Police Scotland have been condemned for “incredible” delays in their probe into the use of Scots airports for CIA torture flights.
More than three years into their investigation, they have refused to reveal what progress has been made.
Campaigners say there is an urgent need to know what part Scotland played in rendition – where US prisoners were sent to be tortured overseas in the wake of 9/11 – ahead of Donald Trump’s presidency.
It is feared Trump, who has advocated “a lot worse than waterboarding”, may reinstate rendition in the US war on terror.
Former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael, who called for an independent inquiry into the UK Government’s involvement in rendition, hit out at the delays.
The Lib Dem MP said: “It is incredible that an investigation of this sort should take so long and produce so little.
“Either Police Scotland are not taking it seriously or they are not getting proper co-operation from UK intelligence services.
“Britain and Scotland should not be used as a glorified stopover for Trump as he drives a coach and horses through international law.”
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Barack Obama banned the transfer of prisoners to countries where they would be tortured, including flying people to CIA secret prisons outside the US.
Police are looking at the extent of CIA flights operated through UK airports – including Aberdeen, Wick, Inverness, Glasgow and Prestwick – for fuel stops and overnight stays.
Research from the Rendition Project, found more than 1620 flights in and out of the UK by aircraft documented as being involved in alleged rendition. It is not clear how many were carrying detainees.
Human rights charity Reprieve have written to Scottish Justice Secretary Michael Matheson demanding to know if Police Scotland have made recommendations to the Crown Office in the investigation.
Reprieve’s Clive Stafford Smith said: “With torture enthusiast Donald Trump headed for the White House, the Scottish and UK Governments must up their game.
“We know Scottish airports were used in the Bush era by CIA jets carrying out ‘rendition’ operations. The Scottish and UK Governments need to make clear to Trump that this will not be tolerated.
“That is why it is worrying that so little progress seems to have been made.”
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Green MSP John Finnie, who called for an investigation into the flights in 2013, will write to Lord Advocate James Wolffe this week asking for an update.
Police Scotland said: “The investigation is still ongoing with regular updates being provided to Crown Office. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”