JURIST - Paper Chase: Guantanamo detainee Khadr accuses US interrogators of threats, physical abuse

[JURIST] Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr [DOD materials; JURIST news archive] said in an affidavit released Tuesday that US interrogators in Afghanistan threatened him with rape, physically abused him, and forced him to swear to false statements. The 63-item statement, signed by Khadr on February 22, was heavily redacted by the US military before its release, omitting many of the specific details of his alleged mistreatment. Khadr's Navy-appointed military lawyer said the abuse allegations cast doubt on the validity of statements Khadr made during interrogation. It was revealed last week that one of Khadr's interrogators was a already pleaded guilty [JURIST reports] to charges related to the mistreatment of another detainee In Afghanistan who died. AP has more. The Canadian Press has additional coverage.

Khadr, now 21, faces life imprisonment after allegedly throwing a grenade that killed one US soldier and wounded another while fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2002. He was charged [charge sheet, PDF; JURIST report] in April 2007 with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism, as well as spying. Khadr is one of four [JURIST report] Guantanamo detainees that have been prosecuted under the Military Commissions Act of 2006 [PDF text].

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Comment: Detained like me: the Guantanamo ordeal of Omar Khadr [Moazzam Begg]

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