If only the CIA would do one tenth of the things they are accused of doing, the world would be a far better place.
Iranian diplomat alleges CIA torture
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press Writer
An Iranian diplomat freed two months after being abducted in Iraq accused the CIA of torturing him during his detention, state television reported Saturday.
Jalal Sharafi said the CIA questioned him about Iran's relations with Iraq and assistance to various Iraqi groups, according to state television.
"Once they heard my response that Iran merely has official relations with the Iraqi government and officials, they intensified tortures and tortured me through different methods days and nights," he said.
At the time of his disappearance, Iran alleged the diplomat had been abducted by an Iraqi military unit commanded by American forces — a charge repeated by several Iraqi Shiite lawmakers. U.S. authorities denied any role in his disappearance.
In the report Saturday read by a newscaster, Sharafi, second secretary at the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, said he was kidnapped by agents of an Iraqi organization operating under CIA supervision and was badly tortured.
State television said signs of torture were still visible on Sharafi, who is being treated at an Iranian hospital. Images of Sharafi were not shown.
The television quoted Sharafi as saying he was approached by agents while shopping in Baghdad. The agents allegedly showed him Iraqi Defense Ministry identification papers and were driving U.S. coalition vehicles.
He said they took him to a base near Baghdad airport and interrogated him in both Arabic and English, questioning him mainly about Iran's influence in Iraq and assistance to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government and Iraqi groups. Sharafi did not provide additional details about his captors or their nationalities.
After the initial interrogation, Sharafi said that his captors "softened their behavior and showed leniancy to encourage" him to cooperate.
"I explained I was unable to do anything outside my legal responsibilities," Sharafi was quoted as saying. "Later, they released me under pressure from Iraqi government officials. They dropped me near the back of the airport."
U.S. officials allege that Iran provides money and weapons to Iraqi Shiite militias.
Sharafi was freed on Tuesday.
His release came as Iran held a group of 15 British sailors and marines seized in the Persian Gulf, though Britain, the U.S. and Iran have all denied any links. The sailors were freed on Wednesday. |
