Katharine Gun, 29, is facing trial at the Old Bailey, charged under the Official Secrets Act with disclosing secret Government information.
Katharine used to work as a translator at GCHQ, the Government’s eavesdropping centre. In the weeks leading up to the Iraq War, at a time when the UN was still considering whether to pass a second resolution authorising war, she disclosed that the American National Security Agency had asked the British Government to help in the illegal surveillance of the six delegations holding the balance of power in the UN Security Council.
Katharine made the disclosure because she believed that it was necessary to prevent an illegal war in which thousands of Iraqi citizens and British and American soldiers would die or be maimed. She did what she thought was right. Now she faces two years in jail for acting on her conscience.
Liberty’s lawyers are representing her.
Liberty has long said that the Official Secrets Act is too draconian and that there should be a public interest defence that would protect whistleblowers.
Liberty is calling on the Government to do two things:
1. Drop Katharine’s prosecution
2. Reform the Official Secrets Act
If you would like to support, or just know more, about the Katharine Gun Tell the Truth Campaign, then e-mail or write to The Katharine Gun Campaign, c/o Liberty, 21 Tabard Street, London SE1 4LA
More information:
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/katharine-gun.shtml
Katharine used to work as a translator at GCHQ, the Government’s eavesdropping centre. In the weeks leading up to the Iraq War, at a time when the UN was still considering whether to pass a second resolution authorising war, she disclosed that the American National Security Agency had asked the British Government to help in the illegal surveillance of the six delegations holding the balance of power in the UN Security Council.
Katharine made the disclosure because she believed that it was necessary to prevent an illegal war in which thousands of Iraqi citizens and British and American soldiers would die or be maimed. She did what she thought was right. Now she faces two years in jail for acting on her conscience.
Liberty’s lawyers are representing her.
Liberty has long said that the Official Secrets Act is too draconian and that there should be a public interest defence that would protect whistleblowers.
Liberty is calling on the Government to do two things:
1. Drop Katharine’s prosecution
2. Reform the Official Secrets Act
If you would like to support, or just know more, about the Katharine Gun Tell the Truth Campaign, then e-mail or write to The Katharine Gun Campaign, c/o Liberty, 21 Tabard Street, London SE1 4LA
More information:
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/katharine-gun.shtml
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25.01.2004 21:50
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