Canada Promises to Fix Torture List to Exclude U.S.

By:  Lindsey Brady
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

OTTAWA-Canada - Canada developed a manual to train its new diplomats on how to find and deal with cases involving the torture of Canadians being held in other countries.  The manual also lists various interrogations techniques classified under the definition of "torture" and used by the United States.  BBC News states this list includes forced nudity, isolation, sleep deprivation and blindfolding prisoners.  The manual also mentions the United States' detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where Canadian born prisoner Omar Khadr, is being detained.

Canada has recently come under great criticism for alleged torture of detainees in Afghanistan after Canadian soldiers transfered suspects to Afghan security forces.  Amnesty international is asking that Canada halt all such transfers.  The 89 page training document was mistakenly included in documents given to Amnesty International who is bringing a suit against the Canadian government over its treatment of detainees in Afghanistan.  The training manual includes Afghanistan on the list of countries accused of using torture against detained suspects.  According the New York Times, the Canadian government, however, says that "prisoners turned over to the Afghan government by Canadian troops are not ill treated or tortured in violation of Canadian laws."

The torture awareness course was developed after the Canadian government began receiving criticism for its handling of a Canadian Maher Arar who was departed from the United States to Syria in 2002.  Arar was accused of being a member of al-Qaeda and claims he was tortured during his ten month stay in a jail in Syria.  Syria denies such torture took place.  The Canadian government since investigated Arar's case and concluded he did not have ties to terrorist organizations and Canadian diplomats were in great need of training.

David Wilkins, United States ambassador to Canada, was quoted by BBC News as saying the United States "finds it offensive for us to be on the same list with countries like Iran and China."  Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier's spokesman apologized for the mistake but the listing of the United States in the training manual does not reflect any policy or opinion of the Canadian government.  The New York Times reiterated that the United States government has maintained that they do not torture detainees and Canada's Conservative government has always accepted this position.

For more information, please see:

BBC News - Canada Puts US on 'torture list' - 18 January 2008

BBC News - Canada FM regrets 'torture list' - 19 January 2008

New York Times - Canada to Rewrite Manual Linking U.S. and Torture - 20 January 2008

The Huffington Post - "Omar Khadr:  Canada's Guantanamo Torture Warning Shows Double Standards" - 19 January 2008