ECtHR asks parties to CIA secret prison cases

The European Court of Human Rights asked the parties questions related to Poland’s responsibility for the violations of the European Convention on Human Rights alleged in the applications filed in the cases al-Nashiri v. Poland and Abu Zubaydah v. Poland.

The ECtHR asks whether or not Mr al-Nashiri and Mr Abu Zubaydah stayed in Poland, respectively, from 5 December 2002 and 6 July 2003 and from 5 December and 22 September 2003. If the answer for the above question is positive, the Strasbourg Court wants to know if Poland is responsible for the maltreatment the applicants received during the secret CIA facility in Stare Kiejkuty. Moreover, the Court inquires whether the applicants’ transfer from Poland, their subsequent incarceration in the Guantanamo base and trial before a military commission authorised to hand down a death sentence can be attributed to Poland.

“The ECtHR also asks if Polish authorities have effectively conducted proceedings to address the applicants’ allegations, as required by Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights”, says Irmina Pacho, HFHR lawyer.

The hearing in the cases of al-Nashiri and Abu Zubaydah is scheduled to take place on 3 December 2013.

ECtHR questions can be viewed under this link.