Binyam Mohamed and a question of balance

Published: 7:46AM GMT twenty-two February 2010

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Baroness Scotland, the Attorney General, will before long confirm either to sequence a rapist examination in to allegations by five British nationals that MI5 was complicit in their purported woe in Pakistan. Earlier this month, the Appeal Court systematic the avowal of justification that showed that MI5 knew that Binyam Mohamed, a former Guantánamo Bay detainee, was being mistreated by the CIA.

Such cases are not usually demoralising for the security services. As Jonathan Evans, MI5"s director-general, has argued in this newspaper, they can additionally stop their effectiveness. Mr Evans warned that such allegations will be used by "our enemies" as "propaganda to criticise the will and capability to confront them". It contingency never be lost that the security services go about their commercial operation with good professionalism in infrequently dangerous and often upsetting circumstances. Numerous militant plots have been thwarted in this nation given the Jul 7 2005 bombings since of their work and for that we should all be grateful.

Jacqui Smith Interview: I know where change lies with polite liberties and security Torture explain exploration is not in the open seductiveness Binyam Mohamed behind in UK, claiming torturers related to British agents Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed claims torturers related to British agents Tories urge deportation examination of ex-Guantnamo detainee

This contingency be borne in mind by the Attorney General as she reaches her decision. She has to change the human rights of militant suspects who explain they have been ill-treated with the rights of the total village to be stable from those who would do us harm. Torture can never be condoned. But conjunction can the undermining of the security services and we are at risk of that function here. That will usually fool around in to the hands of Islamic extremists. MI5 and MI6 are between the majority publicly under obligation comprehension agencies in the world. Parliamentary oversight, by the Intelligence and Security Committee, is a improved resource for exploring these allegations than the rapist courts.