House panel hears torture allegations by ex-Guantanamo detainee News
House panel hears torture allegations by ex-Guantanamo detainee

[JURIST] Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Murat Kurnaz [Amnesty profile; JURIST news archive], a Turkish citizen born in Germany, testified Tuesday before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight regarding torture he allegedly suffered [subcommittee materials] while in US custody in Afghanistan and at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive]. Appearing by videoconference from Germany, Kurnaz said he was subjected to beatings, electrical shocks, and waterboarding. AP has more. AFP has additional coverage.

Kurnaz spent almost five years at Guantanamo Bay before being returned to Germany in August 2006 after German authorities pressed for his release [JURIST reports]. He has consistently made similar allegations since being in custody, repeating them in an interview [JURIST report] to CBS' 60 Minutes in March. The Department of Defense [official website] has denied the allegations.