London - CAGE condemns the extrajudicial killing of Britons Reyaad Khan and Ruhul Amin.
The strike marks a new milestone in the UK’s history. It is particularly pertinent on the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.
The UK has joined the US in setting a dangerous international precedent in which a national government acts as judge, jury and executioner on a global scale.
Ibrahim Mohamoud, Communications Officer at CAGE said:
“The UK government has not released a legal justification for the killing of two British nationals in Syria. This may violate safeguards put in place to assess how soon someone is about to make an attack. We question whether Reyaad Khan and Ruhul Amin posed a “continued imminent threat”.
“British complicity in targeted killings is nothing new for the British government, however admitting responsibility for deliberately targeting and killing its own citizens is unprecedented”.
“Extra-judicial killing is the ultimate violation of due process since the victim is not granted a fair trial, and can never seek accountability. The admission by the British government that it killed two of its own, raises crucial questions:
1. Does the British government possess a ‘kill list’?
2. What is the threshold for killing a British national on foreign soil without due process?
3. Is secret evidence now sufficient to kill an individual whose capabilities are unknown?
Based on the flawed logic presented by David Cameron, Vladimir Putin’s alleged extrajudicial killing Alexander Litvinenko in London was justified. Such double standards speak of hypocrisy and set a dangerous standard for the world”.
Notes:
[1] Two Britons killed in RAF drone strike, PM tells MPs: BBC - [[www.bbc.com/news/uk-34178998]\(http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34178998)](http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34178998)
[2] Syria: Refugees and Counter-Terrorism: Prime Minister’s statement: Gov.uk - [[www.gov.uk/government/speeches/syria-refugees-and-counter-terrorism-prime-ministers-statement]\(http://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/syria-refugees-and-counter-terrorism-prime-ministers-statement)](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/syria-refugees-and-counter-terrorism-prime-ministers-statement)
Press enquiries:
Ibrahim Mohamoud
Communications officer
+(44) 207 377 6700 | \press@cageuk.org
<em>London</em> - CAGE condemns the extrajudicial killing of Britons Reyaad Khan and Ruhul Amin.
<div>The strike marks a new milestone in the UK’s history. It is particularly pertinent on the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.</div>
<div>The UK has joined the US in setting a dangerous international precedent in which a national government acts as judge, jury and executioner on a global scale.</div>
<div><strong>Ibrahim Mohamoud, Communications Officer at CAGE </strong>said:</div>
<div></div>
<div>“The UK government has not released a legal justification for the killing of two British nationals in Syria. This may violate safeguards put in place to assess how soon someone is about to make an attack. We question whether Reyaad Khan and Ruhul Amin posed a “continued imminent threat”.</div>
<div>“British complicity in targeted killings is nothing new for the British government, however admitting responsibility for deliberately targeting and killing its own citizens is unprecedented”.</div>
<div>“Extra-judicial killing is the ultimate violation of due process since the victim is not granted a fair trial, and can never seek accountability. The admission by the British government that it killed two of its own, raises crucial questions:</div>
<div>1. Does the British government possess a ‘kill list’?</div>
<div></div>
<div>2. What is the threshold for killing a British national on foreign soil without due process?</div>
<div></div>
<div>3. Is secret evidence now sufficient to kill an individual whose capabilities are unknown?</div>
<div>Based on the flawed logic presented by David Cameron, Vladimir Putin’s alleged extrajudicial killing Alexander Litvinenko in London was justified. Such double standards speak of hypocrisy and set a dangerous standard for the world”.</div>
<hr />
<div><strong>Notes:</strong></div>
<div></div>
<div>[1] Two Britons killed in RAF drone strike, PM tells MPs: BBC - <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34178998 "><strong>www.bbc.com/news/uk-34178998</strong></a></div>
<div></div>
<div>[2] Syria: Refugees and Counter-Terrorism: Prime Minister’s statement: Gov.uk - <strong><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/syria-refugees-and-counter-terrorism-prime-ministers-statement">www.gov.uk/government/speeches/syria-refugees-and-counter-terrorism-prime-ministers-statement</a></strong></div>
<div></div>
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<strong>Press enquiries:</strong>
<div>Ibrahim Mohamoud
Communications officer</div>
<div>
+(44) 207 377 6700 | <a href="mailto:press@cageuk.org"><strong>press@cageuk.org</strong></a></div>
