FOUR SRS NOTIFYING UNITED STATES THAT THE SR ON

UNCLAS GENEVA 001669

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/SHA, DRL/MLA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC
SUBJECT: FOUR SRS NOTIFYING UNITED STATES THAT THE SR ON
FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF WILL TAKE PART IN GUANTANAMO
INVESTIGATION

REF: A. GENEVA 1660


B. GENEVA 1623

C. GENEVA 1284


1. Mission received the following communication from the
four Special Rapporteurs who have requested to visit the
detention facilities in Guantanamo and the Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Asma Jahangir,
informing the United States that Ms. Jahangir will
participate in the investigation regarding the situation in
Guantanamo mentioned in ref A. The letter and the
attachments have been e-mailed to IO/SHA and this
communication will be included on #10 on the 2005
correspondence log.



2. Begin text of letter:

Geneva, 5 July 2005

Excellency,

We have the honour to write to you in our respective
capacities as Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health, Special Rapporteur on independence of
judges and lawyers, and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of
Religion or Belief.

Given information that suggests the situation of detainees
in Guantanamo Bay raises issues that are relevant to the
mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or
belief, we wish to inform you that Asma Jahangir is joining
the investigation that was announced in the press release of
23 June and confirmed by letter dated 28 June.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest
consideration.

Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment

Leila Zerrougui
Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention

Paul Hunt
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment
of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental
health

Leandro Despouy
Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers

Asma Jahangir
Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief

End text of letter.


3. Comment: The addition of Ms. Jahangir to the
investigation is not surprising as she has already requested
information regarding allegations of the desecration of the
Koran (ref C) and later conveyed her desire to visit
Guantanamo (ref B). As stated in ref A, these Special
Rapporteurs will continue to request an invitation to visit
Guantanamo until a definitive response is provided by the
USG and therefore, Mission sees no value in responding to
these Guantanamo specific requests until that decision is
made.

MOLEY