Independent experts commissioned by the United Nations called on the United States to close its military prison at Guantanamo.

According to them, the site opened after the attacks of September 11, 2001 is a place of "incessant violations of human rights".

"Twenty years of arbitrary detentions without trial, accompanied by torture or ill-treatment are simply unacceptable for any government, in particular a government which claims the protection of human rights," said in a statement this dozen independent experts mandated by the UN but who do not speak on its behalf.

Nine prisoners who died in custody

The prison located in southeastern Cuba is "a legal black hole," a "stain" on Americans' commitment to the rule of law, they said.

Pointing out the importance for the United States, a new member of the UN Human Rights Council, of "closing this hideous chapter of relentless human rights violations", the working groups called for the repatriation of the detainees or to send them to safe third countries and to measures of compensation for the torture and arbitrary detention suffered.

They also underlined that since 2002, nine people had died in detention, seven of presumed suicide, without any judicial follow-up, also calling for those responsible for torture to be held accountable for their acts in court.

39 people still detained

For his part, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the US administration "remains committed to the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison".

"We are in the process of examining the way forward," he said.

A total of 780 people have been detained at Guantanamo.

Most were released, some after more than 10 years of detention without charge.

Only 39 detainees remain, 13 of whom are released.

Fourteen others are hoping for their release, ten have yet to be tried and two have been sentenced.

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  • September 11th

  • UN

  • United States

  • Jail

  • World

  • Guantanamo

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