Overview
- Mr Justice Clive Sheldon found the regime interfered with Abu’s rights, including freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment and respect for private life under the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Abu was held alone for more than 22 hours a day and barred from associating with other prisoners for over four months, before limited contact with one inmate began on October 16.
- Medical experts told the court Abu’s PTSD, severe depression and auditory and visual hallucinations were seriously worsened by the isolation, which the judge said caused suffering beyond what segregation inevitably entails.
- The strict segregation followed an April attack on officers allegedly by Hashem Abedi, prompting Abu’s transfers from Frankland to Woodhill and then Full Sutton and reflecting the use of separation centres to curb extremist influence.
- The court held the Ministry of Justice unlawfully failed to secure an essential assessment and provide therapeutic treatment, noted a breach of the public sector equality duty, and will consider representations on remedies, including potential damages.