UK cooperates with nations that abuse human rights: Hague

Britain would continue to share intelligence with countries with questionable human rights records, if they are to prevent terrorism in the UK, British Foreign Secretary William Hague says.

Speaking to the Royal United Services Institute, Hague said the country has to make a decision whether to share information with these countries or put British citizens at greater risk of terrorist attacks.

“In many cases, we are able to obtain credible assurances from our foreign partners that give us the safeguards we need and the confidence that we can share information,” said Hague.

“Where this is not the case, we face a stark choice,” he added.

Hague said sharing information with nations that breach human rights brings risk but the risks of stepping back could be much greater.

Referring to the recent deadly attack on a gas plant in the southern Sahara desert, in which six Britons were killed, Hague described it as the “largest and most complex” attack on British citizens since London bombings in July 7, 2005.

Cori Crider, legal director at the human rights charity Reprieve said, “William Hague is trying to find a way to join hands with the torturer while keeping his own hands clean, it just won’t work.”