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UN rights experts on torture and counter-terrorism concerned about the fate of Guantánamo detainees
Concern for Guantánamo detainees
10 December 2013
Mr. Ameziane, who fled Algeria two decades ago to escape violence and persecution, was sent back to his country by the United States Government despite precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights requiring the US to honour its non-refoulement obligations - not to return people to places where their lives or enjoyment of human rights could be threatened.
“We are deeply concerned that the life of Mr. Ameziane could be in danger in Algeria,” the experts said, drawing attention to previous cases of forced returns to countries with a proven record of torture, when detainees were held for prolonged periods of time in incommunicado detention on return.
The Special Rapporteurs noted that the US Government has sought and obtained assurances of humane treatment from the Algerian authorities. “However,” they stressed, “diplomatic assurances are unreliable and ineffective in protecting against torture and ill-treatment, and States should not resort to them.”
“We have often seen diplomatic assurances used by Governments to circumvent the absolute prohibition of torture as established in the UN Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,” the experts said.
“Diplomatic assurances are not legally binding. It is therefore unclear why States that violate binding obligations under treaty and customary international law should comply with non-binding assurances,” they added.
In 2010, the UN Special Rapporteurs on torture and on human rights and counter-terrorism expressed their concern in relation to the US Supreme Court’s decision to transfer two Algerian detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Algeria.
The independent experts will follow up on the situation of Mr. Ameziane with the Algerian Government to ensure that he is treated humanely and with respect.
(*) Check the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CAT.aspx
Juan E. Méndez (Argentina) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on 1 November 2010. He is currently a Professor of Law at the American University – Washington College of Law and Co-Chair of the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association. Mr. Méndez has previously served as the President of the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) until 2009, and was the UN Secretary-General Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide from 2004 to 2007, as well as an advisor on crime prevention to the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, between 2009 and 2010. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Torture/SRTorture/Pages/SRTortureIndex.aspx
For more information and media requests, please contact Sonia Cronin (+41 79 752 0486 / scronin@ohchr.org ), Stephanie Selg (+41 79 745 0933 / sselg@ohchr.org) or write to sr-torture@ohchr.org
Ben Emmerson (United Kingdom) is the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. On 1 August 2011, he took up his functions on the mandate that was created in 2005 by the former UN Commission on Human Rights and renewed by the UN Human Rights Council for a three year period in September 2010 and again in March 2013. As Special Rapporteur he is independent from any Government and serves in his individual capacity. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Terrorism/Pages/SRTerrorismIndex.aspx
For more information and media requests please contact Claudia Gross (+41 22 917 9184 / cgross@ohchr.org), Helle Iversen (+41 22 917 9421 / hiversen@ohchr.org) or write to srct@ohchr.org.
UN Human Rights, country page – Algeria: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/DZIndex.aspx
UN Human Rights, country page – United States of America: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/USIndex.aspx
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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