Chicago Standard Newspapers - Article - politics

3/23/2002 Part of the BlackPressUSA Network <!-- // Begin IMAGE rollovers function newImage(arg) { if (document.images) { rslt = new Image(); rslt.src = arg; return rslt; } } function changeImages() { if (document.images && (preloadFlag == true)) { for (var i=0; i<changeImages.arguments.length; i+=2) { document[changeImages.arguments[i]].src = changeImages.arguments[i+1]; } } } var preloadFlag = false; function preloadImages() { if (document.images) { // name of variable does not matter blank = newImage("Images/Blank.gif"); arrow = newImage("Images/menu/Arrow.gif"); arrow2 = newImage("Images/menu/Arrow2.gif"); arrowClear = newImage("Images/menu/ArrowClear.gif"); preloadFlag = true; } } preloadImages(); // end IMAGE rollovers // --> HOME NEWS national local international politics photos business releases links EDITORIAL LIFESTYLE SPORTS ABOUT US NETWORK SITES POLITICS Amnesty International Opposes Extradition Of Algerians To U.S. by staff writer nnpa Chicago Standard Newspapers Originally posted 2/1/2002 LONDON (PANA)-The UK-based human rights watch group, Amnesty International (AI), has expressed fears that six Algerians, whose detention in Bosnia expires, could face unfair trials before special military commissions at risk of the death sentence, if they are turned over to the custody of the U.S. In a release, Amnesty said it is not aware of any official request for the extradition of the men but points out that U.S. security officials, including those of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have been extensively involved in the investigations. The organization fears that the U.S. may seek to circumvent formal extradition proceedings-known as ''rendition'' in U.S. parlance-and that the men may illegally be arrested by U.S. security forces stationed in Bosnia as part of an international peace-keeping mission. ''These men should only be transferred to U.S. custody following proper extradition proceedings before a court of law and after the Federation authorities have obtained firm guarantees that they will not be tried before the special military commissions or face the death penalty,'' Amnesty urged. The human rights group further said there was also an additional possibility that the men may be deported to Algeria, since some of them were deprived of their Bosnian citizenship at the start of the investigation. Amnesty International is concerned that they may be arrested, detained and subjected to torture by the Algerian security forces if they are deported to Algeria. In early October 2001, Bosnian Federation police arrested the six Algerian men on suspicion of participation in the planning of an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo. According to Amnesty, the Federation Supreme Court opened an investigation against them on Oct. 30, 2001, and no evidence was reportedly found to substantiate the allegations. Amnesty has urged that no one be extradited or otherwise transferred to the U.S. if they could face trial by special military commissions and/or capital punishment. The organization called for those responsible for the attacks of Sept. 11 and other crimes to be brought to justice in accordance with international human rights standards, adding that this approach would not preclude trial before the ordinary U.S. criminal courts, without recourse to the death penalty. Back to Previous Page Email This Story to a Friend SEARCH Click here for anAdvanced Search Contact Us: Copyright 2001 All Rights Reserved :: Legal and Privacy Policy