USA Must Investigate Detainee Abuse Claims in Wikileaks Files

Amnesty International today called the U.S. on the Thurs investigate how much U.S. Officials Knew About the Torture and Other Ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security Held forces on New Evidence emerged in the files released by Wikileaks Organization on Friday.

â? We have Not yet HAD an Opportunity To study the files in detail Leaked But They add to our concern That the U.S. Authorities a committed a Serious Breach of International Law When They summarily handed over Thousands of detainees Thurs Iraqi security forces who, They Knew , were Continuing Thurs torture and abuse detainees is a Truly Shocking scale, â? said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's director for the Middle East and North Africa.

The new disclosures applaud Thurs Closely match the findings of the New Order, Same Abuses: Unlawful Detentions and Torture in Iraq: a Report Published by Amnesty International in September 2010 the widespread Detailing Torture and Other Ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi forces, a committed with impunity . Thousands of Iraqis WHO HAD Been detained by U.S. forces were Transferred from U.S. custody Thurs Iraqi Between early 2009 and July 2010 under an Agreement Between the U.S. and Iraq contains no That Provisions for ensuring Protection of the detainees' human rights.

â? These documents apparently Provide Further Evidence That the U.S. Authorities Have Been Aware of this Systematic abuse for years, yet They Went ahead and handed over Thousands of Iraqis detained They had occurred to the Iraqi security forces, â? said Malcolm Smart.

The U.S. is a party to the UN Convention against Torture, the main international treaty prohibiting torture, Which Requires all states Thurs Thurs Prohibit torture and refrain from transferring detainees to the Authorities of Another state at whose hands They face torture.

Amnesty International Continues Thurs campaign for full accountability in the Cases of All Those detainees Tortured and ill-TDAE by U.S. military personnel in Iraq, Such as Those in the Abu Ghraib prison.

The U.S. Authorities, like all governments, have an Obligation under International Law Not only Thurs ensure That Their own forces Some do not use torture, But Also That People Who were detained and are being Held by U.S. forces handed over Are Not Thurs Other Authorities Who Are Thurs likely torture Them.

â? The U.S. failed to Respect this Obligation in Iraq, despite the great volume of Evidence, available from Many Different Quarters, showing That the Iraqi security forces use torture widely and are allowed to do so with impunity.â? said Malcolm Smart

â? The information Said To Be in These documents also Life underscores the Urgent Need for the Iraqi government guarantees Thurs Concrete Measures TO END torture, ensure the safety of all detainees, and root out and bring to justice Those Responsible for Torture and Other Serious human rights abuses, HOWEVER Senior Their position.â?