Aum
Gung Ganapathaye Namah
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma-sambuddhassa
Homage
to The Blessed One, Accomplished and Fully Enlightened
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Torture
A Collection of Articles, Notes
and References
References
(Revised:
References Edited by
An
Indian Tantric
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as
sweet.
- William Shakespeare
Copyright © 2002-2010 An Indian Tantric
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8 "... Freely you
received, freely give”.
- Matthew 10:8 :: New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 without
love, unforgiving, slanderous, without
self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have
nothing to do with them.
6 They
are the kind who worm their way into
homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are
loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil
desires,
7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres
opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.
9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.”
- 2 Timothy 3:1-9 :: New International Version (NIV)
6 As he saith also
in another place, Thou
art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- Hebrews 5:6 :: King James Version (KJV)
Therefore,
I say:
Know your enemy and know yourself;
in a hundred battles, you
will never be defeated.
When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself,
your chances of winning or
losing are equal.
If
ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself,
you are sure to be defeated in every battle.
-- Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c. 500bc
There are two ends not to be served by a wanderer. What are these two? The pursuit of desires
and of the pleasure which springs from desire, which is base, common, leading
to rebirth, ignoble, and unprofitable; and the
pursuit of pain and hardship, which is grievous, ignoble, and unprofitable.
- The Blessed One, Lord Buddha
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References
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References
Agence
France-Presse. (
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_114230,00050004.htm
Friscolanti, Michael and Dubé,
Francine. (
http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?id={CB64807C-1246-442B-9B0E-7D8273E759A6}
Kashyap, Samudra Gupta. (
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=10851
Tang,
Janice. (
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=7&id=237476
'Sometimes
they just beat me. Sometimes they gave me a meal - and then beat me'. (
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Educational
Copy of Some of the References
FOR
EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
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Reference
Agence France-Presse.
(
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_114230,00050004.htm
Iraqi dissident found beaten,
hanged in
Agence France-Presse
Lebenon, December 5
An Iraqi dissident was found
hanged on Wednesday at an Islamic centre in the southern Lebanese port city of
Walid Ibrahim Mayahi, a 34-year-old researcher at Al-Sadr Islamic Cultural Center, was discovered hanging by a rope in one of its rooms, and "the victim's head bore marks of a beating with an iron bar," a police officer told AFP.
The death occurred overnight in
this city 80 kilometres south of
Three other Iraqi dissidents who lived in the building were still missing late Wednesday, police sources said.
Nine Iraqis living in
One of the nine, centre director
Sheikh Mohammad Daud al-Bassari,
told reporters "the assassins ransacked the cultural centre and stole
documents concerning our activities" in
The centre was founded five years
ago by followers of Ayatollah Mohammed Mohammed Sadek re-established, a Shiite
leader assassinated in Iraq in 1999, and receives
regular visits from high-ranking Shiite clerics opposed to President Saddam
Hussein.
Lebanon broke off ties with Iraq
in 1994 after an Iraqi dissident was killed in Beirut, but re-established
diplomatic relations with
According to the UN refugee
agency, 1998 figures showed almost 2,000 Iraqis had obtained refugee status in
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Reference
Friscolanti, Michael and Dubé,
Francine. (
http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?id={CB64807C-1246-442B-9B0E-7D8273E759A6
Saudis
beat Canadian, brief says
'The confessions were illegal and were obtained by coercion': Sampson tortured before confessing to bomb attacks, defence documents allege
Michael Friscolanti and Francine Dubé
National Post
Bill Sampson, the Canadian man sentenced to die in Saudi Arabia for allegedly planting two car bombs, was forced to confess after police hung him upside down, kept him awake for more than a week and threatened to harm his family, court documents say.
Police in
The accusations are contained in
a confidential brief Mr. Sampson's lawyers submitted to
The 10,000-word submission, obtained by the National Post, is the crux of Mr. Sampson's final appeal. Two previous appeals have been denied.
The brief's arguments focus on a series of confessions that Mr. Sampson and five accused wrote after their arrests in December, 2000, when they were picked up in connection with a series of remote-control bombings that killed one person and injured five others.
Ahmed al-Tuwaijri, the men's lawyer, says in the submission that his clients were repeatedly tortured and "shackled with a chain" while investigators beat confessions out of them.
"The confessions were
illegal and were obtained by coercion and force," reads the brief,
submitted to council on July 24. "They were always antagonized and
threatened by the investigator, so they caved in for
fear for their lives and so as to avoid more physical, mental and psychological
abuse."
The submission says such
investigative techniques "gives ammunition to those who criticize the
application of [Islamic law]" and "undermines the reputation of the judicial
system in
"If all or parts of these claims are true, and we tend to believe that most of them are true, they are enough to dismiss the convictions that are based on the confessions."
Reynald Doiron, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, would not address the alleged torture of a Canadian citizen, saying he could not comment on a judicial matter that is under review in a foreign country.
Mr. Sampson, a 43-year-old
biochemist, had been in
Nearly two years ago, he and five other foreigners were arrested and accused of planting two car bombs.
In January, 2001, a tired and ragged Mr. Sampson was seen on Saudi
Arabian television, alongside two other Westerners, confessing to the bombings
that authorities linked to a feud between alcohol
bootleggers in the country's expatriate community.
Mr. Sampson and
the others later recanted their confessions, saying they
are scapegoats for the Saudi royal family, which is reluctant to pursue an
anti-government terrorist group likely responsible for the bombings.
In the court brief, Mr. Sampson's
lawyers expand on the questions surrounding the confessions, arguing that none were affirmed by Saudi judges -- a clear violation
of Saudi law.
In fact, the lawyers argue, when the men appeared before the courts to declare their innocence, the judges only asked whether the men's signatures on the confessions were their own.
"No questions were asked about the content of the confessions and whether they were given voluntarily and willingly," the brief reads. "Save for sending our clients back for a short period of time, the judges paid no attention to their claim that they were coerced and tortured."
The accusations do not come as a surprise to James Sampson, Mr. Sampson's father, who suspected all along that his son was being abused and tormented by Saudi authorities.
"I knew he had been
tortured," the retired Air
In May, 2001, James Sampson was transferred from his solitary jail cell to a Saudi hospital after suffering a crushed vertebra, trauma to his feet and scratches on his wrists. Saudi authorities said he had tried to commit suicide, but his family dismissed the claim.
Mr. Sampson had displayed his customary stubbornness during his confinement, refusing to bathe or dress and cursing the prophet Mohammed to his Muslim captors.
The key argument in the court submission revolves around the validity of Mr. Sampson's confession, but it also raises other questions about the investigation:
- The sentencing document that orders Mr. Sampson to be put to death "does not contain any independent or conclusive evidence" other than the confessions.
- The lead investigator only speaks Arabic, the brief alleges. "The person in charge of translation was another officer with an inferior rank who has only a rudimentary knowledge of English, which he learned in a summer course at his own expense."
- The alleged bombers were arrested at the end of 2000, but between then and July, 2002, their lawyers had no opportunity to defend them. Their first chance came with the July 24 submission after the death sentences had already been handed down.
- All hearings, from the lower court to the Court of Cassation to the Supreme Judicial Council, were held without the accused or their lawyers being notified. "[The accused] thought they were participating in some preparatory procedures that would eventually lead to trial, which they were looking forward to attending in order to clear their names and put an end to their long suffering."
- Despite repeated requests, Mr. Sampson's lawyers were denied access to investigation reports and other related documents. "We were not able to obtain any written material from our clients because they were denied access to a pen and a piece of paper to do so," the submission reads. "Whatever they wrote during our interviews with them was confiscated by the prison authorities and we have not received them yet."
- All the accused used similar wording in their confessions. "The fact that the accused did not meet each other during the whole period of investigation, which lasted more than a year and a half, raises serious questions about the credibility of the identical phrases used in their confessions," the brief reads.
- The bombings have continued since the men were arrested.
- One of the suspected bombers, a
Belgian man, was allegedly told by his country's ambassador to
Although the submission is openly
critical of the way authorities allegedly violated Saudi laws and procedures,
Mr. Sampson's lawyers stress they "do not want to point the finger at any
official." In fact, they go to great lengths to point out that recent laws
have been passed to ensure a transparent legal system in
They put some of blame for the
debacle on the fact that such serious crimes rarely occur in
"So it is only natural that the security authorities lack the experience that other security agencies have; and we should not be ashamed of that," the brief says.
The brief concludes by asking the five members of the Supreme Judicial Council to dismiss the case for lack of evidence, release the accused, and "find, later on, ways to compensate" them.
A final decision has not been rendered, but Mr. Sampson's family has been told to expect an announcement by the end of the month.
Asked whether he was confident that Mr. Sampson's was getting due process -- it took Canadian authorities more than a month to confirm that he was sentenced to death -- Mr. Doiron, the Foreign Affairs spokesman, said the department is regularly in touch with Saudi authorities and is hopeful "transparency" will no longer be a problem.
According to Islamic law, if the guilty verdict stands, the victim's family may demand an execution, spare the life of the murderers, or ask for blood money in exchange for the convicted person's freedom.
The family of Christopher Rodway, who was killed in the Nov. 17 bombing, has already indicated it does not want the defendants executed.
THE LEGAL ARGUMENTS:
Excerpts from a brief to the
Supreme Judicial Council in
THE JUDGES
The sentences against our clients are based on written confessions that are allegedly genuine and legal.... The judge or judges who affirmed these confessions and handed down these sentenced should have tried to uncover the flimsiness and weakness of the basis upon which these confessions were built. The confessions were illegal and were obtained by coercion and force.
THE EVIDENCE
The sentencing document does not contain any independent or conclusive evidence that may convict our clients.... Despite our constant requests to the officials in charge of the case and to high-ranking officials in the Ministry of the Interior to provide a single piece of evidence that may convict our clients, our attempts were to no avail. The investigator has nothing to say but to repeat the above-mentioned confessions.
THE LANGUAGE BARRIER
Despite the gravity and ramifications of the crimes committed in this case and ... despite the fact that all the accused in this case are foreigners who do not speak Arabic, the official in charge of the investigation and prosecution is an officer with the rank of captain who does not speak any foreign language at all. The person in charge of translation was another officer with an inferior rank who has only a rudimentary knowledge of English, which he learned in a summer course at his own expense.
LACK OF NOTICE
Though we were appointed as defence counsels for our clients in October, 2000, we have not been given any opportunity to defend them, except for this brief.... It is worth noting that this case has been tried ... without us being notified and without the knowledge of our clients, who told us countless times that they were not aware they were facing trial.
LACK OF DOCUMENTS
Despite our constant requests, we have not had access to the investigation reports or any other related documents.... We were not able to obtain any written material from our clients because they were denied access to a pen and a piece of paper to do so. Whatever they wrote during our interviews with them was confiscated by the prison authorities and we have not received them yet.... Our clients still do not know the content of the sentences passed against them. Moreover, even their lawyers were unable to obtain a copy of the sentencing document.
TORTURE
All our clients insist they are innocent and that they were forced to give their confessions. They claim the confessions were extracted from them by torture. They say they were subjected to the following abuses:
1)
Sleep deprivation ranging from one week to 10 continuous days. They were forced to stand up while their hands were
shackled to the top of the door.
2)
Sudden slapping on the face and punches to the body.
3)
Their feet and hands were shackled and their bodies were hanging upside down.
4)
Threats to harm relatives.
5) Promise of pardon and quick release if they confess to the bombings in a manner dictated by the investigators.
THE CONFESSIONS
There is a striking resemblance between the phrases used by all the accused in their confessions, which lack the elements that distinguish genuine and voluntary confessions, be they written or videotaped. The fact that the accused did not meet each other during the whole period of investigation, which lasted more than a year and a half, raises serious questions about the credibility of the identical phrases used in the confessions.
© Copyright 2002 National Post
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Reference
Kashyap, Samudra Gupta. (
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=10851
She’s
29, starving for 2 yrs in Manipur jail to be heard
Irom Sharmila has become an icon for the common Manipuri who hates the Disturbed Areas act
No fast response: Irom Sharmila, down but not out
Samudra Gupta Kashyap
Imphal, October 6
Two years of being fed through nasal tubes. Two years in which your vital organs have been deteriorating one by one. Then think that all this is voluntary. That’s what 29-year-old Irom Sharmila, lodged in a high-security jail here, denied any visitors, is doing to herself to make the government remove the Disturbed Areas status from her home, an appeal that’s in almost every Manipuri’s heart.
Sharmila’s
hunger-strike began on
The 1958 Act provides sweeping powers to the armed forces to arrest, search and even kill civilians on mere suspicion and provides them immunity from legal action unless prior sanction is obtained from the Union Government. Even since that incident, scores of allegations of human rights violations under the Act have been made, including the killing of 19 people when Manipur burned in reaction to the Centre’s decision to extend the ceasefire with the NSCN beyond Nagaland to Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Following Sharmila’s protest, a magisterial inquiry was instituted by the state government into the Tiddim Road incident, but the armed forces swiftly moved the Gauhati High Court and obtained a stay.
Sharmila, meanwhile, was arrested on November 5, the third day of her hunger-strike, on the charge of attempted suicide. Lodged in Sajiwa Jail in judicial custody, she has been forcefully nasal fed for more than 23 months now. ‘‘Three chief ministers and one spell of President’s Rule since November 2000 have failed to bring any honourable solution to the legitimate demands raised by Sharmila on behalf of the people of Manipur, who have been dealing with the harsh consequences of the prolonged imposition of the Disturbed Areas status,’’ laments Babloo Loitongbam, Executive Director of Human Rights Alert, a leading rights group here.
‘‘Irom Sharmila is a symbol of a common man tired of atrocities.
She has neither any political affiliations, nor a strong background of an
activist,’’ remarks N. Vijay Lakshmi, convenor of the Manipur People’s
Lakshmi says Sharmila’s condition is deteriorating and her vital organs are failing day by day. In the middle, she also refused nasal feeding when some nurses reportedly passed rude remarks about her. Manipur Chief Secretary A P Sharma, however, denies Sharmila’s health is failing. ‘‘Though she has been refusing to take any solid food, she is being looked after properly by the doctors and fed nasally by them. There has been no report of any problem about her overall health,’’ he says.
But the authorities do not allow anybody to meet her. ‘‘You will have to take a written permission from the judicial magistrate,’’ says a jail official when this correspondent seeks to meet Sharmila. A local editor says it is no use trying. ‘‘The magistrate will not permit you. We have been trying for several months.’’
Human Rights Alert has got the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission to launch a worldwide signature campaign for Sharmila and her cause.
Signatories so far include the
Bangkok-based Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development,
The state government can’t do
much about the issue except appeal before the Centre, and in the meantime, give
Sharmila promises. On August 1, Manipur Chief
Minister Okram Ibobi Singh
personally delivered one at
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Reference
Tang,
Janice. (
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=7&id=237476
Tibetan nun speaks of torture by
Janice Tang
"The Chinese officers beat us. Then we were made to stand at the wall with our hands up and were beaten again," 25-year-old Ngawang Wangdon told an audience at Tokyo's Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan, hoping to bring to the world's attention of what is happening in Tibet.
After she was arrested for taking part in a peaceful demonstration for human rights for Tibetan people in February 1992 with colleagues, she was detained in a solitary cell for a month. "Every five days, I was taken to questioning and was beaten," Wangdon said.
"Some Tibetan prisoners were beaten for not being able to speak Chinese," she said.
After being detained for 17 months and twice writing to Chinese authorities asking for a sentence, Wangdon finally received one to three years of imprisonment for political subversion by promoting Tibetan independence.
At Trisam
prison, "every morning, the officers made us
face the sun and stand for 45 minutes. Anyone
who moved was beaten," the nun said. "Every
Saturday, we had to learn to sing songs of the Chinese Communist Party, and
there was also some kind of military training."
Wangdon and her
fellow nuns at the prison once sang pro-Tibetan songs as a protest over the death
of a nun, who they believe had died of torture while imprisoned.
"We
were beaten from
Even after she completed the prison term and was released, Wangdon was not given freedom as she was not allowed to go back to her monastery and was constantly harassed by Chinese officials at her home, she said.
Wangdon
says she still suffers from kidney problems caused
by the torture during her years of detention and imprisonment.
"I
felt there was no hope in
"I am happy that I can talk
freely now with people who are concerned about Tibet as well as those who are
suffering the same kind of suppression," said Wangdon,
who now lives in Dharamsala
in northern India and works for a movement seeking the independence of Tibet.
"I believe basic human rights are universal. I want people to recognize and support the universal human rights, including those of Tibetans," she said.
Wangdon
has been invited by Amnesty International
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader in exile, has been living in India since fleeing the Tibetan capital of Lhasa in 1959 with thousands of supporters after an abortive revolt against China, which took over Tibet in 1951. (Kyodo News)
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Reference
'Sometimes they just
beat me. Sometimes they gave me a meal - and then beat me'. (
Mr Jones has engaged other lawyers, who are working
without a fee and will claim only their expenses if the case is won.
…
The
Saudi government denies Mr Jones's claims of torture.
Soon after he finally returned to
For
many years Ron Jones was an international tax adviser who regularly handled
accounts worth billions of pounds. Now, he says, he struggles to concentrate for any length of time.
He smiles again, this time by way of apology. "The
short term memory is gone. I have to ask why I am walking up the stairs. Tax is
all I know, but I'd be no good at it now," he says, his smile slipping. "They have
ruined my life."
(Reference: 'Sometimes
they just beat me. Sometimes they gave me a meal - and then beat me'. (
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“Thou belongest to That Which Is Undying, and not
merely to time alone,” murmured the
Sphinx, breaking its muteness at last. “Thou art eternal, and not merely of the vanishing flesh. The soul in man cannot
be killed, cannot die. It waits, shroud-wrapped, in thy heart, as I waited, sand-wrapped, in thy world. Know thyself, O mortal! For there is One within thee, as in all men, that comes and stands at the bar and bears witness that there IS a God!”
(Reference: Brunton, Paul. (1962) A Search in Secret
Amen