JURIST - Paper Chase: Canada denies new claims that detainees transferred to Afghans were tortured

[JURIST] The Canadian government Monday rejected fresh allegations that members of the Taliban captured by Canadian troops in Afghanistan were tortured by Afghan investigators after being transferred from Canadian custody. According to Montreal's La Presse, three prisoners said they were tortured [La Presse report, in French] by Afghan authorities after receiving assurances from Canadian officials them that Afghanistan no longer tortured detainees. Government House leader Peter Van Loan said in response that Taliban detainees frequently make false accusations of torture and that their statements should not be taken at face value. Reuters has more.

Allegations [JURIST report] of mistreatment of transferred detainees surfaced earlier this year when the Toronto Globe and Mail reported [text] that more than 30 terrorism suspects had been tortured by Afghan investigators after being transferred from Canadian custody. An independent investigation found no evidence [press release; JURIST report] that the Canadian army "may have aided or abetted the torture of detainees" by transferring them to Afghan custody. As a result of public outcry, Canada signed a new agreement regarding detainee transfers [JURIST report] with the Afghan government, giving Canada the right to inspect detainees following their transfer. A separate investigation regarding detainee abuse while in Canadian custody is ongoing [JURIST report].

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