Scotland Against Criminalising Communities (SACC) announced today that it would be getting in touch with Britain, the US, France, Germany, Turkey and Australia, urging them to curb lengthy isolation practices.

The group described the practice as a “human rights catastrophe.”

The campaign launch comes just days after Parliament debated Britain’s extradition arrangements, including the those to the US where prisoner isolation is commonplace.

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas warned that Babar Ahmad, a British citizen wanted by the US on terrorism chargers, would face a “life sentence without parole in solitary confinement in a supermax prison” if convicted.

Mr Ahmad, along with Talha Ahsan and several other men, have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights asking for their extradition to the US to be blocked.

Chairman of SACC Richard Haley said: “If the men are convicted in the US, they will serve their sentences under conditions that would be utterly unacceptable in a British jail. I hope the European Court of Human Rights will say that it isn’t on.

“But these cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Tens of thousands of prisoners are enduring the bleak awfulness of isolation in US Federal and State prisons, and many more people are suffering the same fate elsewhere in the world.”

SOURCE: Morning Star


Submit a Comment


Pin It on Pinterest