Italy: Renditions: Britel announces hunger strike
01 November 2007
From the prison in Casablanca where he is detained, Abou Elkassim Britel, a Moroccan man with Italian citizenship whose rendition in 2002 was denounced and documented by the European Parliament commission investigating the CIA abduction and rendition programme, has announced, via his wife Khadija, that he will conduct a hunger strike on 19 and 20 November 2007.
Text of the announcement and background (from the website -
http://www.giustiziaperkassim.net - where the announcement, as well as further information, is also available in Italian, French and Arabic):
"In the name and for account of my husband Abou Elkassim Britel, Italian and Moroccan citizen - register 69546, jail of Äin Bourja, Casablanca - I communicate his firm intention to undertake an hunger strike to get the liberation that is due to him, after his innocence has been shown from more parts and for a long time(*).
We ask to the Authorities for a ready and effective answer to this application, without which my husband - illegally deprived of his freedom from 2002, victim of extraordinary rendition, of tortures and a lot of other things - will be feel compelled to continue his own action to the bitter end."
Abou ElKassim Britel will make an hunger strike on 19 and 20th November 2007 to support this declaration.
Particularly see:
- European Parliament's Resolution on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for transportation and illegal detention of prisoners : " 63. Condemns the extraordinary rendition of Italian citizen Abou Elkassim Britel, who was arrested in Pakistan in March 2002 by the Pakistani police and interrogated by US and Pakistani officials, and subsequently rendered to the Moroccan authorities and imprisoned in the detention facility 'Temara', where he remains detained; emphasises that the criminal investigations in Italy against Abou Elkassim Britel were closed with no charges having been brought; 64. Regrets that, according to the documentation provided to the Temporary Committee by Abou Elkassim Britel's lawyer, the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs was in 'constant cooperation' with foreign secret services concerning the case of Abou Elkassim Britel, following his arrest in Pakistan; 65. Urges the Italian Government to take concrete steps in order to obtain the immediate release of Abou Elkassim Britel ", February 07;
- the filing of the investigation from the Italian magistracy " the checks that have been undertaken, telephone interceptions and checks on bank accounts have not provided any support to the allegations ", September 06
- Amnesty International: Italy - A briefing to the UN Committee against Torture, April 07.
Previous Statewatch coverage on this case:
In-depth background:
Italy: Documents sent to European Parliament committee on renditions allege other renditions and details of Abu Omar cover-up and the Britel rendition (link)
English translation of letter to Italian authorities from Britel in prison (January 2007, pdf)
US/Italy: Boeing subsidiary to face lawsuit for servicing CIA rendition flights (link)
Renditions: Italy / Morocco: Italian authorities drag their feet in Britel case (link)
Italy/Morocco: Renditions: Italian and European MPs set to request pardon for Abou Elkassim Britel (link)
The "Longhi file" - collection of documents on the Britel case (link)