Washington, 29 March 2008: Tariq Aziz' application to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights under emergency procedures has received attention. The petition permits the Court to examine cases on an emergency basis. Tariq Aziz's lawyer Giovanni Di Stefano stated: "the European Court of Human Rights declined emergency intervention under Rule 39 because the real Respondent State in violations was the United States (not a signatory to the European Convention) and not the UK/Italy so using such decision on behalf of Mr Aziz I have filed with the competent court where the US is a signatory. We have answered their questions."
Mr Di Stefano further stated said: "it appears the United States of America subrogates its responsibilities guaranteeing human rights and as a signatory of the IAHRC by transferring de jure custody of those detained without ensuring that the country detainees are transferred also guarantees human right . Mr Aziz had an agreement with the United States Government to safeguard his family and fly them to safety in April 2003. That it respected by placing the entire Aziz family on a C130 airplane and flying them to Amman, Jordan where they remain. It was further guaranteed to Mr Aziz by the President of the United States of America that once Mr Aziz had been interrogated or debriefed he would be allowed to leave Iraq. Mr Aziz was subjected to debriefings and interrogations solely on the oil for food programme and George Galloway MP and not on any matters relating to his tenure in political office."
The IACHR is expected to rule on the application within days and could order the US to release him.
ENDS
Petition, doc format
IACOHR response, pdf format
our answers, doc format
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