Baladi News - Media
US forces have been handing over suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) group captured in Syria to authorities in Iraq, where they face torture and botched trials, the Middle East Eye cited Human Rights Watch (HRW) as saying.
The United States had transferred suspected members of IS for trials in Baghdad, some of which had already taken place, the New York based organisation said.
The rights group said the defendants, including foreigners from France, Australia and Lebanon, face torture and botched trials in Baghdad.
"Prosecuting [IS] suspects is crucial for their countless victims to obtain justice, but that won't be achieved by transferring detainees to abusive situations," HRW's Nadim Houry said.
"The US should not be transferring IS suspects from Syria to Iraq or elsewhere if they will be at risk of torture or an unfair trial."
International human rights and humanitarian law prohibits the transfer of detainees to countries where they are at serious risk of torture and mistreatment, the organisation said.
The defendants reported their capture in and transfer from Syria during the trials.
Some alleged due process violations and, in two cases, being tortured in Iraq, the organisation said.
A fifth detainee, a Palestinian national from Gaza, was also transferred from northeast Syria into Iraqi custody but HRW said it did not know if he had been charged in Iraq.
Source: The Middle East Eye