VOA标准英语2012--Former Libyan Rebel Sues Britain Over Torture Claim

Former Libyan Rebel Sues Britain Over Torture Claim

Abdul Hakim Belhadj was part of the dissident Libyan Islamic Fighting Group before the uprising last year. The U.S. State Department considered the group a terrorist organization.

Belhadj claims he was arrested with his pregnant wife in 2004 at Kuala Lumpur international airport and taken back to Libya on a CIA rendition flight - along with another Libyan national, Sami al-Saadi - and into the hands of Gadhafi

“They were picked up, Belhadj from Kuala Lumpur, Sami from Hong Kong, and rendered back to Libya to be tortured in a joint¹ operation by the CIA, MI6 and Gadhafi’s spies," explained Cori Crider of the group Reprieve², who is giving him legal advice.

Belhadj was released from prison in 2010 and a year later played a key role in the uprising against Gadhafi. Documents discovered last September in bombed-out government offices in Tripoli appeared to tie Britain to Belhadj’s alleged³ rendition. He decided⁴ to launch the legal action in December.

"We believe there will be a judgment⁵, that will bring to justice those who took part in this shameful⁶ action, which is against the principle of justice and democracy," Belhadj said in an interview with VOA. 

The rendition allegedly took place just a year after then British Prime Minister Tony Blair marked Gadhafi’s return to the international fold in 2003 with a visit to Libya. Blair has denied any knowledge of the rendition. His foreign secretary at the time - who is accused of approving the rendition - was Jack⁷ Straw.

“I’m sorry I can’t say more about this case but with a police investigation⁸ pending⁹ and this intended civil legal action,” Straw told reporters. 

Cori Crider of Reprieve says the case could mark a legal turning point.

“People who made the political deals at the highest level have never really had any accountability in any country so I think we’re starting to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel,” Crider said.

With an ongoing¹⁰ police investigation and separate civil lawsuits¹¹, both the British government and former ministers have refused to comment on the allegations. 

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 reprieve   

n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解

参考例句：

• He was saved from the gallows by a lastminute reprieve.最后一刻的缓刑令把他从绞架上解救了下来。
• The railway line, due for closure, has been granted a six-month reprieve.本应停运的铁路线获准多运行6 个月。

3 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

6 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

7 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

9 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

10 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

11 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句