Amnesty International is accusing Britain of perverting justice by detaining foreigners without trial under anti-terrorist legislation.
"The UK government has effectively created a shadow criminal justice system for non-UK nationals that fails to meet international standards for a fair trial," the human rights pressure group said in a statement today.
Amnesty asked if Britain had a "Guantanamo Bay in our own backyard" in reference to the 660 prisoners held without charge at a US base in Cuba.
In Britain, non-British nationals who have had deportation orders made against them can be detained under sweeping security laws set out in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.
Amnesty, heading its report "Justice Perverted," said: "There are currently 14 people held under this legislation, six of whom will have been in detention for two years on December 19".
Amnesty's UK Director Kate Allen said the act was discriminatory.
"It effectively allows non-nationals to be treated as if they have been charged with a criminal offence, convicted without a trial and sentenced to an open-ended term of imprisonment," she added.
