32
OTHMAN (ABU QATADA) v. THE UNITED KINGDOM JUDGMENT
IV. HUMAN RIGHTS IN JORDAN
A. United Nations reports
1. The Human Rights Council
106. The United Nations Human Rights Council the Working Group on
Jordan’s Universal Periodic Review delivered its report on 3 March 2009
(A/HRC/11/29). The report noted Jordan’s acceptance of certain
recommendations geared towards eradicating torture. Following the report,
Human Rights Watch welcomed Jordan’s satisfaction at the “constant
review” of its human rights standards but found Jordan’s rejection of some
important recommendations geared towards eradicating torture to be
“deeply disappointing”. The organisation called on Jordan to implement
quickly recommendations to set up independent complaints mechanisms,
allow unannounced prison visits and abolish the Police Courts, which were
composed of police officers who heard allegations of torture against fellow
officers. Similar recommendations were made by the United Kingdom
Government in their statement to the Human Rights Council.
2. The Committee Against Torture
107. The United Nations Committee Against Torture, in its concluding
observations on Jordan of 25 May 2010, welcomed Jordan’s ongoing reform
efforts, which included the establishment of the National Centre for Human
Rights, an independent Ombudsman to receive complaints and a
comprehensive plan for the modernisation of detention facilities. However,
it was also deeply concerned by the “numerous, consistent and credible
allegations of a widespread and routine practice of torture and ill-treatment
of detainees in detention facilities, including facilities under the control of
the General Intelligence Directorate”. It also found a “climate of impunity”
and an absence of proper criminal prosecutions for perpetrators. The
Committee also expressed its concern at the limited number of
investigations into allegations of torture and its serious concern at the lack
of fundamental legal safeguards for detainees and the overuse of
administrative detention, which placed detainees beyond judicial control.
The Committee also recommended that the GID be placed under civilian
authority, given that it continued to detain suspects arbitrarily and
incommunicado and to deprive detainees of access to judges, lawyers or
doctors. The Committee was also gravely concerned by the special court
system in Jordan, which included the State Security Court, where military
and security personnel alleged to be responsible for human rights violations
were reportedly shielded from legal accountability and where procedures
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