Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Hissyspit

(45,790 posts)
Wed Feb 8, 2012, 10:13 AM Feb 2012

CCR Submits Torture Details to Spanish Court after Judge's Order to Proceed with Gitmo Investigation

http://ccrjustice.org/newsroom/press-releases/ccr-submits-declaration-detailing-torture-spanish-court-after-judge%2526%2523039%3Bs-order-proceed-guant%C3%A1namo-

CCR Submits Declaration Detailing Torture to Spanish Court after Judge's Order to Proceed with Guantánamo Torture Investigation

Document Highlights Treatment of Acknowledged Torture Victim Mohammed al Qahtani; Helps Set Stage for Prosecution of Bush Administration Officials


[email protected]

February 8, 2012, New York and Madrid – Today, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) submitted a declaration to a Spanish court detailing the torture of Mohammed al Qahtani, who has been detained without charge or trial at Guantánamo since 2002. The submission follows Spanish Investigating Judge Pablo Ruz Gutierrez’s recent order to proceed with the probe into the U.S. torture program.

Mr. al Qahtani was the victim of the “First Special Interrogation Plan,” a regime of aggressive interrogation techniques amounting to torture personally authorized by former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Mr. al Qahtani is the only prisoner held at Guantánamo Bay the U.S. has officially admitted to torturing. Mr. al Qahtani’s treatment, much of which is described in detail in the declaration through his own words, includes 48 days of sleep deprivation, 20-hour interrogations, forced nudity, sexual humiliation, religious humiliation, physical force, prolonged stress positions, and prolonged sensory overstimulation. In addition, the document details the effects of the interrogation, which included Mr. al Qahtani’s severe emotional distress, inability to control his bladder, and visual and auditory hallucinations. Time Magazine obtained and published a detailed log of his interrogations in 2005.

Katherine Gallagher, a Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Constitution Rights, said, “This declaration details the severe psychological and physical trauma suffered by Mr. al Qahtani as a result of the brutal treatment he was subjected to at Guantánamo through techniques that are in direct violation of the Geneva Convention and the Convention Against Torture. That the high-level U.S. officials alleged to be responsible for this criminal conduct, including Donald Rumsfeld and Geoffrey Miller, continue to enjoy impunity domestically is a stain on the U.S. system of justice. We hope that this declaration will provide valuable evidence for use in holding these officials accountable in Spain, a venue that is willing to investigate torture.”

- snip -

The case, which Judge Ruz inherited from Judge Baltasar Garzón, has been ongoing since April 2009, when Garzón opened a preliminary investigation into what he termed “an authorized and systematic plan of torture and ill-treatment on persons deprived of their freedom without any charge and without the basic rights of any detainee…” The investigation stemmed from a previous court case in which four former Guantánamo detainees at the center of the case were found to have been tortured. That investigation concluded that facts of the case related to violations under the Spanish Penal Code, the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions, the Convention Against Torture, the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Organic Law of the Judicial Power (article 23.4.) Judge Ruz’s recent order was precipitated, in part, by a decision to proceed with the investigation after the U.S. and U.K. governments failed to respond to letters rogatory issued by the Spanish court that requested information about any domestic investigations in those countries.

MORE[p]
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
CCR Submits Torture Details to Spanish Court after Judge's Order to Proceed with Gitmo Investigation (Original Post) Hissyspit Feb 2012 OP
justice. could it happen? barbtries Feb 2012 #1
GAWD we need some justice happening for what happen in GITMO. A lot of these people where Justice wanted Feb 2012 #2
K&R EFerrari Feb 2012 #3
K&R Solly Mack Feb 2012 #4
At first I was all like WTF does Credence Clearwater Revival have to do with torture hootinholler Feb 2012 #5
The same thing I thought. Ferretherder Feb 2012 #13
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Feb 2012 #6
Creedence Clearwater Revival. BB1 Feb 2012 #7
big rec Voice for Peace Feb 2012 #8
K & R. Thanks. n/t Judi Lynn Feb 2012 #9
God, the euphanisms....."First Special Interrogation Plan" dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #10
But everybody likes torture and summary executions gratuitous Feb 2012 #11
K & R pmorlan1 Feb 2012 #12
K&R. Yes please! Overseas Feb 2012 #14

barbtries

(29,735 posts)
1. justice. could it happen?
Wed Feb 8, 2012, 10:19 AM
Feb 2012

the people responsible should be held to account. i wish our government was willing to prosecute wrongdoers even if they are republicans.

Justice wanted

(2,657 posts)
2. GAWD we need some justice happening for what happen in GITMO. A lot of these people where
Wed Feb 8, 2012, 10:21 AM
Feb 2012

"arrested" after neighbors turned them in for money.

hootinholler

(26,449 posts)
5. At first I was all like WTF does Credence Clearwater Revival have to do with torture
Wed Feb 8, 2012, 11:07 AM
Feb 2012

Then I realized it was the Center for Constitutional Rights and was far less confused.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
10. God, the euphanisms....."First Special Interrogation Plan"
Wed Feb 8, 2012, 02:56 PM
Feb 2012

I guess that produced a gentler, softer kind of agony for the victims.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
11. But everybody likes torture and summary executions
Wed Feb 8, 2012, 03:58 PM
Feb 2012

As long as there's no political price to pay for subverting the Constitution, what's the big schmeal? I mean, it's just a bunch of dark-skinned nobodies getting juiced or snuffed, not like one of the Kardashian women. So why should anyone care about an authorized and systematic plan of torture and ill-treatment on persons without any charge and without the basic rights of any detainee? America, fuck yeah!

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»CCR Submits Torture Detai...