Suicide and Torture at Guantanamo

Add three more to the list of Guantanamo detainees who have attempted suicide. The AP reports that 19 have tried to kill themselves so far, but a previous BBC story claimed "at least 30" had made the attempt as of the end of last summer. Today's AP story also contains this snippet of information:

The New York City-based Center for Constitutional Rights and the International Human Rights Law Group last week petitioned the Washington-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to ensure detainees are not tortured during interrogations and are not transferred to third countries, which might allow torture during questioning.

The groups said some prisoners had been taken to countries including Jordan, Egypt and Morocco for interrogation.

A Mauritanian weekly newspaper, Le Calame, reported Wednesday 23 Guantanamo prisoners, including one Mauritanian, had been transferred to a a Moroccan prison for interrogation. The report could not immediately be confirmed and the newspaper cited no sources.

"From time to time, the transfer and release of detainees will occur without notice or mention," [Pentagon spokeswoman] Lt.-Cmdr. Burfeind said.

So, we're not only stomping on human rights in Guantanamo. Just like in Afghanistan, we're using and outsourcing torture, too.