National Security and Counterterrorism
The Open Society Justice Initiative conducts strategic litigation, research, and advocacy to ensure that national security and counterterror policies conform to human rights standards and the rule of law.
Too often, governments rely on “national security” and the fight against terrorism to curtail human rights, to justify criminal actions—including torture, kidnapping, disappearances, and extrajudicial killings— and to avoid accountability by relying on secrecy and exceptionalism.
We seek to challenge securitization, including the targeting of individuals in the name of “national security” and the use of “counter-radicalization” strategies that erode basic freedoms—such as restrictions on freedom of expression, illegal surveillance, and monitoring that stigmatizes communities because of their ethnic or religious identity. We also seek to protect the rule of law by exposing those responsible for illegal abuses, and holding them to account before national and international courts.
Federal Court Orders U.S. Intelligence Agencies to Explain Withholding of Khashoggi Tape and Report
The court found that official acknowledgements—including President Trump's own statements—prevented the government from refusing to acknowledge that it is withholding records and audio tapes about the slain journalist.
CIA Kidnap and Rendition Case in Europe Ends without Investigation
The 47-member Council of Europe has declared that the Republic of North Macedonia is no longer required to investigate the 2004 kidnapping, detention and rendition by the CIA to Afghanistan of a German citizen who had been mis-identified as a terrorist suspect.
Globalizing Torture: CIA Secret Detention and Extraordinary Rendition
The most comprehensive account yet assembled of the human rights abuses associated with CIA secret detention and extraordinary rendition operations.
Cases
Open Society Justice Initiative v. the United States Department of Justice et al.
The Justice Initiative has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to obtain records regarding activities and policies on the use of criminal and civil denaturalization of citizens, the revocation of derivative citizenship of family members, and policies and practice concerning statelessness in relation to denaturalization.
Al-Nashiri v. Romania
The complaint calls for a proper investigation into Romania's responsibility for the CIA's abuse of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri at a secret prison on its territory and other violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.
El-Masri v. Macedonia
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favor of Khaled El-Masri, in his complaint over Macedonia's involvement in his extraordinary rendition and torture by the CIA.
Recent work
Concern Over Appointment of William Shawcross to Review UK’s Counter Terror Strategy
Open Society Justice Initiative is joining Muslim rights organizations in expressing deep concern about William Shawcross’s suitability for Reviewer of Prevent in the UK, given his record and previous statements on Islam.
Federal Court Orders U.S. Intelligence Agencies to Explain Withholding of Khashoggi Tape and Report
The court found that official acknowledgements—including President Trump's own statements—prevented the government from refusing to acknowledge that it is withholding records and audio tapes about the slain journalist.
Trump Administration Withholds Khashoggi Records, Biden Must End Cover-up and Commit to Transparency
After the Trump administration has failed to release meaningful records, President-elect Biden can demonstrate his administration’s commitment to human rights by releasing records on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
- Access to Justice
- Citizenship
- Civic Space
- Climate
- Corruption
- Criminal Justice
- Discrimination and Equality
- Economic Justice
- International Justice
- National Security and Counterterrorism
- Rule of Law