The outcome of the British High Court’s hearing on the case of Binyam Mohamed may open an important crack in the wall of secrecy that surrounds the CIA’s rendition, detention, and interrogation abuses, writes Joanne Mariner.

With fears of terrorism high, writes Joanne Mariner, many governments now have tough counterterrorism laws at their disposal. But while the extraordinary powers granted to police and other state authorities under these laws are publicly defended by reference to the threat of terrorism, some of the actual conduct they apply to has little connection to the problem.