Lawyers for Guantánamo Bay [9] detainee Abu Zubaydah [10] on Jan. 28 asked the European Court of Human Rights [11] (ECHR) to rule on whether Poland violated their client's rights [12] by aiding the US in detaining and allegedly torturing Zubaydah in a secret CIA prison [13]. Zubaydah, a top al-Qaeda suspect, alleges that he was transferred to Poland and subjected to "enhanced interrogation techniques [14]." An investigation into the prison has been ongoing in Poland [15] since 2008, but Zubaydah's lawyers argued that it has made no noticeable effort to bring any perpetrators to justice. The letter is notice that an application for a hearing will be filed.
The ECHR has already agreed to take the case of accused USS Cole [16] bomber Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri [15] who also alleges that he has been tortured in a secret CIA prison [17] in Poland. In August, the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) urged the ECHR to review allegations [18] that Romania [19] was involved in the torture and other ill-treatment of al-Nashiri as well. The application alleged that al-Nashiri was subject to torture and mistreatment while in the secret CIA detention facility "Bright Light" located in Romania's capital.
From Jurist [20], Jan. 29. Used with permission.
