The government of the United Kingdom will soon pay several million pounds to 16 former Guantanamo Bay detainees in an out-of-court settlement.
The British government agreed to settle due to concerns that continuing the court cases would risk revealing classified information and would tarnish the Crown’s image both at home and abroad. The settlement also serves to avoid legal battles that would cost up to £50 million ($80 million).
Ex-detainees from the United Kingdom brought two criminal cases and 12 civil cases against the government in British courts. The British government had knowledge that these individuals were being tortured and mistreated while imprisoned abroad. The government consented to the inhumane treatment of the detainees.
This is clearly an attempt by British imperialism to hide the extent of its crimes and quell anti-war dissent at home. However, this will not work, because the system that perpetrates such crimes is still in place and unhindered from continuing or repeating such acts.
