EU condemns CIA secret prisons
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Brussels, Dec 11, IRNA
EU-US-Human Rights
In what is seen as a veiled condemnation of secret prisons run by the CIA in Europe, the European Union Monday said it will "continue to follow closely developments with regard to human rights in combating terrorism and take adequate measures for their protection."
"The existence of secret detention facilities where detained persons are kept in a legal vacuum is not in conformity with international humanitarian and human rights law.," said the EU Foreign Ministers Council in a statement Monday, but without naming the CIA.
The statement was part of lengthy Council Conclusions on the implementation of the EU policy on human rights and democratisation in third countries
The EU remains firmly committed to the absolute prohibition of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment, said the ministers who are meeting in Brussels Monday and Tuesday.
"The Council reiterates that human rights, refugee law and international humanitarian law have to be respected and maintained when combating terrorism," it said.
In November, a special committee of the European Parliament in a report said several EU governments had colluded with the CIA in rendition flights and secret prisons on European territories.
The EP report said the CIA made over one thousand secret flights some carrying terror suspects through European territory to be taken to some Arab states like Egypt for torture.
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