Guantanamo Prisoner Transfer Under Negotiation
The Guardian reports on the negotiations underway to send many Guantanamo detainees back to their home countries for continued incarceration. The countries include Afghanistan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
The principal issue is whether there will be, or even can be assurances that the returned detainees won't be tortured. These countries are known for human rights violations. The Washington Post has an editorial noting this today.
The New York Times reports:
The new transfers to Afghanistan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia would be explicitly for those countries to take over the detention and not release any individuals immediately.
Amnesty International has released this statement of concern.
"No government should force people to return to a country where they may be at risk of human rights abuses," said Sharon Critoph, North America researcher at Amnesty International. "The USA's own State Department reports serious human rights violations in all three of the countries to which it is planning to return detainees."
The 2004 US State Department Report for Afghanistan reported that prisoners were beaten, tortured, or denied adequate food. Torture and ill-treatment are common practices in Saudi Arabia, as are harsh prison conditions and indefinite detention without charge or trial. Arbitrary arrest and detention without charge or trial in connection with the "war on terror" is a long-standing concern in Yemen, as are conditions of detention.
Amnesty made this recommendation:
"The USA should close Guantánamo and either charge the detainees under US law or release them," said Sharon Critoph. "Afghanistan and other countries receiving Guantánamo detainees should ensure they are released and allowed to live a normal life if they are not to be charged and tried."
Amnesty also released this report Friday on the abuse of the ghost detainees.
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