Accused attack plotters tell court they were tortured
Source: Agencies |
February 3, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FIVE Americans accused of contacting militants over the Internet and planning terrorist attacks told a court yesterday they were tortured by the FBI and Pakistani police attempting to frame them.
"They also said they were given electric shocks," their lawyer, Tariq Asad, said.
The case of the Americans, in their 20s and from Virginia, has underscored global security dangers posed by the Internet as militants use cyberspace to evade tighter international security measures and wage holy war.
Pakistan is struggling to contain Taliban insurgents who have carried out waves of suicide bombings at crowded markets, police and military facilities and mosques.
The Americans, who have not been charged since being detained in December, say they had wanted only to provide fellow Muslims with medical and financial support.
"Since our arrest, the USA, FBI and Pakistani police have tortured us," said a complaint written on tissue paper the Americans threw at journalists from a police van.
"They are trying to set us up. We are innocent. They are trying to keep us from the public-media, our families and our lawyer. Help us!"
US embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire rejected the allegations as "completely baseless." A police official also denied the torture accusations.
Police official Amir Abbas Shirazi said the court had ordered medical checkups after the men, who appeared in court handcuffed and wearing track suits, complained of stomach pain.
Asad said he wanted access to the men. They are expected to next appear in court on February 16.
The Americans were arrested in the central city of Sargodha, home to one of Pakistan's biggest air bases, 190 kilometers southeast of the Pakistani capital Islamabad, not long after arriving in Pakistan.
Two of them are of Pakistani ancestry, one of Egyptian, one of Yemeni and one of Eritrean. They could face lengthy prison terms if found guilty.
Police officials have said e-mails showed the suspects had contacted the Taliban, and that the group planned to use them for attacks.
"They also said they were given electric shocks," their lawyer, Tariq Asad, said.
The case of the Americans, in their 20s and from Virginia, has underscored global security dangers posed by the Internet as militants use cyberspace to evade tighter international security measures and wage holy war.
Pakistan is struggling to contain Taliban insurgents who have carried out waves of suicide bombings at crowded markets, police and military facilities and mosques.
The Americans, who have not been charged since being detained in December, say they had wanted only to provide fellow Muslims with medical and financial support.
"Since our arrest, the USA, FBI and Pakistani police have tortured us," said a complaint written on tissue paper the Americans threw at journalists from a police van.
"They are trying to set us up. We are innocent. They are trying to keep us from the public-media, our families and our lawyer. Help us!"
US embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire rejected the allegations as "completely baseless." A police official also denied the torture accusations.
Police official Amir Abbas Shirazi said the court had ordered medical checkups after the men, who appeared in court handcuffed and wearing track suits, complained of stomach pain.
Asad said he wanted access to the men. They are expected to next appear in court on February 16.
The Americans were arrested in the central city of Sargodha, home to one of Pakistan's biggest air bases, 190 kilometers southeast of the Pakistani capital Islamabad, not long after arriving in Pakistan.
Two of them are of Pakistani ancestry, one of Egyptian, one of Yemeni and one of Eritrean. They could face lengthy prison terms if found guilty.
Police officials have said e-mails showed the suspects had contacted the Taliban, and that the group planned to use them for attacks.
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