Human Rights

In this section of our blog we write about developments in human rights law. This are of law is constantly in the media as human rights breaches unfortunately occur on a frequent basis. We cover the most recent cases heard in the European Court of Human Rights and write about how human rights law is developing.

If you are interested in human rights law – have a browse! There are many interesting articles to read and more are added regularly.

If you believe you have suffered an infringement of you human rights, you can contact us today. Contact Law can put you in touch with a local solicitor experienced in this area of law.

Oxford professor considers western courts fail to uphold religious freedom

Oxford professor Roger Trigg has warned that European and American courts are undermining religious freedom by disproportionately focusing on other values. Trigg argues that, “There has been a clear trend for courts in Europe and North America to prioritise equality and non-discrimination above religion, placing the right to religious freedom in danger”. Roger Trigg runs [...]

Prime Minister says European Court of Human Rights is turning into a “small claims court”

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, is today expected to push for reform of the European Court of Human Rights in a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Cameron is expected to insist that the Court, from now on, puts less focus on countries that traditionally have a good human rights record, [...]

European Court of Human Rights relies on UK court system for trial of terror-suspect

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that radical cleric Abu Qatada cannot be safely extradited to Jordan as there is a real risk that his right to a fair trial would be violated. Qatada has been described as being one of Osama bin Laden’s closest allies. He is wanted in Jordan for his [...]

High Court: prisoners’ human rights not violated by lack of toilets

The High Court yesterday rejected the convicted paedophile Roger Gleaves’ claim for damages over complaints regarding a prison facility’s hygiene standards. Gleaves, together with former inmate Desmond Grant, claimed that his human rights had been violated by the poor toilet facilities at the Albany prison on the Isle of Wight. The prisoners had to use [...]

Met under fire over undercover romances

The actions of undercover policemen have been questioned on multiple occasions and on different grounds. However, whilst most of the controversies have related to the discovery of evidence, the Metropolitan Police are now facing an unprecedented legal challenge. Eight women are planning on bringing legal action against the police force alleging that their human rights [...]

Court of Appeal orders trial of Bagram detainee

Earlier this week the Court of Appeal ruled that Yunus Rahmatullah, who was captured by British SAS personnel in Iraq, should be presented within seven days for trial by a British court or be released. After the British capture of Rahmatullah, who is originally from Pakistan, he was rendered to US officials. Since then he [...]

UK Government in fight with European Court of Human Rights

The Government is battling the European Court of Human Rights, the supervising body of the European Convention on Human Rights, on a range of matters. For instance, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, has on several occasions expressed his displeasure with the Court’s ruling that an outright ban on prisoners’ voting rights is not consistent with [...]

European Commissioner for Human Rights criticises Government’s weak human rights approach

The European Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, is expected to address the UK’s Equality and Diversity Forum tomorrow. In his speech he is set to criticise politicians’ failure, particularly Conservative Party MPs, to appraise the European Convention of Human Rights. He will also warn that the UK’s attempts to weaken human rights legislation can [...]

Disabled man asks court to let him die

Tony Nicklinson is severely disabled after he suffered a stroke six years ago, which paralysed him from the neck down. He now wishes to die with the help of a doctor and is asking the Family Division of the High Court to allow his wishes. He is seeking for the court to grant the defence [...]

European Court of Human Rights refuses UK extradition of Nigerian teen

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Home Office is not allowed to deport a migrant teenage boy from Nigeria who had been convicted of rape, as this would violate his right to private life. The boy, known as AA, spent four years in a young offenders’ institution after he was convicted [...]

Scottish Human Rights Commission rejects reform of Human Rights Act

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has consistently expressed his intention to repeal the Human Rights Act and reform the European Court of Human Rights. However, yesterday, such plans encountered a significant obstacle after the Scottish Human Rights Commission rejected the proposal to substitute the Human Rights Act with a UK Bill of Rights. The Prime [...]

Anti-Remembrance Day extremist Muslim group banned for terror-related activities

An extremist Muslim group, Muslims Against Crusades (MAC), which had planned to hold a protest against Armistice Day, was banned by the Government last night. The Government suspects that the group is engaged in terrorism, and that it has tried to cover up its engagements by continuously changing its name. The ban was evoked under [...]

Petition calls for debate over fate of terrorism suspect

More than 100,000 Brits have signed an e-petition for the House of Commons to debate the case of Babar Ahmad, the British citizen held for seven years on suspicion, but no charge, of terrorism. Ahmad was arrested on two different occasions. In 2003, he was detained during a raid on his home in Tooting, London. [...]

Wikileaks creator faces extradition over sexual assault allegations

Julian Assange, the creator of Wikileaks, had his extradition appeal rejected by the High Court yesterday. The court did not consider that his extradition to Sweden would be ‘unfair and unlawful’, as his legal team has submitted. Swedish authorities are seeking to have Assange extradited, from the UK, over allegations that he sexually assaulted two [...]

UK’s approach to human rights can have serious repercussions

The critical approach of the United Kingdom to the European Convention of Human Rights can potentially damage other countries’ adherence to human rights. This caution came from Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, as he visited London yesterday.  The Council is the supervising body of the European Convention of Human Rights and its [...]

Government at loggerheads over knife crime

Knife crime is a serious problem around the UK. A bill currently going through Parliament is suggesting imposing mandatory six-month prison sentences for adults caught with a knife on them. Labour has laid an amendment that seeks to extend this to those under eighteen years old. The Home Secretary Theresa May, along with London’s mayor [...]

UK Attorney General to Challenge power of European Court of Human Rights

The Government’s main legal advisor, the Attorney General Dominic Grieve, is to address the European Court of Human Rights on two key issues in November. Firstly, he both is critical of the Court’s view on prisoners’ voting rights and also believes that the principle of subsidiarity should be further emphasised. The principle of subsidiarity is [...]

Lord chief justice casts doubt on European Court of Human Rights’ supremacy

The UK’s most senior judge has said that the UK’s courts are not bound by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, raising doubts on the court’s power. Lord chief justice Lord Judge was giving his opinion to the Lords constitution committee when he said: “maybe Strasbourg shouldn’t win and doesn’t need to [...]

Broadmoor patient to challenge detention in landmark public hearing

Albert Haines, 52, has been detained under the Mental Health Act for 23 years, most of which has been spent at Broadmoor Hospital alongside notorious criminals such as Peter Sutcliffe and Robert Napper. He began his campaign for release in 2009 after his diagnosis was changed, and next week will put his case to the [...]

ECHR rules man convicted of rape cannot be deported from the UK

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that the Home Office cannot send a Nigerian man convicted of rape back to Nigeria as to do so would breach his right to a family life. The Court ruled that it would be a disproportionate response to deport the man, who is now 24-years-old, as [...]