The House of Lords applied the State Immunity Act 1978 to dismiss an action for damages, in relation to alleged torture, against the Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia and certain state officials. The Court rejected the argument that the application of the Act would violate Article 6(1) of the ECHR or jus cogens norms of international law.
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In a judgment dated 8 December 2005 the House of Lords held (7-0) that evidence obtained by torture by officials of a foreign state is not admissible in English courts. The Courts, inter alia, considered the effect in English law of the United Nations Convention Againt Torture.
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In October 2005 the House of Lords heard an appeal concerning the admissibility of evidence from third parties, which has or may have been obtained by foreign states through torture. One of the issues was whether Article 15 of the United Nations Conventions against Torture (which prohibits the admission of such evidence) has effect in English law and if so, on what basis.
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