CCR and ECCHR Submit Expert Report on Former Guantánamo Commander Geoffrey Miller in French Torture Investigation
press@ccrjustice.org
February 26, 2014, Paris, New York, Berlin – Today, supported by the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Nizar Sassi and Mourad Benchellali urged a French judge to subpoena a former Guantánamo commander to explain his role in the torture and other serious mistreatment of former detainees. The 14-page expert report submitted to the Investigative Judge of the High Court of Paris (Cour d’Appel de Paris - Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris), details Geoffrey D. Miller’s criminal responsibility related to detainee treatment for torture and war crimes. In the expert report, the rights groups detail acts of torture and other war crimes committed against detainees during 2002-2004, including the torture of CCR client Mohammed al Qahtani.
The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.
press@ccrjustice.org
February 26, 2014, Paris, New York, Berlin – Today, supported by the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Nizar Sassi and Mourad Benchellali urged a French judge to subpoena a former Guantánamo commander to explain his role in the torture and other serious mistreatment of former detainees. The 14-page expert report submitted to the Investigative Judge of the High Court of Paris (Cour d’Appel de Paris - Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris), details Geoffrey D. Miller’s criminal responsibility related to detainee treatment for torture and war crimes. In the expert report, the rights groups detail acts of torture and other war crimes committed against detainees during 2002-2004, including the torture of CCR client Mohammed al Qahtani.
“This expert report sets out in detail why Geoffrey Miller
should be called in to explain his role in the U.S. torture program at
Guantánamo,” said Katherine Gallagher, Senior Staff Attorney at CCR and Vice President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
“That high-level U.S. officials alleged to bear responsible for torture
continue to enjoy impunity domestically is a stain on the U.S. system
of justice. We hope that this report will be of use in holding officials
such as Miller accountable in France, a venue that is willing to
investigate torture, and assist in providing some measure of justice to
the torture survivors.”
In France, the investigations started after three former Guantánamo
detainees, Nizar Sassi, Mourad Benchellali and Khaled Ben Mustapha,
lodged a criminal complaint.
In January 2012, following a motion filed by the former detainees’
lawyer William Bourdon, the investigating judge issued a formal request,
or “letter rogatory”, to the United States. According to news reports,
the French investigative judge requested access to the detention camp
at Guantánamo Bay, to relevant documents as well as to all persons who
had contact with the three victims during their detention there. The
United States still has not replied.
ECCHR legal advisor Andreas Schüller said, “The judiciary in
Europe must investigate torture in Guantánamo and elsewhere with all
means available. The French judge should not refrain from issuing a
subpoena to Geoffrey Miller and to take the next step. There is
sufficient evidence accessible even without the support of the USA to
proceed with the investigation.”
William Bourdon, lawyer for the French former detainees,
adds: “Despite promises, Guantánamo has still not been closed. The
United States ignored the letters rogatory, as it was suspected they
would. Considering the close relationship that exists between France
and the United States, the U.S. should not block Geoffrey Miller’s
testimony; he has a lot to say.”
The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)
is an independent, non-profit legal and educational organization
dedicated to protecting civil and human rights. ECCHR focusses on
enforcing human rights by legal means. Since its foundation in 2007,
ECCHR acted before national prosecution services and courts as well as
before the International Criminal Court to bring perpetrators of
international crimes to justice. From the very beginning, ECCHR pursued
cases against U.S. officials for their responsibility within the U.S.
torture and rendition programs. Visit www.ecchr.eu.
The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.
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