Bisher al-Rawi was a UK-based informant for the MI5. As a way of saying thanks for all the hard work he put into liaising with and providing information on people under watch, the agency forwarded incorrect information to the CIA, and al-Rawi was kidnapped, put in nappies and a blindfold, strapped to a stretcher, and flown to Guantánamo bay. For a bit of variety the CIA threw in a three month stopover in a “Dark Prison” in Afghanistan where the only light he saw was the occasional dim beam from the guard’s torch and it was so cold he could feel ice crystals forming in his drinks.

We’ve heard about the horrors of Guantánamo Bay and the CIA’s black sites, but the level of official complicity seen in al-Rawi’s case is astounding. al-Rawi’s arrest was due to the MI5 deliberately passing on completely false information to the CIA, according to the Observer article which broke the story on Sunday. Even more appalling is that the MI5 knew about his “extraordinary rendition” but did nothing about it. One of his former MI5 contacts came to visit him at Gitmo – but the agency did nothing to help get him released, and even refused to provide any information to help his case when he came before a military tribunal to challenge his detention.

Al-Rawi was never considered a terrorist by MI5. He was offered “cast iron” guarantees when he began informing that his relationship with the contacts he was informing on was not an issue, and that the service would look after him should any problems arise.

This lack of official care and responsibility is also seen in the case of Dr Mohammed Haneef. The Indian doctor, practicing at Gold Coast Hospital was arrested by the Australian police shortly after the attempted car bombings in London and Glasgow last month.

After his arrest, the Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews specially, personally cancelled Haneef’s working visa. After four weeks in custody, the police realised they didn’t have a case and did the decent thing by letting Haneef go. While dropping the charges and letting Haneef walk was the just thing to have done, sadly it still seems generous. Peter Russo, who could be a character from The Castle or The Games, but is in actual fact Haneef’s lawyer – let’s face it, you couldn’t make this stuff up – thought that, while the main charges were dropped, something might be trumped up to legitimise all the police excitement.

Australian classic The Castle: but you couldn’t make this stuff up

So a star on the star-chart for the police’s fairness on that one. But why is Haneef’s still without a visa? On discharging him, the police announced happily that he was “free to leave the country”, quietly adding afterwards that his visa would not be reinstated automatically. He now has to wait until the 8^th of August for a hearing to determine whether or not he should be allowed back in the country to work.

If Kevin Andrews can take time out of his busy schedule to revoke the visa in the first place, surely he can find the time to pick up the stamp, ink it, and slam it down in the appropriate place to reverse the decision.

The UK government seems to be forever nudging out the boundaries of their powers in relation to terrorism: the current push is to extend the period someone can be detained without charge. But, as the Establishment is always keen to remind civil liberties campaigners, with rights come responsibilities. Someone should remind Kevin Andrews and the MI5.

Other posts by Katie Llanos-Small