UK Pays “Substantial” Compensation to Guantanamo Detainee to Settle Torture Complicity Case

 The UK government has agreed to pay a substantial amount of compensation to Abu Zubaydah, a detainee held at the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, to settle a legal case claiming the UK was complicit in his torture by the CIA. �

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Zubaydah was captured in 2002 during an anti-terrorism operation and has been held without charge or conviction for nearly two decades. He was the first person subjected to the CIA’s controversial “enhanced interrogation” techniques after the September 11 attacks — treatment that many international bodies and human rights groups classify as torture. Initially, the US government claimed he was a senior member of al-Qaeda, but that claim was later withdrawn. �

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British intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 were found to have provided questions to the CIA to use during his interrogations, despite knowing he was being mistreated. Zubaydah’s legal team argued that this made the UK government complicit in the torture he endured. �

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After a legal battle, the case was settled with a financial compensation agreement. The exact amount has not been disclosed due to legal reasons, but lawyers described it as significant. However, his legal counsel, Professor Helen Duffy, said while the payment is important and symbolic, it is insufficient, especially as Zubaydah remains detained without trial. She has urged the UK and other governments involved to also work towards securing his release. �

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Zubaydah’s case highlights ongoing controversies about international law, human rights, and intelligence cooperation. Despite the settlement, questions remain about accountability and the continued indefinite detention of individuals at Guantanamo Bay.