GHN News Editor - According to a former Guantanamo prisoner, the U.S. and the Taliban
rival each other in their ability to torture, as a "nightmare" of
torment was related by a man wrongfully classified as a terrorist.
rival each other in their ability to torture, as a "nightmare" of
torment was related by a man wrongfully classified as a terrorist.
U.S.
officials wrongfully classified Abdul Al Janko as a terrorist. He was a
member of what was called the "Kandahar Five." He was held at
Guantanomo Bay where he relates a story of torture over seven years.
That came after years of torture from the Taliban.
officials wrongfully classified Abdul Al Janko as a terrorist. He was a
member of what was called the "Kandahar Five." He was held at
Guantanomo Bay where he relates a story of torture over seven years.
That came after years of torture from the Taliban.
During
court proceedings concerning Abdul Al Janko, the former prisoner
reveals how he refused to accept the Taliban training and was tortured
and forced into combat training after he left the United Arab Emirates
following a family dispute.
court proceedings concerning Abdul Al Janko, the former prisoner
reveals how he refused to accept the Taliban training and was tortured
and forced into combat training after he left the United Arab Emirates
following a family dispute.
After
being forced into combat training in a Taliban camp near Kandahar,
Janko tells how when he tried to leave he was "denounced as an American
and Israeli spy and sentenced to 25 years in prison."
being forced into combat training in a Taliban camp near Kandahar,
Janko tells how when he tried to leave he was "denounced as an American
and Israeli spy and sentenced to 25 years in prison."
"The
torture that Mr. Janko endured for the next 18 months included severe
beatings, starvation, electric shock with a magneto (a portable
generator) with wires attached to toes and ears, near drowning, hanging
from the ceiling, the Falaka or beatings of the feet, sleep
deprivation, extinguishing cigarettes on his body, threats of death,
loud noises, untreated sickness and generally filthy and unsafe
detention conditions," are the details related in a 44-page complaint
filed in court.Janko says in his 44-page court complaint.
torture that Mr. Janko endured for the next 18 months included severe
beatings, starvation, electric shock with a magneto (a portable
generator) with wires attached to toes and ears, near drowning, hanging
from the ceiling, the Falaka or beatings of the feet, sleep
deprivation, extinguishing cigarettes on his body, threats of death,
loud noises, untreated sickness and generally filthy and unsafe
detention conditions," are the details related in a 44-page complaint
filed in court.Janko says in his 44-page court complaint.
Janko
eventually confessed he was a spy and sexual deviant, and his
confessions that had been made under torture were then put out by the
media so his family and friends could see his degradation.
eventually confessed he was a spy and sexual deviant, and his
confessions that had been made under torture were then put out by the
media so his family and friends could see his degradation.
U.S.
forces took over Sarpusa prison where Janko and other prisoners were
being held following the 9/11 bombings of the World Trade Towers.
Journalists covering the story of the beginning of the War in
Afghanistan referred to Janko and our other men as the Kandahar Five.
forces took over Sarpusa prison where Janko and other prisoners were
being held following the 9/11 bombings of the World Trade Towers.
Journalists covering the story of the beginning of the War in
Afghanistan referred to Janko and our other men as the Kandahar Five.
Jankos
taped confession made while being tortured by the Taliban was then used
against him by Americans when he offered to help the United States.
That confession of being "an American spy" was used to maintain he was a
jihadist. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft publicly accused him
of being a terrorist at a "highly publicized press conference on Jan.
17, 2002,"according to Jankos account.
taped confession made while being tortured by the Taliban was then used
against him by Americans when he offered to help the United States.
That confession of being "an American spy" was used to maintain he was a
jihadist. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft publicly accused him
of being a terrorist at a "highly publicized press conference on Jan.
17, 2002,"according to Jankos account.
After
that Janko was moved to Guantanamo Bay where he was tortured at the
hands of U.S. officials. He described being interrogated using "a
combination of abusive techniques such as striking his forehead,
threatening to remove his fingernails, sleep deprivation, exposure to
very cold temperatures, exercise to exhaustion through sit-ups,
push-ups, and running in chains, stress positions for hours at a time,
use of police dogs, and rough treatment prior to interrogation
sessions."
that Janko was moved to Guantanamo Bay where he was tortured at the
hands of U.S. officials. He described being interrogated using "a
combination of abusive techniques such as striking his forehead,
threatening to remove his fingernails, sleep deprivation, exposure to
very cold temperatures, exercise to exhaustion through sit-ups,
push-ups, and running in chains, stress positions for hours at a time,
use of police dogs, and rough treatment prior to interrogation
sessions."
Torture
brought Janko to confess that he was a member of al-Qaeda and knew of
its plans. Since Janko did not know the plans, he made them up.
brought Janko to confess that he was a member of al-Qaeda and knew of
its plans. Since Janko did not know the plans, he made them up.
The
court complaint says, "Mr. Janko was subjected to techniques that were,
on information and belief, designed and intended to break him down both
physically and psychologically, and caused him severe suffering
throughout his detention," the complaint states.
court complaint says, "Mr. Janko was subjected to techniques that were,
on information and belief, designed and intended to break him down both
physically and psychologically, and caused him severe suffering
throughout his detention," the complaint states.
The
U.S. techniques of torture are related by Janko to include "solitary
confinement for years; sleep deprivation for days, weeks and months;
exposure to extreme temperatures for prolonged periods of time; severe
beatings; threats against plaintiff and his family; sexually explicit
slurs against female family members; deprivation of adequate medical and
psychological care; and continuous humiliation and harassment." This
drove him to to try to kill himself 17 times while in U.S. captivity.
U.S. techniques of torture are related by Janko to include "solitary
confinement for years; sleep deprivation for days, weeks and months;
exposure to extreme temperatures for prolonged periods of time; severe
beatings; threats against plaintiff and his family; sexually explicit
slurs against female family members; deprivation of adequate medical and
psychological care; and continuous humiliation and harassment." This
drove him to to try to kill himself 17 times while in U.S. captivity.
Janko
was able to file a petition with the court demanding release from
prison in 2005 but it took another four years for the authorities to
release him because there was no evidence he had been an enemy
combatant.
was able to file a petition with the court demanding release from
prison in 2005 but it took another four years for the authorities to
release him because there was no evidence he had been an enemy
combatant.
Janko says he was released on Oct. 7, 2009 and now lives outside of the United States.
Court
filed documents relate Janko's suffering during the time he was held by
the U.S. "As a result of his wrongful treatment by the defendants Mr.
Janko has suffered intense emotional and physical pain," he says. He
has lost 10 years of his life, lost his earning capacity, and had his
financial status destroyed.
filed documents relate Janko's suffering during the time he was held by
the U.S. "As a result of his wrongful treatment by the defendants Mr.
Janko has suffered intense emotional and physical pain," he says. He
has lost 10 years of his life, lost his earning capacity, and had his
financial status destroyed.
The
suit maintains Janko deserves damages for civil rights violations,
violation of due process, violation of prohibition against arbitrary
dentention, torture and violations of the Geneva Convention. The
complaint names as defendants Robert Gates, Donald Rumsefeld, Paul
Wolfowitiz, Gordon England, James McGarrah, Richard Myers, Peter Pace,
Michael Mullen, Gary Speer, James Hill, Bantz Braddock, James
Stravridis, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, Brig. Gen. Jay Hood, Rear Adm.
Harry Harris Jr., Mark Buzby, David Thomas, Thomas Copeman III, Adolph
McQueen, Brig. Gen. Nelson Cannon, Col. Michael Bumgarner, Col. Wade
Dennis, Esteban Rodriguez, Paul Rester, Daniel McNeill, Frank
Wiercinski, and up to 100 other unnamed defendants.
suit maintains Janko deserves damages for civil rights violations,
violation of due process, violation of prohibition against arbitrary
dentention, torture and violations of the Geneva Convention. The
complaint names as defendants Robert Gates, Donald Rumsefeld, Paul
Wolfowitiz, Gordon England, James McGarrah, Richard Myers, Peter Pace,
Michael Mullen, Gary Speer, James Hill, Bantz Braddock, James
Stravridis, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, Brig. Gen. Jay Hood, Rear Adm.
Harry Harris Jr., Mark Buzby, David Thomas, Thomas Copeman III, Adolph
McQueen, Brig. Gen. Nelson Cannon, Col. Michael Bumgarner, Col. Wade
Dennis, Esteban Rodriguez, Paul Rester, Daniel McNeill, Frank
Wiercinski, and up to 100 other unnamed defendants.
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