*Ø* Blogmanac | Prisoner torture claims at Guantanamo Bay

"An Australian lawyer working with prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba says he has no doubt Australians David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib have been tortured.

"Richard Bourke has been working for almost two years with prisoners detained by the United States as part of its war on terror.

"He says reports of torture are being leaked by American military personnel and backed up by former prisoners.

"Among the reports he's investigating are claims of prisoners being tied to a post and having rubber bullets fired at them -- he says others are forced to kneel in the sun until they collapse.

"People sometimes argue about the definition of torture, what they are doing clearly comes within the definition of torture under the international convention," Mr Bourke said.

"He is considering taking their cases to international tribunals, including the United Nations standing committee on torture.

"David Hicks' father, Terry, says he's also heard of torture stories and of his son being put under duress.

"'I have heard that they've been taking him out and firing rubber bullets and putting him into the crucifix position in the sun, belting the bottom of their feet. There's quite a list of what I've gathered over the last twelve months,' Mr Hicks said."
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