Playing the Torture Card

When I heard on the news last night that the 17 terror suspects were claiming that they were being tortured in jail, myself and my family burst out laughing. I read an article in the Globe and Mail about it yesterday.

Lawyers for some of the accused terror suspects are alleging that "cruel and unusual punishment" their clients have faced in custody amounts to "torture."
[...]
David Kolinsky, who is representing Zakaria Amara, said his client has been locked in a small concrete cell without windows, where meals are slipped to him under a small slit in the door and the lights are left on 24 hours a day.

"This type of treatment is known to cause depression and suicide. ... This type of treatment is, in fact, cruel and unusual punishment contrary to the Bill of Rights," Mr. Kolinsky said.

Mr. Kolinsky also alleges that his client has faced at least some sort of physical abuse from guards.

"As he was being searched, the guard touched his ribs and he's ticklish. He giggled a bit. And the guard drilled his finger in to his cheek and said, 'Is this funny?'"

He said he has also not been able to meet with his client without guards watching over.

"There was no privacy at all in that respect," he said.

Mr. Galati said the treatment of the detainees amounts to torture.

"Clearly, leaving the light on 24 hours a day and waking them up every half hour for the last 10 days constitutes torture," he said. "No lawyer is willing to prepare for a bail hearing or a picnic with a client unless they're not overheard when they have a conversation with their client."
[...]

I wasn't actually surprised to read that claiming torture is right out of the Al-Quaeda Training Manual:



Source: Photo

Hat Tip: Dissonance and Disrespect and Proud to be Canadian