29 November 2009, Afghanistan

The US military is holding detainees at the Bagram detain centre in Afghanistan without allowing access to the international committee of Red Cross, US media reported. The New York Times paper on Saturday quoted former detainees as saying that, they were held in secret “black jail” at the site north of the capital, Kabul. Hamidullah, a spare parts dealer from Kandahar, was quoted by saying that, “BLACK JAIL” as the most fearful and dangerous place”. He also said, “They don’t let ICRC officials or any other civilians see or communicate with the people they keep there. Because I did not know what time it was, as I did not know when to pray”. Barack Obama US president signed an order to eliminate so called black site run by central investigation agency (CIA) in January, but the bagram facility is operated by military special operation forces.

Military officials said earlier this month that suspected high-value detainees were interrogated at the bargam and the balad air base in Iraq. The NEW YORKS TIMES, also quoted that the “black jail” was separate from the main detention centre, which house about 700 inmates, including 30 foreigners.