NATO Afghan detainees face torture risk - Amnesty

Source: reuters




NATO Afghan detainees face torture risk - Amnesty
12 Nov 2007 16:17:16 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Mark John

BRUSSELS, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Amnesty International urged NATO troops in Afghanistan on Monday to suspend all transfers of detainees to Afghan authorities, citing persistent allegations that prisoners face torture.

The rights group said dozens of prisoners taken by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) had been handed over to Afghanistan's intelligence services, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), despite such allegations.

"Amnesty International is concerned that ISAF states are breaching their international obligations by handing over detainees to the NDS, where detainees are at grave risk of torture and ill-treatment," it said in a report.

International conventions prohibit transfers of prisoners if there is reason to suspect abuse and some rights experts say Western troops could face prosecution in such cases.

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