Letter: Justice for tyrants
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Justice for tyrants
Sir: The Law Lords' decision to overturn the judgement of the high court is the only one acceptable ("Anita Gonzalez lost her family in the Pinochet years. For her, and countless others, justice was done yesterday", 26 November).
The concept of sovereign immunity, allowing a head of state involved in systematic state-sponsored abuse of human rights to be protected from prosecution is abhorrent. Such an attitude would allow any tyrant to escape the consequences of their actions.
The principle expressed by one of the law lords that a serving head of state does benefit from sovereign immunity is appalling - and, thankfully, inconsistent with the Government's attitude to the Iraqi leader.
The suggestion, raised by some of Pinochet's sympathisers, that Margaret Thatcher or the Queen could be prosecuted for crimes committed during the Falkland's war, for example, is ridiculous. There is no question that such events were deliberate government policy.
SIMON GRANT
Birmingham
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments