Faizi accuses ISAF of taking U-turn on torture issue

KABUL spokesman’s statement regarding a UN report that suggested continued torture and abuse of inmates in Afghan-custody.

ISAF spokesman Gunter Katz told a press conference in Kabul on Monday that the NATO-led force had suspended detainee transfers to Afghan custody after the UN’s report revealed torture and ill-treatment of prisoners in Afghan-run jails. He said they had assessed the report and found it to be credible.

But Faizi told Pajhwok Afghan News on Tuesday they possessed documents that showed when and how ISAF representatives were allowed to closely monitor and assess the treatment of inmates by Afghan police and intelligence officials. He said there had always been a positive response from ISAF officials who visited inmates held in Afghan-run facilities.

A copy of the documents is available with Pajhwok Afghan News.

Faizi insisted the Afghan government allowed officials of the Red Cross and international human rights organisations to enter exclusive conversations with detainees.

He said ISAF officials, who visited Afghan-controlled jails weekly, would comment positively on the inmate conditions. “I wonder why ISAF took a U-turn on the subject by calling the UN report as credible,” the Karzai spokesman said.

ma/mud

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