Chicago Indymedia : http://chicago.indymedia.org/archive
Chicago Indymedia

Commentary :: Civil & Human Rights

BTL:Amnesty International Reports to U.N. on Torture and Abuse

Interview with Joshua Rubenstein, northeast regional director of Amnesty International USA, conducted by Between the Lines' Scott Harris
Amnesty International Reports to U.N. on Torture and Abuse

Interview with Joshua Rubenstein, northeast regional director of Amnesty International USA, conducted by Scott Harris

A report issued by Amnesty International May 3, asserts that torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees by U.S. forces is widespread and in many cases sanctioned by high-level government officials. The 32,000-word report was released prior to the beginning of hearings in Geneva on U.S. compliance with the U.N. Convention Against Torture.

Amnesty says that evidence continues to emerge that prisoners held by the U.S. are subjected to torture in American-run facilities in Afghanistan, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq and other locations. The report goes on to say that there is clear evidence that much of the physical and psychological ill-treatment has stemmed directly from officially sanctioned procedures and policies, including interrogation techniques approved by Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld for use in Guantánamo and later exported to Iraq.

At least 34 detainees who died in U.S. custody have been classified by the Pentagon as suspected homicides. But Amnesty believes that the number may well be higher due to cover-ups. Britain's Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has recently joined Amnesty and other human rights groups in calling for the closure of America's Guantanamo, Cuba detention center. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Joshua Rubenstein, northeast regional director of Amnesty International USA, who summarizes his group's report on U.S. torture.

Contact Amnesty by calling (212) 807-8400 or visit their Web site at www.amnestyusa.org

Related links:

Amnesty International Report on U.S. Torture

LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:
www.btlonline.org
*
"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: www.btlonline.org
*
"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe (at) lists.riseup.net
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe (at) lists.riseup.net
*
betweenthelines (at) snet.net
*
www.squeakywheel.net/
*
Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions
©2006 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.
 
 

Donate

Views

Account Login

Media Centers

 

This site made manifest by dadaIMC software