Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Derwin Sherwood on October 31, 2011 at 10:14

U.S. Ignored Evidence of Afghan Torture; State Dept. Probing Alleged Violations of Leahy Law

In Afghanistan, new evidence has emerged the United States continued to transfer detainees to Afghan prisons, despite knowing of widespread torture there. Afghan and Western officials interviewed by the Washington Post have confirmed the United States both transferred prisoners to torture-linked prisons and later visited them there for interrogation. A recent U.N. report reported Afghan guards and officers committed abuses at the prisons including hanging prisoners from hooks, beating them with cables, and twisting their genitals until they pass out. One of the most notorious facilities, named Department 124, was rebuilt last year with U.S. funding. The State Department is now investigating whether the United States has violated the Leahy Amendment, which bars funding for foreign military units linked to abuses of human rights.

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/10/31/headlines

Permalink Reply by Julian ONeill on October 31, 2011 at 12:23

RIGHT ON!! I remember seeing those horrific pictures of what American soldiers were doing to people who were brown--it was utterly obscene, and war crime. These people point the finger at people like Gadaffi---what fukin hypocrites they are!

Permalink Reply by Derwin Sherwood on November 21, 2011 at 14:19

UC Davis Places Police Officers on Leave Following Pepper-Spray of Peaceful Occupy Protesters

The University of California, Davis, has announced it has placed two police officers on administrative leave after they were videotaped pepper-spraying a group of student protesters. The students were peacefully sitting down cross-legged with their arms locked when the officers began pepper-spraying them at close range. The students were protesting the dismantling of the "Occupy UC Davis" encampment that was set up in the school’s quad area.

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/11/21/headlines

Permalink Reply by Derwin Sherwood on November 28, 2011 at 11:00

Commission: U.S.-Backed Bahrain Government Killed, Tortured Pro-Democracy Activists

A special commission in Bahrain has confirmed the gulf nation killed and tortured dissidents during its crackdown on pro-democracy protests earlier this year.The King of Bahrain has reportedly ordered a special commission to explore recommendations issued in the wake of the massive report. Cherif Bassiouni, head of the Bahrain inquiry, described some of the tactics employed by the Bahraini government.

Cherif Bassiouni, Bahrain inquiry chief: '’Violent beatings, punching, hitting with rubber hoses, hitting with electric wires on the feet, hitting with sticks and metal sticks and wooden sticks and other things and electric shocks and sleep deprivation and exposure to high temperatures and verbal abuse and threats of rape and insults to religious faiths. In general, these acts come under the definition of torture according to anti-torture convention.'’

According to the commission a total of 2,929 people were detained during the protests and at least 700 remain in prison. 35 people are believed to have died in the unrest between February and March and 11 more are suspected to have been killed later on. In addition to torture, international organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the United Nations human rights agency, have accused the government of using excessive force and carrying out unfair trials. Activist Alaa Shahabi says conditions on the ground in Bahrain continue to worsen.

Alaa Shahabi, activist: "There is ongoing violence, there are ongoing abuses, there is a complete lack of faith that the government will even read the report let alone implement the recommendations, and I for one, my husband has been in jail for 4 months and the report didn’t go as far as demanding the immediate unconditional release of our 500 political prisoners in Bahrain today."

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/11/28/headlines