November 7, 2001	Wednesday	Shaba’an 20, 1422

GENEVA: The United Nations torture sleuth expressed concern on Tuesday about the potential scope for abusing hundreds of people being held in custody in the United States in connection with the suicide attacks on Sept 11. In an interview Sir Nigel Rodley, a British law professor who is UN special rapporteur (investigator) on torture, said that it was important that the detainees establish contact with a lawyer as a means of avoiding any mistreatment.

His concerns echo those expressed by activists that the largest US criminal probe in history could lead investigators to commit brutal excesses while interrogating suspects. He has followed the round-up of more than 1,100 people after suicide attacks that Washington blames on Osama bin Laden.

“I haven’t received any specific allegations at this stage, but I am worried as to whether people in detention have had any access to the outside world, especially legal advice which is a very important protection against the temptation of authorities to resort to torture or similar ill treatment in interrogation,” Rodley told Reuters.

“I am also worried that the United States but also other countries holding suspects may be tempted to send back people to their own country of origin whose governments might not be as scrupulous.

“Once we go down that road, we will be saying that the values of the international community are no better than the travesty of values that the terrorists themselves purport to espouse. That way they win,” added the UN investigator, formerly head of the legal office of Amnesty International.

The White House said on Monday that the “lion’s share” of those detained had been released, contradicting the Justice Department, which said most were still held. The White House later clarified it meant only those held on criminal charges.

The UN investigator, who gives his annual report to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, has investigated alleged torture in 15 countries, including Russia, Pakistan and Mexico. —Reuters