http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Sydney-terrorist-suspect-claims-torture/2005/05/17/1116095965214.htmlA Sydney man has been held as a terrorism suspect in Kuwait for three months and the Australian Government is investigating claims he has been tortured.The family of 30-year-old Tllaal Adrey, of Auburn, has received a letter from him and says two westerners – whom he believed had Australian accents – were present when he was allegedly blindfolded and beaten.
Despite requests from the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, no Australian official has been allowed to see Mr Adrey since his arrest by Kuwait’s State Security Unit on February 14, the Foreign Affairs Department said.
An Australian citizen, Mr Adrey has been held without charge. Australia’s ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Ralph King, was meeting the country’s Interior Minister yesterday to raise the case again after consular officers were turned away last week from the prison where Mr Adrey is being held. The Kuwaiti Government denied the man was being held when the case was first raised by Australian officials in February.
Mr Adrey’s family says he has been falsely accused of joining a terrorist organisation and using weapons and explosives. Speaking through an interpreter on the ABC’s 7.30 Report last night, Mr Adrey’s brother, Fahed Al Saad, feared his life might be in danger.
Mr Adrey had been tortured in the presence of two westerners who spoke English during the interrogation. His blindfold had slipped during a beating and he saw the two men, whom he claimed had Australian accents.
The parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs and trade, Bruce Billson, told the ABC: “I’ve heard that and we’re trying to see what that might point to. There’s been no consular people get anywhere near this gentleman – that’s been the core of our concern. So at that level it seems not to be linked to any consular arrangements.”
Mr Adrey’s mother, Hind Mez’el, said: “My boy has nothing to do with these activities. He does not get involved with these things. If I know that my son is to do things like that in Kuwait I will kill him.”
Mr Downer has pressed for information from the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and from a Kuwaiti delegation that visited Australia on May 10. On that same day, Australian consular officials in Kuwait, expecting to visit Mr Adrey, had been turned back from his jail.
Mr Adrey has appeared several times in a Kuwaiti court, so his detention under the state security act could be extended, but so far he has not been charged. Kuwaiti officials are saying he will not be given access to a consular visit until charges are laid.
Mr Adrey’s brother was incredulous about the failure of Australia’s efforts to reach him in Kuwait. “Are you telling me that a great country like Australia cannot interfere in such a small matter in any way? I can’t believe it.”
When Mr Adrey had asked to see the Australian ambassador, Kuwaiti security had laughed at him, his brother said. Mr Adrey was very tired, could not sleep at night and was in extreme pain.
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Kuwait Denied Holding Australian Citizen
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1370931.htm
The Australian Government says Kuwaiti officials originally denied they were holding an Australian citizen prisoner on terrorism charges.
The man’s family say he has been subjected to torture since his arrest two weeks ago.
The Parliamentary Secretary on Foreign Affairs, Bruce Billson, says diplomatic efforts are under way to speak to Talaal Adree, who is being held in a Kuwaiti jail.
But Mr Billson says officials have been denied consular access.
“That’s not been provided, and we haven’t been able to clarify what the charge is or the basis of the detention at this stage,” he said.
“The advice [Talaal Adree’s] given our officials on the ground is that he’s only seen his lawyer at hearings that are being held to extend his detention.”
Talaal Adree’s lawyer says his client is accused of joining a terrorist organisation, and of handling weapons and explosives.
Talaal Adree lived in western Sydney until three years ago, when his brother Fahad al Saad says he returned to Kuwait to fulfil family responsibilities.
Mr Billson says he is very concerned about claims that Talaal Adree has been tortured, and the Government is committed to providing consular services and access to him.
Torture claims
Kuwaiti officials have refused to discuss the allegations against Talaal Adree.
He was moved recently to a regular prison in Kuwait City, where his family has been allowed a few visits.
His wife, Mariam Dahaim, told The 7.30 Report
Talaal Adree was given “suppressive medication” and beaten.
“Maybe because of hitting, they didn’t hold back his hands and as a result they were swollen,” he said.
Talaal Adree has pleaded repeatedly to speak with Australian diplomats in Kuwait. He has even written them a letter from his cell.
“I am surprised as to the embassy’s outlook at my matter and enquiries knowing that I was severely beaten and was abused a lot,” his letter said.
But his brother says Talaal Adree’s pleas have been met with derision by Kuwaiti officials.
“He always asked the security people in Kuwait, and was telling them that he wanted to see the ambassador and the support of the Australian embassy, but they used to laugh at him,” he said.
“They even said that the Australians are present at the interrogation.”
In a subsequent incident, Talaal Adree’s blindfold slipped in the midst of a beating. His family says he saw two Westerners, men he claims had Australian accents.
Fahad al Saad says he is concerned for the his brother’s health.
“He is a very tired man, he cannot sleep at night,” he said. “He is in extreme pain, and the saddest thing of all is that the Australian Government has abandoned him.”
Talaal Adree’s mother, Hind Mez’El, is desperate to prove her son’s allegiance to Australia. She can not understand why his Australian citizenship has failed to deliver him more protection or his Australian-born children greater comfort.
“His boy might grow up tomorrow and say, ‘I will serve Australia’. He may enter the army, become a doctor, engineer. He will serve his country, Australia,” she said.