US embassy cable - 05GENEVA1669

UNCLAS GENEVA 001669 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/SHA, DRL/MLA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, UNHRC-1 
SUBJECT: FOUR SRS NOTIFYING UNITED STATES THAT THE SR ON 
FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF WILL TAKE PART IN GUANTANAMO 
INVESTIGATION 
 
REF:  A. GENEVA 1660 
 
      B. GENEVA 1623 
      C. GENEVA 1284 
 
1.  Mission received the following communication from the 
four Special Rapporteurs who have requested to visit the 
detention facilities in Guantanamo and the Special 
Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Asma Jahangir, 
informing the United States that Ms. Jahangir will 
participate in the investigation regarding the situation in 
Guantanamo mentioned in ref A.  The letter and the 
attachments have been e-mailed to IO/SHA and this 
communication will be included on #10 on the 2005 
correspondence log. 
 
 
2.  Begin text of letter: 
 
Geneva, 5 July 2005 
 
Excellency, 
 
We have the honour to write to you in our respective 
capacities as Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, 
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, 
Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary 
Detention, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to 
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical 
and mental health, Special Rapporteur on independence of 
judges and lawyers, and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of 
Religion or Belief. 
 
Given information that suggests the situation of detainees 
in Guantanamo Bay raises issues that are relevant to the 
mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or 
belief, we wish to inform you that Asma Jahangir is joining 
the investigation that was announced in the press release of 
23 June and confirmed by letter dated 28 June. 
 
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest 
consideration. 
 
Manfred Nowak 
Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or 
degrading treatment or punishment 
 
Leila Zerrougui 
Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary 
Detention 
 
Paul Hunt 
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment 
of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental 
health 
 
Leandro Despouy 
Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers 
 
Asma Jahangir 
Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief 
 
End text of letter. 
 
3.  Comment:  The addition of Ms. Jahangir to the 
investigation is not surprising as she has already requested 
information regarding allegations of the desecration of the 
Koran (ref C) and later conveyed her desire to visit 
Guantanamo (ref B).  As stated in ref A, these Special 
Rapporteurs will continue to request an invitation to visit 
Guantanamo until a definitive response is provided by the 
USG and therefore, Mission sees no value in responding to 
these Guantanamo specific requests until that decision is 
made. 
 
MOLEY