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Accountable for Torture鈥n Italy

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November 4, 2009

Today, for the 鈥extraordinary rendition鈥 of a Muslim cleric who was kidnapped in Milan in 2003. The case is the first of its kind to hold Americans accountable for the rendition of terrorism suspects overseas.

The three-year trial in Milan ended in the conviction of Americans 鈥 mostly CIA agents 鈥 in the kidnapping of Hassan Moustafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar. Omar was seized on the streets of Milan in 2003 and held in U.S. military bases in Italy and Germany, before being transferred to Egypt, where he claimed he was tortured. After four years in detention, he was released without charge.

, the Americans were tried in absentia, and all but one was given a five-year sentence. Former Milan CIA station chief, Robert Seldon Lady, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Three other Americans were given diplomatic immunity and acquitted. Two Italians were convicted as accomplices to kidnapping.

In contrast, earlier this week, a rendition lawsuit brought against U.S. government officials on behalf of was dismissed by a U.S. Court of Appeals because it raised foreign policy and secrecy issues. And, last week a federal appeals court announced that it will hear the government's appeal of an earlier ruling that allowed an 老澳门开奖结果 lawsuit to go forward against a Boeing subsidiary, Jeppesen DataPlan Inc., for its role in the "extraordinary rendition" program.

In a press release that we sent out today, 老澳门开奖结果 Human Rights Program attorney Steven Watt stated:

The decision in Italy underscores the need for the United States to hold its own officials accountable for crimes committed under the 鈥渆xtraordinary rendition鈥 program. It is shameful that the first convictions of this kind came from a foreign justice system, where those convicted are not likely to serve their time. The U.S. judicial system must provide similar measures of accountability to hold those who committed crimes in the names of the American people responsible for their actions and provide victims of torture with access to justice.

The 老澳门开奖结果 has been calling on the Justice Department to hold accountable those involved in the illegal rendition and torture of detainees in the Bush administration鈥檚 鈥渨ar on terror.鈥

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