US tackled on al-Qaeda suspects

[Talon]

US tackled on al-Qaeda suspects

A New York-based human rights group has challenged America's treatment of 11 al-Qaeda suspects it is thought to be holding outside the US.

Human Rights Watch said prisoners were being denied access to the Red Cross and protection under international law, and it suggested torture had been used.

A spokesman compared their treatment to the 'dirty wars' of Latin America when people 'disappeared' while in custody.

A spokesman for the CIA declined to comment on the report.

Key al-Qaeda figures like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected planner of the 11 September 2001 attacks, are among those being held as part of the US-led "war on terror".

Human Rights Watch, which based its 46-page report largely on news reports, acknowledged the need to bring terror suspects to justice but questioned the legality of the detainees' treatment.

The BBC's Jeremy Cooke reports from New York that the well-respected group has delivered a damning indictment.

HRW highlights a number of areas in which the US appears to be violating international legal standards:

International treaties ratified by the US prohibit holding prisoners incommunicado and in secret locations

The Geneva Conventions require that the International Committee of the Red Cross has access to all detainees and that information on them be provided to their relatives

Under international human rights law, detainees must be held in recognised places of detention and be able to communicate with lawyers and family members

'Dirty war'

Reed Brody, special counsel with Human Rights Watch, said that "those guilty of serious crimes must be brought to justice before fair trials".

However, if the US chooses to ignore international law, "it abandons its ideals and international obligations and becomes a lesser nation", he added.

"'Disappearances' were a trademark abuse of Latin American military dictatorships in their 'dirty war' on alleged subversion," he said.

"Now they have become a United States tactic in its conflict with al-Qaeda."

Also on the list issued by HRW are Abu Zubaydah - said to have been an aide to Osama Bin Laden - as well as suspected would-be 9/11 hijacker Ramzi Binalshibh and Hambali, an alleged al-Qaeda ally in South-east Asia.

The report refers to news reports quoting unidentified government sources acknowledging the torture or mistreatment of detainees.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/worl...cas/3735294.stm

[Independent1]

Yes, every terrorist must be given more civil rights than any American. Put them all up in 5-star hotels, with 77 virgins while we are at it. (said sarcastically).

Honestly, let the rot in Cuba and then let them rot in hell.

Edited October 12, 2004 by Independent1

[Fluffybunny]

Tough Poo for the terrorists. If they wanted a safe life and did not want to worry about having to be "dissapeared" after being tortured then they ought to of steered clear of becoming terrorists.

[bathory]

i'll be short and sweet

**** em

[Guest Lottie]

Human Rights Watch said prisoners were being denied access to the Red Cross and protection under international law, and it suggested torture had been used.

Arrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! These people are comedians!!! there must be a screw loose somewhere. Woopee do torture has been used...Good! Pity they have not already hanged. Protection!? What the..?? Yeah what about the protection of the people they have already murdered?

This article is nothing more than a huge pile of bs and I cannot help but laugh at the irony.

[Fluffybunny]

i'll be short and sweet

**** em

302674[/snapback]

What are you trying to say?

Find

Fish?

Flub?

Fort?

Fund?

[bathory]

ummmm

Fool em

[Talon]

This article is nothing more than a huge pile of bs

No, the article isn't BS, the article is scary