Briton says human rights violated by prison authorities.Byline: Patrick Dewhurst A BRITISH NATIONAL who spent two years at the Nicosia Central Prisons intends to take the Cypriot judicial system to court over alleged human rights abuses, his lawyer said yesterday. Stephen Clarke Stephen Clarke may refer to:
See also Isolation. Alcatraz Island former federal maximum security penitentiary, near San Francisco; “escapeproof.” [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 218] Altmark, the German prison ship in World War II. [Br. Hist. in February last year for causing two fatalities through dangerous and reckless driving reckless driving n. operation of an automobile in a dangerous manner under the circumstances, including speeding (or going too fast for the conditions, even though within the posted speed limit), driving after drinking (but not drunk), having too many passengers in . He said he was denied a six-month remission on his sentence, called a 'Presidential', that was afforded to all other prisoners when Demetris Christofias came into office last year. The prison authorities at the time told Clarke that he was not entitled to this because he was a foreigner. "I thought wrongly that Cyprus was part of the EU and that all EU citizens have the same rights as nationals of that country," Clarke said. When Clarke's lawyer, Soteris Argyrou , threatened court action for this infringement of his human rights, the prison offered an ultimatum ultimatum (ŭl'tĭmā`təm), in international law, final, definitive terms submitted by one disputant nation to the other for immediate acceptance or rejection. : serve the full sentence or be permanently deported, leaving behind his wife and child. The next day, before a case could be filed and he could collect his belongings, Clarke was expelled from the country. "I was asked to sign a piece of paper stating I wanted to be deported. Firstly I refused, but then they told me either I sign it or serve at least another 6 months." He was also told to lie about his planned deportation date. "When I refused to lie I was again insulted by the man named Solomos. I was treated like an animal in prison, worse than the rapists, murderers and pedophiles. I was deported to England with nowhere to live, no clothes and little money." "This case went on for nearly two years and was a shambles from the start". He asserts that the crash investigator lied in court about important details. "Firstly he lied about the time he got to the scene. We had proof from the news stations that I was being cut out of my car 70 minutes after the investigator said the scene was cleared." He was not allowed to bring any of his own witnesses, and he questions the veracity veracity (v  ras´itē),n of the prosecution witnesses' testimonies.. Neither Clarke or Argyrou are challenging the verdict and sentence -- they are instead challenging the authorities for not fulfilling their obligations under EU, UN and international law. "I feel sad for the families of the people who died, but it was an accident. Total and utter racism was shown towards me. I was being used as a scapegoat and not allowed to defend myself," said Clarke. Argyrou insists that a number of his client's human rights were violated by the prison authorities "Articles 5 (4), (of the Right to Liberty and Security), Article 14 (Prohibition of Discrimination of Human Rights and article 7 of the Human Rights Act were violated. Further there is a violation of EU Directive (European Union Directive) A set of privacy requirements that took effect in 1998 and ordered European member nations to enact compliant legislation. It deals with the establishment of Data Protection Authorities, people's rights to personal information and enforcement. 2004/38 in that they cannot deport de·port tr.v. de·port·ed, de·port·ing, de·ports 1. To expel from a country. See Synonyms at banish. 2. To behave or conduct (oneself) in a given manner; comport. EU citizen," Argryou said. "Union Citizens should, mutatis mutandis MUTATIS MUTANDIS. The necessary changes. This is a phrase of frequent practical occurrence, meaning that matters or things are generally the same, but to be altered, when necessary, as to names, offices, and the like. , be able to move between and reside in Member States in similar conditions to nationals of a Members States moving around or changing their place of residence in their own country". "Finally Prison authorities have violated a number of articles of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners The Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners were adopted on 30 August 1955 by the United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held at Geneva, and approved by the Economic and Social Council in resolutions of 31 July 1957 and 13 ," he added. Copyright Cyprus Mail Cyprus Mail is a Cypriot English-language newspaper. It is published daily (except Mondays) and a number of articles are available online. Its current chief editor is Kosta Pavlowitch. The managing director is Kyriakos Iacovides. 2009 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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