Amnesty: 'Sweden party to torture' in Afghanistan

Human rights group Amnesty International has argued that Sweden is taking part in torture after the country handed over its first prisoner in Afghanistan to local authorities, according to a report by Sveriges Radio news programme Ekot.

"There is an absolute ban on torture and thus also a ban on handing over prisoners to countries in which there is a risk of torture," Lisa Bergh, Amnesty Sweden's Secretary-General, told Ekot.

"It is patently clear that prisoners risk torture if they are handed over to the authorities in Afghanistan," Bergh explained.

The prisoner was captured by Swedish forces in July after a fire-fight in which he sustained injuries. The prisoner has now been handed over the authorities.

The commander of the Swedish forces in Afghanistan, Olof Granander, told Ekot that Sweden was following a decision taken by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to hand over the prisoner to an Afghanistan field hospital.

Granander told Ekot that it is now the responsibility of the Red Cross to monitor the case and that the Swedish armed forces will not be looking into its handling of the situation.

International regulations stipulate that no country can transfer a prisoner who risks being assaulted or tortured and the rules apply regardless of whoever took the decision.

Lisa Bergh argues that as evidence of torture is so unequivocal in Afghanistan a total ban should be introduced on all ISAF forces handing over prisoners to the Afghanistan authorities.

“..hand over the prisoner to an Afghanistan field hospital”

- Would it be more PC to let him bleed to death on his own in the desert?

Even if he wasn't wounded at all, what would be the big problem?

Most would agree there are worse crimes committed against humanity today than those consisting in a bunch of policemen beating up a Taliban behind closed doors.

IMO, Amnesty International are fully aware of how ridiculous they appear through their perpetual attacks on small Western democracies like Sweden that, around the world, are highly renowned for their engagement in human rights issues.

But, like a great intellect such as Paris Hilton would argue; “Never hesitate to make a fool of yourself, as all publicity is good publicity”.

The same goes for Greenpeace and other activists crying things like “Save the whales!”. They are well aware few whale species actually are endangered (a maximum of 11 most experts would say). However, a fascinating, majestic creature like the blue whale is highly useful for fund raising.

Holding hands, singing Kumbaya and We Shall Overcome won't put an end to the Taliban terror. The best thing that could happen in the WOT from a Western perspective(apart from all Muslims all of a sudden converting to Christianity), would be if moderate Muslims came to understand what a threat the most extreme members of their religion actually are to their lifestyle instead of making excuses for them.

Furthermore, why should Western soldiers have all the fun?

As a Swede, I wish to express my support to each and every police department and other authority in Afghanistan who take their job seriously.

“So what the hell do they want?

Ship em to a new nation to shack up?”

- People like Bergh probably think it's a great idea to relocate Taliban POWs to the least attractive residential areas of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.

Such an act of human concern will sure raise land values and contribute immensely to making Sweden even more of a multi cultural paradise.

This is nonsense. How can you condemn someone for handing over a prisoner who MIGHT be tortured, based on the supposition that heavy-handed tactics are commonplace? The Swedish army isn’t culpable for other people’s actions, or in this case, actions that might take place. Moreover, the man is an afghan citizen. Therefore where else should he go but to the authorities of his own country?

“This is nonsense. How can you condemn someone for handing over a prisoner who MIGHT be tortured, based on the supposition that heavy-handed tactics are commonplace? The Swedish army isn’t culpable for other people’s actions, or in this case, actions that might take place. Moreover, the man is an afghan citizen. Therefore where else should he go but to the authorities of his own country?”

- Exactly.

The ISAF forces are there to protect the civilians and enable for all of Afghan society to recover from decades of war.

We can never aid moderate Muslims who wish to get out of the middle ages through treating them like little children.

Let the ISAF forces do their job, the rest is up to local and national authorities of Afghanistan.

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