Bagram Detainees Allege Serious Abuse At US Detention Facility

[babylonsister]

Ex-detainees allege Bagram abuse

Former detainee: 'They put medicine in our drink to prevent us sleeping'
By Ian Pannell
BBC News, Kabul


Allegations of abuse and neglect at a US detention facility in Afghanistan have been uncovered by the BBC.

Former detainees have alleged they were beaten, deprived of sleep and threatened with dogs at the Bagram military base.

The BBC interviewed 27 former inmates of Bagram around the country over a period of two months.

The Pentagon has denied the charges and insisted that all inmates in the facility are treated humanely.

All the men were asked the same questions and they were all interviewed in isolation.

A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai said similar allegations about mistreatment of prisoners at Bagram had been heard before.

Hamayun Hamidzada said if there was any substance to the accusations they should be investigated further.

Ill-treatment

The detainees making the claims were held at various times between 2002 and 2008. They were all accused of belonging to or helping al-Qaeda or the Taliban.


more...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8116046.stm