Tortured detainees likely pursuing El Harrach prison
An NGO calls Bouteflika to open an investigation
Tortured detainees likely pursuing El Harrach prison
El Khabar, 9 March 2008
The Human Right League has started procedures targeting pursuing legally instigators inflecting torture and humiliation to detainees in El Harrach prison, while the World Organization Against Torture has seized President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on the same issue.
The President of the Human Right League told El Khabar lawyers of prisoners subject to torture are considering bringing legal action against the Direction of El Harrach prison as being involved in the incident taking place last 18 February in cells 1, 2 and 3.
Mr. Bouchachi has further mentioned that lawyers are to ask their clients approving the complaint before starting procedures of taking legal actions against the prison.
He said: “It is the second time the Human Right League calling for opening an investigation on the case, otherwise, the prisoners victim of torture are to bring legal actions against the prison through their lawyers.”
To recall, about 80 prisoners have been “tortured,” according to Mr. Bouchachi, after rejecting entering their cells to protest the decision of the prison direction suspending the place of prayer inside their cells, while the majority have been transferred into other prisons after this incident.
Furthermore, the World Organization against Torture has sent a letter to President Bouteflika and Justice Minister Tayeb Belaiz in 3 March, expressing its “strong concerns,” as regards tortures against prisoners.
The NGO has further required Authorities taking necessary measures in order to guaranteeing the security and the physical and psychological integrity for detainees mentioned above, by providing them medical care if necessary, as well as urging opening a thorough, independent and impartial investigation on the case as to identify the responsible and bringing them before justice.
09-03-2008
By H.Y/ Translation A.A
