatment, after he was placed in a CIA prison in Bangkok airport and then forcibly removed to Tripoli in March 2004.

Mr Belhaj, who is now a military commander in Libya but was a member of the dissident Libyan Islamic Fighting Group at the time, claims he was tortured on his return to the country, which was under the control of Colonel Gaddafi.

A letter, sent to Gaddafi by Sir Mark Allen, an MI6 boss, appeared to acknowledge that the UK did play a part in his removal to Libya but hundreds of pages of court documents showing the details of the case could also be published today, which would shine further light on Britain’s role.

The Government has previously fought to prevent the file from being released.

Mr Belhaj had demanded the Government apologise for its involvement in the rendition and pay a token amount in damages. Legal experts said the decision could open up the possibility of criminal charges against former politicians and MI6 figures who were allegedly complicit in the removal.

Jack Straw was foreign secretary at the time of the rendition and Mr Blair was prime minister.

It is not clear if the resolution of this case will also spell the end of the challenge to a decision made by the Director of Public Prosecutions in 2016 not to prosecute Sir Mark.

Mr Wright will make a statement to MPS today, although the terms of the settlement are still unknown. Sources confirmed he is expected to make a full apology on behalf of the Government.

Mr Belhaj and Ms Boudchar, who is Moroccan, launched their fight for justice in 2014. Their lawyers told the High Court at the time that they would settle the case for as little as £3, providing they receive an unreserved apology from the Government.

Mr Belhaj has claimed that, in Bangkok, the couple were detained by American intelligence and he was tortured while his wife, who was then pregnant, was chained to a wall in a secret prison at the airport.

Previous High Court hearings heard details of how the former Labour government under Mr Blair was anxious to maintain relations with Gaddafi.

Lawyers for Mr Belhaj showed the court a letter dated March 18, 2004 – roughly 10 days after Mr Belhaj and his wife were detained – written by Sir Mark to Musa Kusa, the head of Gaddafi’s intelligence agency.