The British government policy of transferring prisoners in Afghanistan into the custody of the Afghan security forces was put to a judicial review in the high court (see PN 2521). The case, brought by PN columnist Maya Evans (see p13), concluded on 28 April. The high court was told of nine prisoners who the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) had tortured using electric shocks and severe beatings. Public Interest Lawyers argued that torture was “endemic” in the NDS “even at a high level”. Despite this, the court heard, the abuse allegations were left to be investigated by the NDS itself, with British prison inspectors currently being denied access to NDS prisoners held in Helmand. A verdict is likely soon after PN goes to press.
Topics: Afghanistan