"Goodbye war on terror, hello human rights"

5.01.00pm GMT Thu 10th Dec 2009

Today's International Human Rights Day should mark the end of a period when fighting terrorism was used to justify the suppression of fundamental rights and civil liberties at home and abroad.

That's the view of Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford, who commented:

"The 'war on terror' decade is thankfully coming to an end. The next decade must be one of human rights observance, with the EU, and a US with renewed commitment to the rule of law, leading in partnership to champion high standards."

"2010 must see the closure of Guantanamo but also of other prisons like Bagram in which the US holds detainees without due process. The Obama plan to hold around 90 Guantanamo detainees indefinitely, even though now on US soil, is unacceptable."

"A solution must be found for all prisoners for either a fair trial in civilian courts, as is happening for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and 4 others, or release, even if supervised."

"The EU must step up to the mark and resettle some former prisoners who cannot return to their home countries. If necessary, security arrangements can be put in place. This European assistance is necessary, both to help the US get back to the path of legality, and in recognition of many European countries' collusion in illegal rendition and torture for which full accountability is overdue."

ENDS