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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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PRESS RELEASE: IHRC condemns US interrogation deaths in Afghanistan and voices concern over US campaign of arrests and extrajudicial killings

07 March 2003

IHRC condemns the deaths of two Afghani Muslims held for interrogation at the US Bagram military base in Afghanistan. According to a US military pathologist, the deaths have been classified as homicides, with the victims’ bodies suffering from “blunt force injuries”. According to former prisoners at Bagram, the two victims had been subjected to physical violence and sleep deprivation by their US military interrogators.

These deaths along with other testimonials of torture at Bagram constitute a serious violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, in specific Article 13 of the convention which states:

“Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation… Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity”.

The accusations of torture alone would amount to a breach of the ‘Convention Against Torture’, to which the US is a signatory.

IHRC is extremely concerned that the abuse and deaths of the two prisoners shows a consistent and blatant disregard by the US for international conventions and laws protecting human rights, revealing contempt for human rights and due process, as exemplified by Camp X-Ray and the extrajudicial killings in Yemen. IHRC is further concerned that British Muslims are being subjected to this arbitrary US campaign of detentions.

IHRC Chairman Massoud Shadjareh stated:

“We call upon the British government not to share intelligence with the US government in light of the deaths and the US extrajudicial killings in Yemen. We also ask the British government to take all necessary steps to ensure that British Muslims are not going to be picked up around the world and handed over to the US without due process. Additionally, we request the government to pressure the US authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all British nationals detained”.

For further information, please call the press office on ++ 44 (208) 902 0888 or (+44) 7958 522 196.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8902 0888
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