Man convicted in UK of terrorism wins appeal right

The first person to be convicted in Britain for the crime of directing terrorism has won the right to appeal after judges agreed to consider his claim that he was tortured.

Three judges at London’s Appeal Court have granted leave of appeal to Rangzieb Ahmed,who alleges that the UK was complicit in his torture in Pakistan in 2006 by security forces there.

The 34-year-old Ahmed was then deported to Britain,where he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years in 2008. He was convicted of heading a three-man al-Qaeda cell which was planning mass murder.

Judge Richard Aikens said today the court decided to let Ahmed appeal in light of the allegations against British agents.