Algerians win deportation appeals

Seven Algerians fighting deportation from the UK on grounds of national security won Supreme Court appeals today.

The ruling in their favour by the highest court in the land follows a defeat in the Court of Appeal in 2010 when judges rejected challenges in which they claimed they would be at risk of inhuman and degrading treatment if deported.

The Algerian nationals, all "suspected terrorists", brought cases against decisions of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac), which in each case upheld a decision by the Home Secretary to deport on the grounds of national security.

At the Court of Appeal their challenges were unanimously rejected by Lord Justice Jacob, Lord Justice Sullivan and Sir David Keene.

But today five justices at the Supreme Court unanimously allowed their appeals.

In their written judgment, Lord Brown pointed out: "It must, of course, now be for Siac to consider what, if any, impact our decision has upon the outcome of these appellants' individual appeals: whether there is a need now to reopen them and what, if any, orders should now be made."

PA