UN welcomes US probe into alleged torture of terror suspects
August 26th, 2009 - 3:59 am ICT by IANS
New York, Aug 26 (DPA) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, Tuesday welcomed the appointment of a US special prosecutor to investigate the alleged torture of terrorism suspects detained after the Sep 11, 2001, attacks.
Pillay also welcomed the release by Washington of Afghan national Mohammed Jawad from the prison facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was captured as a teenager in 2002.
“I warmly welcome this responsible decision by the US government to open a preliminary investigation,” Pillay said in a statement.
“I hope there is a swift examination of the various allegations of abuses made by former and current detainees in Guantanamo and other US-run prisons,” she said. “If they are verified, the next step will involve accountability for anyone who has violated the law.”
President Barack Obama has called for the closure of Guantanamo by the end of the year. More than 200 detainees remain locked up there.
Attorney General Eric Holder Monday appointed prosecutor John Durham to lead the review of cases of CIA interrogators who allegedly abused the detainees.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Durham was already examining the destruction of 92 videotapes of CIA interrogations, which was part of the investigation launched by former president George W. Bush in 2008 when the CIA was accused of torturing terrorism suspects.
Pillay also called for curbing the use of US-run secret detention centres. “Secrecy has been a major part of the problem with this type of detention regime.”
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- Evidence of medical complicity in torture at Guantanamo Bay - Apr 27, 2011
- UK to pay millions to ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees over torture claims - Nov 16, 2010
- US detention centres violated human rights: UN report - Jan 28, 2010
- CIA faces probe for excesses on terror suspects: LA Times - Aug 10, 2009
- No 9/11 accused has gone to the gallows - Sep 10, 2011
- Al Qaeda man made himself impotent to focus on jihad - Apr 29, 2011
- Obama reverses order halting military trails of Guantanamo detainees - Mar 08, 2011
- US to release five Taliban from Guantanamo? - Apr 01, 2012
- Obama orders resumption of Guantanamo trials - Mar 08, 2011
- US to reveal names of secret camp detainees to Red Cross - Aug 23, 2009
- CIA interrogators staged mock executions: Report - Aug 22, 2009
- CIA tapes show 9/11 suspects in secret prisons - Aug 18, 2010
- Obama administration to continue terrorism trials in civilian court despite criticism - Nov 19, 2010
- Holder blames Congress for forcing 9/11 mastermind, accomplices' trial at Guantanamo Bay - Apr 05, 2011
Tags: barack obama, cia interrogations, detainees, detention centres, eric holder, george w bush, guantanamo bay cuba, interrogators, jawad, pillay, preliminary investigation, president george w bush, prison facility, prosecutor john, responsible decision, sep 11 2001, special prosecutor, un high commissioner for human rights, videotapes, wall street journal